Event Calendar

Thailand has many ethnic Chinese residents and so the beginning of the lunar year is celebrated in Chinatowns throughout the kingdom. Hua Hin is no exception and so you can expect fireworks and dragon dances. Also, be prepared for some businesses to close, although it is not a national holiday.

Thailand has three new year cerebration, Western calendar new year, Chinese New year and Thai new year (Songkran). Christmas and New Year is the peak season in Hua Hin full of Western and local visitors.

With the wind off the Gulf of Thailand guaranteed, Hua Hin is the perfect place to host a kite festival. And so it does each year during the month of March at The King Rama VI Army Camp just north of Hua Hin. The festival has now been going for over 10 years and is growing in popularity each time. It`s now not just the local Thais who show off their skills as contestants come from all over the country and internationally as well. Individual and team competitions take place with contestants coming from as far afield as Canada, New Zealand, France, China, India and Singapore (to name only a few of the countries that participate). It`s a truely spectactular event that you`ll be able to join in with and there`s a good selection of kites, souvenirs and other crafts for sale around the festival grounds.

The 14th Hua Hin International Cricket Sixes Tournament. It took place at The Dusit Resort between 14th and 18th April 2008.

Songkran is one of the most important feasts for Thai people. Often called the `water` festival, Songkran is the ancient New Year`s Day, usually happening in mid April — the official New Year`s Day now being January 1st . For Songkran, Thai people clean everything, i.e., their house, Buddha statues, etc., and thereby hope to cleanse themselves of the previous year`s bad actions. Traditionally, the ceremony was to pour water onto the hands in order that bad actions and bad thoughts would flow away with the water — a purification. Nowadays, Songkran is better known for being the time when everyone goes a little crazy, splashing water on everyone they meet — policemen included!

Special venues around central Hua Hin. From the original Heineken Jazz festival, this event has now grown into a whole month of jazz! In 2008, there`s `Jazz on the Beach` (13-14th). Then, on the following Friday and Saturday (20-21st), there`s `Jazz in the Town`, involving 14 different groups from both Thailand and abroad. As if that wasn`t enough, there`s also `Jazz in the Town, arranged by Tourism Prachuap Khirikhan, which takes place from 15th until June 21st at Hua Hin`s historic little railway station. Apart from the concerts, there is a series of jazz workshops held around the town, plus a wide variety of games and competitions aimed at families. All in all, there`s a lot of jazz going in during June!

A relative newcomer to the Hua Hin social calendar, this annual regatta attracts upwards of 300 competitors each year who come to try and win trophies that are awarded for the various different classes of boats. As any regular visitor/resident knows, Hua Hin is a great location for sailing and so there`s bound to be some top class entertainment for boat lovers. For detail, check yrat website atwww.yrat.or.th

August 12 is Her Majesty Queen Sirikit`s birthday. This public holiday is celebrated nationwide as Mother`s Day, the Queen being considered the mother of all Thai people. Starting a few weeks before the Queen`s birthday, all buildings are covered up with Royal symbols and portraits of Her Majesty all over the Thai kingdom. Privately, Thai families celebrate much the same as all over the world, with presents and treats for their mothers.

Due to popular interest, the Hua Hin Golf festival has now grown from a one month to a two month event, stretching right through from early June till the end of August. There are many activities going on during this festival, such as special discounts at participating golf courses, competitions, prize drawings, a `Ryder Cup` style match against the local golf society, and much, much more. Throughout the Festival, you can play a round of golf at any one of these magnificent courses for just 800 baht per person/round (2008) – not including caddies or golf buggies. 
2008 participant courses were Springfield Village Golf & Spa, The Imperial Lake View Hotel & Golf Club, Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country Club, Kaeng Krachan Golf and Country Club, Sawang Resort & Golf Club, The Majestic Creek Golf & Resort and Royal Hua Hin Golf Course.
Don`t forget to check out our Hua Hin Golf page!

This event provides a good excuse to get out of town and down to the riverside. The races take place on a 500m course on the Pranburi river and competitors include various national and local teams (often well trained service personnel) plus usually one `farang` team of local foreign residents — who never seem to let their chances of winning interfere with having a good time! The teams struggle hard to propel their long boats against the tide towards a gripping final.

This yearly gathering of Thailand`s motorbike fraternity, both Thai and foreign, attracts machines and enthusiasts of every shape and variety. As well as bringing together so many types of motorbike, the event also includes competitions, displays, accessory and souvenir sales and giveaways. In the word`s of the organisers, everyone on 2 wheels is welcome!
(For pictures of previous Bike Weeks, check this site.)

From its Brahmin roots, this festival has evolved over time and come to be part of a Buddhist ritual. In accordance with ancient customs of the early Rattanakosin period (19th century), many types of Krathongs or lanterns are set afloat on the sea. Krathongs are made from basic materials easily found around the village and typically take the shape of lotus in full bloom, swans, chedis (stupas), and Mount Meru from Buddhist mythology.

The Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade includes a procession of vintage and classic cars which then set out on the journey from Bangkok to Hua Hin. Once they arrive in the royal resort, they are exhibited within the peaceful splendour of the  Sofitel Central Hua-Hin. They also parade through the streets of Hua Hin. To see the parade, find a good vantage point nice and early. To view the cars exhibition, just go along to the Sofitel Central Hua-Hin Resort — no entry fee required.

The Hua Hin International Food Festival, usually held in Queen`s Park, provides visitors and residents alike a great chance to sample an immense variety of menus from Hua Hin`s most famous restaurants and hotels. Making the most of the comfortably milder evening air, you can enjoy local cuisine and beer while watching a colourful cavalcade of locals eating and watching a mostly Thai cabaret of singers and dancers. Skip lunch that day for sure!

December 5th is His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej`s birthday. This public holiday is celebrated nationwide as Father`s Day, the King being considered the father of all Thai people. Starting a few weeks before the King`s birthday, all buildings are decorated with Royal symbols and portraits of His Majesty, all over the Thai kingdom. Every year in December, huge portraits of His Majesty are raised in temples, administrative buildings, schools, houses, shops and homes, both by individuals and organizations. This is a good opportunity to observe at first hand how deeply the Thai people genuinely revere their monarch.