Hua Hin Jazz Festival
Hua Hin Jazz Festival is an event that has become increasingly popular each year it has been arranged. The two-day festival has taken place six years in a row and is being held the first weekend in June. The first time the Festival was arranged was back in 2002. As the interest for the Festival was significantly larger 2006 than earlier years, the organizers had to move the event spot down to the beach where two temporary scenes were built up. Apart from attracting the best Thai jazz performers, the Festival has also been visited by such renowned international musicians as Bill Bruford and Ibrahim Electric. During 2007, the interest was once again massive with many thousands of visitors of which the vast majority Bangkokians. The highlights were Montefiori Cocktail and Caroline Henderson.
Hua Hin Car Parade
If happen to be in Hua Hin and enjoy looking at old cars, try not to miss the annual Car Parade that normally takes place in December. The vintage cars drive from Sofitel in Bangkok to Sofitel in Hua Hin and are usually over 50 in numbers. The day upon arriving in Hua Hin, the cars are taken to the area around the King and Queen’s summer palace and thereafter back to the local Sofitel Centara. You will be able to get a glimpse of anything from old and well preserved Jaguars to Fiats in excellent condition.
Hua Hin Golf Festival
Throughout August, many of the Golf Clubs in Hua Hin offer a special green fee rate — something that is done very much to the liking of many golf lovers. It is not uncommon that the courses can be played at as at little as some 800 baht. During the Golf Festival, a wide variety of competitions are being arranged. Should you be lucky enough to score a hole-in-one during one of the competitions, you might be awarded with a great deal of money! The competitions take place on Sundays and, generally, anyone can sign up. For a fee of around 1,000 baht it is possible to battle for trophies, get souvenirs and sometimes a dinner. Make sure to book well in time before the tournaments start as the event is hugely popular. During 2007, the following clubs took part in the Golf Festival:
Black Mountain Golf Club did not take part attend the Festival during 2007 but still offered a reduced green fee rate of 1,000 baht.
Hua Hin Regatta
Several hundreds of participants sign up for the annual Regatta in Hua Hin, which takes place in August. The competitors are divided into different classes — each with its own trophies. The activities, which have become increasingly popular in recent years, start at Hua Hin Naval Yacht Club and last for a couple of days. For more details, contact the Thai Yacht Association at +66-(0)2-472 08 52 or visit www.yrat.or.th. The event was arranged for the eighth time in 2007.
Dragon Boat Race
In 2006, a team with Westerners signed up for the Dragon Boat Race for the first time — however, without any greater success. The Festival takes place in Pranburi, some 30 kilometers south of Hua Hin, in November. The distance for the race is approximately one kilometer.
Hua Hin Kite Surfing Festival
Hua Hin is widely known for its excellent conditions for kite surfing. The kite surfing festival has been arranged for more than ten years, each time with increasing popularity. The event takes place in March at Rama IV’s army camp, both with local and international surfers. You can read more on Hua Hin’s excellence for kite surfing here.
Songkran
At the peak of the hot season, that is between 13 and 15 April, is the Thai New Year festival, Songkran. With a strong emphasis on water — especially being thrown on one another — Songkran is widely celebrated in Hua Hin as in the rest of Thailand as the most popular yearly festival. Songkran is especially joyful for young people as they get to use both hoses and water guns to make their friends and family soaking wet. The most traditional Songkran celebrations are to be found in Chiang Mai. More on Songkran can be read here.
Loy Krathong
The Loy Krathong festival takes place on 24 November every year. As with Songkran, the emphasis is on water. The idea is to put one’s “krathong” in water — that is a small banana-leaf boat with candles — and make a wish. Should you wish to take part, “krathongs” are for sale virtually everywhere around Hua Hin during the Loy Krathong festival. Click here to read more.
