Hat Yai Events Calendar 2018
Events by Month
1st January 2018
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.
6th January 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
13th January 2018
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 some private companies lay on various activities. The kids can get their hair cut for free, local hospitals carry out free health and dental checks, etc etc.
Events take place at lots of locations, but a major activity centre in Hat Yai on Children's Day is Jiranakorn Sports Stadium on Niphat Songkhro 1 Road.
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3rd February 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
16th February 2018
The date varies from year to year because CNY 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) around the vicinity of the Siang Theung temple and rescue centre, and this is where you can see acts of self-mortification.
A number of events are also scheduled at Srinakorn School (Map 4) over the CNY holiday period and this is where you will be able to meet some Thai celebrities (daa-raa).
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1st March 2018
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.
3rd March 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
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7th April 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
5-8 April 2018
Hat Yai Motor Show
The inaugural event was held in 2012, and 2018 will see the 7th Hat Yai Motor Show. The location is in the big International Conference Centre behind the Prince of Songkla University. It's quite easy to find.
Expect the usual pickup trucks and family saloons that can be seen everywhere in Thailand. In addition to the cars, there will also be lots of pretty Thai girls on display in the Miss Hat Yai Motor Show 2018 beauty competition. If you want to compete you need to be between 17 and 28.
There's also a look tuung (Thai country music) singing contest for kids between 13 and 18, and a motor show dance team (age 13 upwards).
I attended the first event in 2012 and don't remember there being an entrance fee. I think that it is still free.
13th April 2018
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.
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5th May 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
29th May 2018
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.
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2nd June 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
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7th July 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
27th July 2018
Asarnha Bucha Day
Today is the 15th day of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month. It was this day during the Buddha's lifetime that he delivered his first sermon to five disciples at the deer park in Benares, India.
Tomorrow is the start of the Buddhist Lent, or Rains Retreat, which lasts for three months. Traditionally, Thai males ordained as monks during this time. In addition to learning about Buddhism, keeping the men in temples also kept them from walking on and damaging crops. Nowadays, it is still traditional for Thai males to ordain as monks, but the ordination period is often less than a week.
As usual for these important days in the Buddhist calendar, there will be ceremonies at all temples involving processions with candles and incense sticks.
This holiday falls on a Saturday this year, therefore some businesses will be closed on Monday.
28th July 2018
Kao Punsaa Day
The start of the Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent.
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4th August 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
10-19 August 2018
Agricultural Fair
This is a regular event at the Prince of Songkla University every August and it attracts tens of thousands of people from all over southern Thailand. It's actually very good and caters to a wide variety of people. Farmers can buy a new tractor, while members of the public can buy a new car, truck or motorbike. There are lots of plants, pets, and handicrafts on sale. Many of the handicrafts are from Chiang Mai and they are not available in Hat Yai at other times of the year.
To be completely honest, a lot of the fairs and festivals in Hat Yai aren't really worth going to, but this is an exception. I have been attending since 2004 and each year I like to visit the fair at least once.
12th August 2018
Mothers' Day
HM the Queen's birthday and also Mothers' Day in Thailand.
12th August 2018
International Alms Offering Ceremony
For many years this was a regular event in Hat Yai. Thousands of people (locals plus visiting Malaysians and Singaporeans) attend to offer alms to 1,000 monks. However, for a couple of years I didn't see any signs advertising the event so assumed that it wasn't taking place.
I am told that many of the monks came from the highly controversial Dhammakaya temple near Bangkok. This temple has been surrounded by lots of controversy, including accusations of receiving stolen money and money laundering.
The charismatic abbott was charged with embezzlement and the monks barricaded the temple with military grade razor wire to prevent the authorities getting in to arrest him. A lot of what goes on within the Buddhist community in Thailand would probably shock most foreigners. Most monks are fine, but monasteries make a very convenient refuge for bad people as well. It's an age old problem in Thailand.
Anyway, despite all this, I saw an advertising poster for the event in 2018 and therefore things seem to be back to normal this year. The ceremony will take place on Sanehanusorn Road near Odean department store.
Over the years I have attended around three times and you have to get there very early - around 6am.
