If last year's Songkran was a blast, just imagine what it will be like this year when the fun-filled festival kicks off today.
It's cool to don the usual vibrant aloha shirts to have wet and wild fun outside, yet opting for our traditional Thai costumes for other related activities will definitely earn you both a thumbs-up and a much more memorable feel.
Whatever the outfits, however, the once-a-year celebration won't wait for anyone. It's only a matter of how to carefully plan your long holiday in order to enjoy all kinds of merriment the Songkran festival has to offer. Here is a list of selected shopping malls and spots that promise such things.
Mega Songkran: Mega Splash … Mega Lanna Happiness
At Megabangna Bang Na-Trat Road 10am-7pm, until April 15
Featuring the Lanna atmosphere, the shopping centre is decorated with tung, or northern-style flags, and yi peng, or northern-style floating lanterns. Replicas of Buddha statues from famous temples are enshrined at the main entrance for visitors to pour water on for blessings. A programme of exciting and rare Lanna performances runs daily at 11.30am, 3pm and 5.30pm, and a mobile water park featuring a giant water slide and a water tunnel is located at the Mega Plaza. Also available are a myriad of snacks and sweets redolent of the traditional temple fair, as well as carnival games such as shooting game, balloons and darts, hoop-throwing, and a dunk-tank girl.
Call 02-105-1000.
Siam Summer Gateway
At Siam Paragon and, Siam Discovery, Rama I 10am-9pm, until April 16
Nine sacred ancient Buddha statues on loan from the Bangkok National Museum are temporarily housed at Siam Paragon for everyone to worship and sprinkle water on at the Hall of Fame, M floor of Siam Paragon. There are demonstrations on making nam ob, or fragrant water, and creating flowers from pandan leaves. Running at Parc Paragon is the Songkran Food Fest: Taste Of Thai Tradition, offering authentic Thai foods in five categories -- rice, noodle, dessert, appetiser and beverages -- from more than 50 shops. Thai traditional food shops from Rattanakosin Island will be brought to the Discovery Plaza of Siam Discovery to serve their signature dishes.
Call 02-610-8000.
UD Town Wonder Water Land Songkran 2018
At UD Town, Udon Thani 11am-midnight, until April 16
Held under the "Water Galaxy" concept, the festival features replicas of Buddha statues from nine famous temples across the country, a water tunnel with a 360-degree experience and spectacular lights and sounds, an alcohol-free foam party, a variety of street foods from Udon Thani's famous restaurants, and the EDM Concert featuring 30 world-class and local DJs starting at 6pm.
Tickets for the concert cost 100 baht per night (499-999 baht for the VIP zone). Call 042-932-999 or visit facebook.com/UDTOWN.
EmQuartier Summer Republic
At the EmQuartier, Sukhumvit Road 11am-9pm, until April 18
Held under the "Aloha In The City" theme, the fair features a grand in-city sand beach filled with thousands of beach pool balls and daily workshops on face-painting and crazy colouring. There will also be mini-concerts by famous acts and artists today, tomorrow and April 18 at the Quartier Avenue, ground floor. The line-up includes Panchan Porama, Mean Band, Love Is Group, BanglaMola Band and 20 Town.
Call 02-259-8345 or 02-269-1000 ext 1811.
A Sense of Thai 2018
At Central Embassy, Phloenchit Road 10am-10pm, until April 22
Held under the theme "Nirat Central" (Central Journey), the fair portrays the unique charm of Thai culture through many activities. Besides hundreds of floating lanterns hanging around the shopping mall, visitors are invited to pour water on Buddha statues for blessings, visit the Thai rice exhibition, witness regal accessories, shop for quality Thai products and indulge in traditional Thai cuisine. Exclusively from today until April 16, visitors will experience the traditional Songkran atmosphere and enjoy free workshops on garland-making and pla taphian weaving. The fair is also running at the adjacent Central Chidlom until Sunday, with activities including rare Thai performances based on four farewell poems in Thai literature: Nirat Muang Klaeng, Nirat Phra Bat, Nirat Pak Tai and Nirat Hariphunchai. There is also a daily workshop on garland-making and Thai-dessert cooking with different dishes each day.
