Hat Yai Events Calendar 2019
Events by Month
1st January 2019
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 without fear of being flattened by a pickup truck.
5th January 2019
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.
12th January 2019
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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2nd February 2019
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.
5th February 2019
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).
19th February 2019
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.
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2nd March 2019
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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5-8 April 2019
Hat Yai Motor Show
The inaugural event was held in 2012, and 2019 will see the 8th 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 2019 beauty competition.
I attended the first event in 2012 and don't remember there being an entrance fee. I think that it is still free.
6th April 2019
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 April 2019
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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4th May 2019
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.
9th May 2019
Royal Ploughing Day
The whole nation of Thailand is transfixed today watching some oxen grazing in Bangkok to see what kind of food the animals eat. The cows' dietary choice will determine whether the forthcoming rice season will be good or bad.
The ceremony is held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, but it is widely televised and transmitted by all of the Thai TV channels. Other Southeast Asian countries also observe this ceremony, which dates back hundreds of years.
10-12 May 2019
Hat Yai International Balloon Festival
Watch large, colourful hot-air balloons floating in the sky at the Hat Yai International Balloon Festival. The morning session is from 6am to 8am if you are an early riser, or you can visit between 5pm and 10pm.
The venue is Jiranakorn stadium located on Niphat Songkhro 1 Road and entrance is free.
18th May 2019
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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1st June 2019
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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6th July 2019
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 July 2019
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.
17th July 2019
Kao Punsaa Day
The start of the Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent.
28th July 2019
H.M. The King's Birthday (Rama X)
The much loved King Rama IX's birthday is still observed on 5th December and this is still the date for Father's Day. In Thailand, Father's Day is celebrated on the King's birthday so I wasn't sure if the date of Father's Day would change after King Rama X ascended to the throne, but apparently not.
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3rd August 2019
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.
9-19 August 2019
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 2019
Mothers' Day
HM the Queen's birthday and also Mothers' Day in Thailand.
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7th September 2019
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.
13-15 September 2019? Date TBC
Hat Yai Moon Festival
A Moon Festival was held in Hat Yai last year for the first time and I believe it will be a regular event. My 2019 calendar tells me that 13th September is Moon Festival date, but when I see posters nearer the time I will confirm the date.
28 September - 7 October 2019
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.
On another page about Festivals in Hat Yai I posted some photos from the festival and then ran into a problem with Google. Google regards the photos as being 'shocking' and won't allow me to have ads on that page.
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5th October 2019
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 October 2019
Awk Punsaa Day
The end of the Rains Retreat or Buddhist Lent.
13th October 2019
Bhumibol Memorial Day
Today Thais will observe the passing of their much beloved monarch King Rama IX in 2016. As today is a Sunday, tomorrow will be a national holiday.
23rd October 2019
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.
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2nd November 2019
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.
11th November 2019
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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5th December 2019
H.M. King Bhumibol's Birthday
Today commemorates King Rama IX's birthday and is also Father's Day in Thailand.
7th December 2019
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.
10th December 2019
Constitution Day
Today commemorates the day in 1932 when Thailand became a Constitutional Monarchy. It is a national holiday.
25th December 2019
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 2019
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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