Hat Yai Events Calendar 2013
Events by Month
Date
Event
Details
1st January 2013
New Year
Over the New Year period some roads in the downtown area are closed to traffic and lots of stalls are set up. It's quite a festive atmosphere and it's good being able to wander around with fear of being flattened by a pickup truck.
12th January 2013
Children's Day
Known as wun dek in Thai. Children's Day in Thailand takes place on the second Saturday of January every year. Many Thai kids are quite underprivileged and this is one day where they are made to feel special. They can play on fire engines and do other things. The local municipality and private companies lay on various activities. The kids can get their hair cut for free, and local hospitals carry out free health and dental checks.
Events take place at lots of locations, but a major activity centre in Hat Yai is Jiranakorn Sports Stadium on Niphat Songkhro 1 Road.
1st February 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
10th February 2013
Date varies from year to year. As it is based on the lunar month, CNY can occur in January or February. Hat Yai is a big Chinese town and CNY is a big event. Book your hotel well in advance and bring your earplugs for the firecrackers. A lot of events take place along Supasarnrangsan Road (Map 2).
25th February 2013
Makha Bucha Day
The date varies from year to year because Buddhist holidays are based on the lunar month. This one falls on the full moon day of the third lunar month, which can be in late February or early March. On this day during the Buddha's lifetime, 1250 Buddhist monks went to pay homage at Veluwan Vihara. They went of their own initiative and none had prior knowledge. All Buddhist temples will celebrate this event. You can join in by lighting candles and incense and walking around the temple.
13th April 2013
The traditional New Year in Thailand, and now the world's biggest water fight. Living in Thailand, you either love it or hate it. You can act like a seven year-old all day and squirt water at strangers, or you can do what I do. If I can't manage to be out of the country for Songkran, I stock up with food and stay indoors all day. I'm sorry, but I don't like this festival at all and find a lot of the behaviour quite obnoxious.
At least it only lasts for one day in southern Thailand. If you have the misfortune to be in Chiang Mai during Songkran the juvenile antics go on for an entire week.
Since 1940 the New Year in Thailand has commenced from 1st January (like most of the rest of the world), but the start of the traditional New Year in April is still one of the biggest festivals (probably the biggest) in Thailand.
To 30th April 2013
This year's lantern festival, which has already run for several months, ended on 30 April. I think this was the 7th year that a lantern festival has been held in Hat Yai and it seems to be a regular annual event now. This year's event was the best ever. They moved the location slightly within the municipal park and the decorations were much better than previous years. If you visit Hat Yai while this festival is taking place it is definitely worth a visit, and it's all completely free. This is one attraction in Thailand where Thais and foreigners pay the same price ... nothing. The organisers deserve to be congratulated for organising such a great event and for not charging an entrance fee. Well done Prai Pattano and the Hat Yai municipality.
24th May 2013
Visakha Bucha Day
This Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth of the Buddha, his death, and also his enlightenment. All three events occurred on the same day. It's another day when Thai temples see a lot of activity and if you haven't been before it's a good experience. Thais walk around the temple carrying three flowers, three candles and an incense stick as a reminder of the Triple Gems. The actual date varies each year because it falls on the 15th day of the waxing moon in the 6th lunar month.
24th - 25th May 2013
Klong Hair Bike Week
There is a Hat Yai bike week, which I think happens in July. There are also a few smaller bike weeks in the area. I don't know who attends. I was waiting at a set of traffic lights and saw a sign in Thai advertising this event. There was no English, therefore I guess it is aimed at Thais. Klong Hair district is fairly close to Hat Yai and it is the location for Hat Yai's very own floating market.
A farang expat biker living in Hat Yai told me that this event is quite boring. They just sell biker-type merchandise and listen to Thai rock music.
4th June 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
7th - 8th June 2013
Sadao Bike Week
Sadao is a district of Songkhla province located adjacent to the Malaysian border. There isn't much there apart from an immigration office, a lot of para-rubber trees, and some large latex processing factories. Close by is the border town of Dannok, which seems to have ambitions to become the Pattaya of the South (without the beach). I don't know anything about this event apart from the date, which was given to me by a mechanic is a motorbike shop. Malaysian and Singaporean owners of big bikes like to drive their machines over the border to participate in the various bike weeks that are held in Thailand.
