Today is the first day of Songkran and we know what you're thinking: "Where should I celebrate the Thai New Year for some fun-soaked festivities?". There are tonnes of places where you can spray water and dab some scented powder on to others, or if staying dry is your thing, there are events dedicated to that, too. Songkran doesn't have to be just attending the countless EDM parties during these busy days (you can check a handful of them in the parties section of listings), these events are can be enjoyed by just about anybody. So grab your water guns and don some waterproof clothes (or why not don some traditional Thai outfits as that's what's all the rage this year), wannee pen wan Songkran!
Songkran Festival
@ Lhong 1919 / Apr 11-15
Bored of all the usual spots? Head over to the Lhong 1919 pier by the Chao Phraya River for their very first Songkran festival. The pier, in collaboration with Kasikornbank and Thai Beverage, will highlight traditional activities, which include floating on holy water into the "Jasmine Tunnel", bathing rites with the Buddha Som Prathana and tasting the traditional khao chae (rice in jasmine water).
Artist Tan Kositpipat will be designing 4m-tall and 3m-wide sand pagodas. Each pagoda will represent a Kingdom from Thailand's rich history, namely the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Thonburi kingdoms. Children can also participate in painting on framed canvases that will be on display. The Symphony Swing will add musical magic to the evening.
10am-8pm / Lhong 1919, Chiang Mai Road / http://fb.com/lhong1919, 091-187-1919.
Mega Songkran: Mega Splash Mega Lanna New Year
@ MegaBangna / Apr 12-15
It's about to get a lot more mega at MegaBangna shopping centre. The exotic town of Lanna under the "Mega Splash...Mega Lanna Happiness" concept will be brought to Bang-Na. Decorated with Northern-style tung flags and yi-peng lanterns, the shopping centre will divide activities into separate zones. At the main entrance, the Sook Jai Zone will let families pay respects to replicated Buddha statues from various well-known temples such as the Lanna-style Phra Buddha Sihing. They can also water the statues representing their birthdays of the week and see Lanna-style performances, including Sabatchai Drum, Sword and Jeng Dances, the latter taken from ancient Thai martial arts.
At the Sard Sanook Zone, which is at Mega Plaza, shoppers can cool off at the mobile water park, which includes a giant water slide and tunnel. If that's not enough, carnival games are also on offer, as well as food and snacks from old-fashioned ice pops and soda to candyfloss and sugar candy sculptures. Mega fun indeed!
10am-7pm / MegaBangna, Bang-Na Trad Road / http://fb.com/megabangnashoppingcenter, 02-105-1000.
M2F Presents Bangkok Songkran Festival
@ CentralWorld / Apr 13-15
M2F is bringing you a massive Songkran Festival at CentralWorld shopping centre. Divided into three areas, the SPARK area will be bringing popular Thai bands for your listening pleasure, starting with Bodyslam on the 13th, Slot Machine on the 14th and Klear on the 15th. For some splashing fun, the SPLASH area allows to you play and soak others, also providing unlimited water refills! The SPRAY area lets you get down and bubbly with a huge foam party in the city, so if getting wet wasn't enough then getting covered in suds of bubbles will be.
Noon-9pm / CentralWorld, Rama I / http://fb.com/CentralWorld, 02-021-9999, 02-640-7000.
SongkranSiam
@ Siam Square One / Apr 13-15
Head right into the heart of the shopping area for a fun-filled, crowd-packed celebration of food, shopping and water-based fun. Siam Square One will be hosting their yearly SongkranSiam event where, in addition to all the fun activities you can expect, there will be live music performances by Thai artists and bands, including Ae Jirakorn, Atom, Gun Napat, Dome Jaruwat, Tor Saksit, Two Popetorn, Joey Boy, Cocktail, Room 39, Potato and even trio comedians Na Yong, Na Nong and Na Puang of Sam Na Chum-ouad fame.
For the first time in SongkranSiam history, a water slide, more than 48m in length will be placed at the entrance, allowing you to slide down and jump right into the fun. So be sure to bring your swimming gear (Getting wet is inevitable).
Noon-7pm / Siam Square One, Rama I / http://fb.com/siamsquareone, http://fb.com/songkransiam, 02-255-9994-7.
Bangkok Songkran Festival
@ Silom / Apr 13-15
Who needs alcohol to have fun? Surely not in Silom, as they are hosting an alcohol-free Songkran Festival for those who would just like to have clean, sober fun, notable for being the first year to do so. Definitely the go-to place to have fun, Silom is notorious for being packed with crowds of people every year, which means the more people = the more fun it will be (and the more difficult to get around or find friends). With the wet water action happening under the shadow of the BTS, the area will provide some shade away from the blistering sun.
10am-9pm/ Silom Road.
Songkran
@ Khao San Road / Apr 13-15
Of course, we couldn't run a Songkran article without mentioning Khao San Road, a popular spot for all-day, all-night Songkran water play fun for locals and tourists. Expect live music performances, food and drink stalls, and countless hours of spraying and dancing with water throughout the street, as is normally the case within the area if previous years are anything to go by.
2-8pm / Khao San Road / 02-280-1250.
Water Festival 2018
Apr 13-15
Eat, shop, and make merit along the Chao Phraya River with this year's Water Festival. The event, which is spread out to eight different spots alongside the famed river, lets attendees experience and learn about Thai cultural heritage through scheduled activities. A free shuttle boat service will be in place at each spot, dubbed the "eight sensational piers of Thainess". Wear traditional pakoma, tour with locals and partake in activities around four designated temples, or shop, eat food and take snaps at Tha Maharaj, Yodpiman River Walk, Lhong 1919 and Asiatique. Asiatique will also be hosting live music performances from Sixty Miles, Image and Polycat.
Various piers / http://fb.com/WaterFestivalThailand.
Isan Spirit Festival
@ Changchui / Apr 13 - May 6
For something a little more unique, get in touch with the Northeastern provinces of Thailand by heading over to the Isan Spirit Festival at ChangChui. The event, until May 6, is filled with spicy and yummy Northeastern food, art and crafts workshops and music performances. Highlights include a live concert performance by Northeastern singer Rasmee Wayrana with her signature morlam fused with soul music, a photo exhibition called "Save Thai Buffalo" by Maitree Siriboon, who will be doing a live art show painting buffaloes; a contemporary fashion clothing line inspired by Isan culture by popular make-up artist Pearypie; and designer Apichet "Madaew" Atirattana will mix fashion with an unconventional performance art with a concept involving dressing up humans and buffaloes.
4-11pm / ChagChui, Sirindhorn Road / http://fb.com/ChangChuiBKK, 081-817-2888.
Songkran 2018
@ Golden Axe Throw Club / Apr 11 - 15
Why not take things up a notch during Songkran with some ax throwing shenanigans during the Thai New Year. The good folks at the Golden Axe Throw Club will be open for the holiday celebrations, offering special Songkran prices for anyone itching to throw axes at targets. An hour costs B350 or if you want to spend some serious time honing your throwing skills can do so for two to three hours at B560. Anyone who comes in soaking wet will receive a 30% discount. Side games will also be held, including ice block chopping, beer pong, Hammerschlagen and even a water balloon war. g
4-11pm / Golden Axe Throw Club, Lat Phrao / http://fb.com/axethrowingbangkok, 063-654-0600.
