Hat Yai Events Calendar 2014
Events by Month
Date
Event
Details
1st January 2014
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.
4th January 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
11th January 2014
Childrens' Day
Known as wun dek in Thai. Childrens' 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.
31st January 2014
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).
1st February 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
14th February 2014
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.
1st March 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
23rd March 2014
Fun Run & Mini Marathon
Hat Yai hospital is staging a 4km fun run and a 10.5km mini-marathon. There are separate categories based on gender and age. You need to register beforehand and entry forms are available at the hospital. The cost is Bt250 for either run, or Bt100 for students. For Bt700 you can enter as a VIP and do both runs. VIP entrants will also be given a shirt.
The weather is very hot in southern Thailand at this time of year and therefore an early start is involved. Runners will get under way between 04:15 and 05:30. The start and finish point is on Niphat Songkhro 1 in front of the Post Office (Map 1) near Hat Yai Hospital.
5th April 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
13th April 2014
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.
3rd May 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
13th May 2014
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.
7th June 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
5th July 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
2nd August 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
17th August 2014
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.
August 2014
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.
August 2014
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.
6th September 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
24th September 2014 to 2nd October
This is quite a major Chinese festival in Hat Yai and goes on for nine days. It is another festival based on lunar dates and therefore the actual date changes each year. 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.
4th October 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
23rd October 2014
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.
1st November 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
6th November 2014
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 2014
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.
6th December 2014
Bullfights will be staged at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena today, starting at around 10am.
December 2014
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 2014
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.