6th July 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
July 2013
Hat Yai Bike Week
I kept looking for posters with dates for this event, but didn't see any. I was then informed of a message on the Hat Yai Bike Week Facebook page. It says - May be permanently closed, and the domain Hatyaibikeweek.com is for sale.
It therefore looks as if the Hat Yai Bike Week may have ended for good. If I hear any more, I will add information here.
2nd August 2013
Cultural Event
Thaksin University (in Songkhla) will host a performance of many dramatic forms at 6pm this Friday, August 2nd at the Red Mill Building. Entrance is free. This building is located at the end of Nakhon Nok Road, a one-way street into town along the lake. The Mill is an historic building, which just won an architecture award, and is situated next to Khrungthai Bank on the bend in the road that leads into town. It is a short walk south from the Songkhla Post Office. Ajaan Thammanit, a Nora expert from Thaksin University, organized the event which includes 8 types of performances and 120 performers. There will be traditional Nora (Manora) dance, modern Nora dance, large Shadow Puppets, Mime, modern drama and more. Some performers are coming from Bangkok. The opening time is a bit fuzzy. There will be a ceremony to open it from about 5-6pm and then the shows will begin with each group performing for about 20 minutes. The Nora performance will be first. Nora and Shadow Puppetry (nang talung) are considered symbolic of southern culture. The show will last till 9 or 10pm. It is supported by TK Park (a learning center that will be built in town), Songkhla City, Rajamangala University of Technology, PTTEP Co and others.
Contact Marlane Guelden for details.
3rd August 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
9th - 18th August 2013
Agricultural Fair
Also at PSU, this takes place around the same time or just after Science Week. It's actually very good and caters to a wide variety of people. Farmers can buy a new tractor, or members of the public can buy a new car. There are lots of plants, pets, and handicrafts on sale. Most Thais just go there to look around and snack at the many food stalls.
12th - 23rd August 2013
Photography Exhibition
A photographic art show of 99 pictures will be held at a Multipurpose Room (akhan anek prasong) at Rajamangala University of Technology in Songkhla from 10 am - 8 pm from August 12 - 23. Entrance is free. The show is on the theme of Landscape of the South, relating to the ocean, fields, forests and people. Thirty-six amateur and professional photographers are displaying work from many southern provinces. It is organized by Ratnakorn Piyasirasorot ("Song"), owner of Song Saen Bakery on Nang Ngam Road, and sponsored by the university. There will be a grand opening on Aug. 12th, possibly at 6pm but the time has not been set. Aug. 12th is the Queen's birthday and Mothers' Day.
Contact Marlane Guelden for details.
16th - 17th August 2013
Science Week
This event is also referred to as PSU Open Week. For a few days in August the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) opens its doors to the public and coach loads of school kids arrive in Hat Yai from all over southern Thailand. The idea is for them to get a taster of university life, but instead many sneak off and spend their time in Tesco Lotus. Many come from very rural areas and a trip to the 'Big City' of Hat Yai is exciting for them. It seems a waste spending the whole day inside a university so they go off and have fun elsewhere. This is an event that's really intended for high school kids, but anyone can attend. Thais have an obsession with ghosts and you will find the longest queue outside the department of pathology where there are real cadavers on display inside. The kids look terrified when they see dead bodies, but this is one thing that they don't want to miss.
18th August 2013
Merit Making Ceremony
Once a year, Niphat Uthit 3 Road (Map 3) is closed to traffic early on a Sunday morning for a massive merit making ceremony that takes place involving 10,000 or more monks. In addition to local Thais, lots of Malaysian and Singaporeans attend. When the monks are ready to receive their alms, it becomes a bit of a scrum as everyone tries to get their offerings in the alms bowls.
The date is normally the first Sunday after Mothers' Day in Thailand, which is 12th August (the Queen's birthday). It is best to arrive early in the morning.
31st August 2013
Hat Yai Street Carnival
This is the first Hat Yai Street Carnival to be held so I can't tell you what the format is, what to expect, or how many people will be there. However, in conservative Thailand it is probably safe to say that you won't see any semi-naked girls dancing to samba music on large floats, as there would be at the Rio Carnaval. If you want to see naked Thai girls in Hat Yai there are plenty of places, but not in public.