It's quite a spectacle seeing so many Buddhist monks in one place wearing saffron robes (see photo at the tope of the page), but when the time comes to give alms it turns into a bit of a scrum. Everyone wants to give alms and they push and shove other people out of the way in order to do so. If you've ever attempted to board an MRT train in Singapore that has available seats you will know the kind of thing I mean.
17-18 August 2018
PSU 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 taste of university life, but instead many sneak off and spend their time in Tesco Lotus or, since it opened, Central Festival. 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 boring 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.
If you have any questions, there are two phone numbers:
+66 (0)74 287093
+66 (0)74 287111
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1st September 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
22-24 September 2018
Hat Yai Moon Festival
This is the first ever Hat Yai Moon Festival, therefore, I can't tell you what to expect. In mid-September I saw lots of red Chinese lanterns being put up in the downtown area. They were the same type of lanterns you expect to see at Chinese New Year, except that CNY falls in January or February.
An advertising banner gave the following information: "A Giant lantern spray fires Etc." I hope that means something to you because this form of Thaiglish means nothing to me and what is meant by 'Etc'? The location is where Thamanoonvithee Road intersects with Niphat Uthit 1 Road. I expect there will be lots of food stalls on the streets for the duration of the festival.
Viewed from Bangkok, there is a full moon on 25th September at 09:52. This seems to be an attempt to cash in on the Full Moon phenomenon that brings so many tourists to Thailand.
I doubt very much that I will attend, but if you go please drop me a line and tell me what it is all about.
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5-13 October 2018
Hat Yai Healthy Life
This is another event that I have only seen advertised for the first time in 2018. As the title of the event suggests it is all about promoting a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise, Thai traditional medicine (herbs and massage), and preventing disease.
I believe there will doctors in attendance to give advice and there will be health products for sale.
The venue is Hat Yai Municipal Park. Unfortunately, no times were given on the advertising poster.
On the last day of the event (13th) a 4km Fun Run has been organised. This is very relaxed and participants can walk if they wish.
6th October 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
8-17 October 2018
Although the Phuket vegetarian festival is much more famous, the equivalent festival in Hat Yai is a major event and it 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 on the street. 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.
10-14 October 2018
OTOP Fair
OTOP stands for One Tambon One Product. Each province in Thailand is divided into districts (Hat Yai is a district of Songkhla province) and each district is further divided into sub-districts. For example, Klong Hair (where there is a well known floating market) is a sub-district of Hat Yai. A sub-district is known as a Tambon.
Copying Japan's One Village One Product (OVOP) project, OTOP was a government initiative to encourage local people to set up small scale manufacturing industries by making specialist products. The products are quite varied - some are edible and some aren't.
This fair will give you the opportunity to see and buy many different kinds of OTOP products. The location is the International Convention Centre just behind the Prince of Songkla University.
13th October 2018
Bhumibol Memorial Day
Commemorating the passing of King Rama IX in 2016.
19-20 October 2018
VW Air Cooled Camping Party
Ideal cars (presumably) would be old, original Beetles and camper vans, but the poster says that all VWs are welcome. There will be camping on the beach, a party, and a VW drag race.
This event (in its 4th season, apparently) has been organised by the VW Aircooled Engine Community in Thailand and the Mad Dubbers group in Malaysia. I expect that lots of Malaysians will be driving across the border to join the party.
The location is Samila Beach in Songkhla.
23rd October 2018
Chulalongkorn Memorial 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.
23-29 October 2018
Coffee And Bakery Fest
All Thais want to run their own business, and it seems that most want to run a coffee shop. I can't believe how many new coffee shops have sprung up since I have lived in Hat Yai. Bakery products are also very popular.
This 'Fest' will take place at the International Conference Center located behind the Prince of Songkla University (known colloquially as Mor Or).
24th October 2018
Awk Punsaa Day
The end of the Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent.
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3rd November 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
22nd November 2018
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.
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1st December 2018
Bullfights are held at the Hat Yai bullfighting arena once a month. These normally take place on the first Saturday of the month, but check first because the dates can change as a result of public holidays, etc. The bouts start at around 10am.
25th December 2018
Christmas
Thailand is a Buddhist, and therefore atheist, country. However, Thais like receiving gifts 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 2018
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.
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