Call 02-119-7777 ext 2001.
Water Festival 2018
Along the curve of the Chao Phraya River From April 13 to 15, 9am-6pm
Organised under "The Joy Of New Year Celebration" theme by Thai Beverage in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture to preserve Thai cultural heritage, the fourth edition of the festival features many Songkran-themed activities and entertainment at eight venues located along the curve of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. They are Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm, Wat Arun Rajwararam, Wat Prayurawongsawas Warawihan, Wat Kalayanamitr, Maharaj Pier, Yod Pi Man River Walk, Asiatique the River Front and Lhong 1919. Besides the Buddha bathing ritual, there is a sand pagoda building, cultural performances, temple-fair-style games and mini-concerts by famous acts. Blue flag stalls and community stalls will offer local crafts and products. All visitors are encouraged to dress in Thai fabric or chequered loincloth outfits
Free shuttle-boat service will be available from 9am-10pm on all three days. Visit waterfestivalthailand.com.
Zanook Fest 2018
At Future Park and Zpell, Phahon Yothin Road From April 13 to 15, 11am-8pm
Held under the "Delightful Songkran" theme, visitors are invited to start the Thai New Year in an auspicious way by making merit and paying respect to replicas of Buddha statues on loan from nine famous temples in Bangkok. Then you can have splashing fun at a giant bouncy castle, which will come with wrecking ball, a sticky wall and a gladiator waterslide. Rock climbing will also be available. More than 30 famous restaurants will serve their delicious treats and three famous artists will give a mini-concert -- Pop Pongkul on April 13, DJ Scratch Darkdong on April 14 and Ice Sarunyoo on April 15, starting at 6pm.
There is no admission fee. Call 02-958-0011.
M2F Presents Bangkok Songkran Festival 2018
At CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Road From April 13 to 15, noon-9pm
The festival will once again present Bangkok's largest foam party, where everyone will enjoy the white bubbles and dance along to music spun by famous DJs. A water-splashing zone is provided for those wishing to get soaking wet, with water stations available all day long to fill up your tanks. Popular singers and stars from AF and The Voice will take turns giving a mini-concert on all three days at 4pm, followed by a one-hour concert by the popular bands -- Bodyslam today, Slot Machine tomorrow and Klear on Sunday, starting at 6pm. Many food trucks will be there to serve their delicious dishes and drinks. All participants are required to stick to the "5 Nos" concept: no obscenity, no powder, no alcohol, no high-pressure water guns and no excessive water wastage.
Visit facebook.com/M2FNews.
In addition, Central Pattana (CPN) is holding Thailand Songkran Festival 2018, a mega event that has a lot in store to please all Songkran revellers at all 32 branches of CentralPlaza and CentralFestival nationwide, starting today and running until April 19.
There will be 19 branches of CPN's shopping centers with full light and sound systems, aiming to entertain both young and old with hundreds of artists, led by Bodyslam, Slot Machine, Klear, Zeal, Lipta, Cocktail, Atom, Jetset'er, Flure and more, promising a rocking time this Songkran season.
Types of Songkran activities include offering food to monks, pouring water over Buddha images and monks for blessings, pouring water over senior citizens, building sand pagodas and food-tasting opportunities, not to mention limitless chances to have fun with water activities. All this in the hope that families and friends get to spend quality time with loved ones.
Holidaymakers in the provinces can also join in the festivities, which include traditional Thai and local activities. A few worth mentioning include CentralPlaza Ubon Ratchathani, which will hold the Talad Nad Him Khong market, simulating the atmosphere of Khong Chiam district, where visitors can shop, eat and drink in the most relaxing of ambiences.
CentralPlaza Phitsanulok will hold an event where people can shop for products and taste food from the four regions of Thailand, while CentralFestival Samui will hold the Songkran Kid's Pageant.
For more information, call 02-667-5555 ext 4115 or email prcenter@cpn.co.th.