There will be a beauty contest (very popular in Thailand) and Cosplay, in which Thai teenagers dress up as funky Japanese teenagers. In addition, there will be various other forms of entertainment.
The street carnival will be held right in the centre of the tourist district on Sanehanusorn Road, which hopefully the local authorities will close to traffic. It starts at 4:30pm and finishes around 10pm. If I have time I might go along myself, just in case there are any semi-naked samba dancers.
This event appears to have been organised by the TAT and there were a couple of phone numbers to call for information on the advertising banners: 074 243747 and 074 238518.
7th September 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
29th September 2013
Hucky Eichelmann is a classically trained guitarist who has lived in Thailand for a long time. He has appeared on Thai TV and recorded some of the King of Thailand's compositions.
His 2013 Tour of Thailand is to celebrate the 85th birthday of the King and this specially arranged additional concert at Gäps Garten in Hat Yai is the last one of the tour. The concert begins at 19:00 and there will be a buffet at 21:00.
4th - 13th October 2013
This is quite a major Chinese festival in Hat Yai and goes on for about nine days. It is another festival based on lunar dates and therefore the actual date changes each year, but it's normally in October. The venue is along Supasarnrangsan Road. Lots of regular restaurants close for the duration of the festival (or just serve vegetarian food) and lots of vegetarian stalls open. You can watch devotees perform acts of ritualised mutilation by having their bodies pierced with various objects. There is a lot of blood and it isn't for the squeamish.
5th October 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
23rd October 2013
Chulalongkorn Day
King Rama V was a very special king for the Thai people. He was born on 20 September 1853 and died on 23 October 1910. He is remembered every year on the anniversary of his death. In Hat Yai there is a large Rama V statue inside the municipal park and a lot of people attend early in the morning on 23 October. If you plan on going, get there before 9am.
2nd November 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
17th November 2013
This festival falls on the full moon day of the 12th month, which is normally in November. Thais float (loy) their 'gratongs' on the nearest convenient body of water. Inside the gratongs they place a nail clipping, some of their own hair and a coin. Ask around to find out where you can participate. At PSU in the afternoon there is a parade with lots of pretty girls. In addition to floating gratongs, there are also beauty contests staged to find 'naang nopamaat' (a Thai legend). Loy Gratong is a far more civilised occasion than Songkran and normally very enjoyable.
5th December 2013
H.M. The King's Birthday
There are normally special events arranged to celebrate the King's birthday. A few years ago I attended a candlelit fireworks display centred around the reservoir within the Prince of Songkla University. It was a very enjoyable and emotional experience. Keep your ear to the ground and ask the locals if they know about any special events that are taking place. This is also Fathers' Day in Thailand.
7th December 2013
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
14th December 2013
Central Festival Grand Opening
In addition to the Thailand Motor Festival (see below) there will be other events to celebrate the grand opening of Hat Yai's newest (and biggest) shopping centre.
Na-date, the handsome heartthrob of millions of teenage Thai girls, will be there, as will Katreeya English, another Thai daa-raa (superstar). Personally, the only Thai superstar I would bother to turn up for would be Chompoo Araya, but she's not on the guest list unfortunately.
The crowds are going to be enormous, the traffic and parking a nightmare, but this is a major event for Hat Yai. I'm in two minds whether to go on the 14th, or just to wait until the initial novelty has worn off. I suspect that I will opt for the latter, especially as Chompoo won't be there for the opening.
14th - 23rd December 2013
Thailand Motor Festival
This is one of the events that will be staged for the grand opening of Central Festival.
December 2013
Christmas
Thailand is a Buddhist, and therefore atheist, country. However, Thais like getting dressed up and they like coloured fairy lights. The department stores are decorated with Christmas decorations in the run up to Christmas and Jingle Bells can be heard over the PA system while you are shopping.
31st December 2013
New Year's Eve
Thais make a big thing of New Year and there is a big countdown ceremony around Lee Gardens Plaza. You will also see and see a lot of fireworks.