Pattaya boasts a rich and diverse calendar of annual events, festivals and sporting occasions, from bed racing to Lady-boy beauty pageants, kissing contests to buffalo races. Pattaya also annually hosts major sporting events, such as the LPGA Golf Tour, the Pattaya International Marathon and the PTT Pattaya Tennis Open. You could hardly call Pattaya’s event calendar mediocre when it includes the world’s biggest water fight, stampeding buffaloes, and fireworks displays that rattle windows in their frames.
The events and festivals continue through the Pattaya high and low seasons, so it might be a good idea to coincide your visit with one of the major events. My own favorites are Songkran, International Fireworks Festival, New Years Eve Fireworks Display, and the drifting events which have paid regular visits to Pattaya since 2010.
Don’t take dates and schedules of Pattaya events for granted
Dates and schedules for most of the events listed below have yet to be announced, but they are usually scheduled for the month of the year which they assigned. It is also not unknown for events to be postponed or rescheduled without notice, in light of this I advise you to always double check dates and schedules of any event in Pattaya before you make your travel plans.
Also read: No alcohol days in Pattaya.
Pattaya International Bed Race
Time of year: January
Where: Pattaya Beach Road
Next: To be announced
Pattaya Windsurfing Championship
Time of year: January
Where: Jomtien Beach
Next: To be announced
Pattaya Carnival
Time of year: January or February
Where:
Next: To be announced
Chinese New Year
Time of year: January or February
Where: Various venues in Pattaya
Next:
Makha Bucha Day
Thai public holiday
When: February or March
Burapa Pattaya Bike Week
Time of year: February
Where: Indoor Stadium, Soi Chaiyaphreuk
Next:
Pattaya Family Bike Day
Time of year: February
Where: Thai Polo Club, Pattaya.
Next:
More information: http://pattayafamilybikeday.org/
Honda LPGA Thailand
Time of year: February
Where: Siam Country Club Golf Course
Next:
More information: https://hondalpgathailand.com/
World’s Longest Kiss Competition
Time of year: February
Where: Royal Garden Plaza
Next:
PTT Pattaya Tennis Open
Time of year: February
Where: Dusit Thani Hotel
Next:
Pattaya International Music Festival
Time of year: March
Where: Bali Hai and Pattaya Beach Road
Next:
Chakri Memorial Day
Thai public holiday
When: April 6th every year
Songkran Festival
Time of year: April
Where: Throughout Pattaya
Next: Expect the main day to be on 19th April in Pattaya.
Wisakha Bucha
Thai public holiday
Time of year: May, dependent on moon phase.
Coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn 2019
Thai public holiday
Time of year: May 4th.
Pattaya Mountain Bike Challenge
Time of year: May
Where: Pratumnak Hill
Next: To be announced
Miss Tiffany’s Universe
Time of year: May
Where: Tiffany’s Cabaret
Next: To be announced
More information: http://www.misstiffanyuniverse.com/index.php
Top Of The Gulf Yachting Regatta
Time of year: May
Where:
Next: To be announced
More information: https://www.topofthegulfregatta.com/index.shtml
Queen Suthida’s Birthday
Thai public holiday
Time of year: June 3rd
Asanha Bucha Day
Thai public holiday
Time of year: July, dependent on moon phase.
Khao Phansa Day
Thai public holiday
Time of year: July, dependent on moon phase.
Pattaya International Marathon
Time of year: July
Where: Starts and finishes on Pattaya Beach Road
Next: to be announced
Birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn
Thai public holiday
Time of year: July 28th
HM Sirikit Queen Mother’s Birthday & Mother’s Day
Thai public holiday
Time of year: August 12th every year
King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Day
Thai public holiday
Time of year: October 13th
Chulalongkorn Day
Thai public holiday
Time of year: October 23rd every year
Pattaya Vegetarian Festival
Time of year: October
Where: various locations in Pattaya
Next:
Pattaya Buffalo Races
Time of year: October
Where: Mabprachan Lake, East Pattaya
Next: To be announced
Chonburi Buffalo Races
Time of year: October (full moon)
Where: In front of Chonburi Town Hall
Next: To be announced
FIVB Beach Volleyball Pattaya Open
Time of year: November
Where: Jomtien Beach
Next:
Loy Krathong Festival
Time of year: November
Where: All areas, especially beaches and lakes
Next: Loy Krathong 2016, it seems most likely the usual ritual of Loy Krathong will go ahead, but there will be no related festivities and sideshows such as fireworks and beauty pageants.
Miss International Queen
Time of year: November
Where: Tiffany’s Cabaret
Next:
More information: http://www.missinternationalqueen.com/
Bangsaen Bike Week
Time of year: November
Where: Bangsaen Chonburi
Next:
Pattaya Indo China Long Boat Racing
Time of year: November
Where: Mabprachan Lake, East Pattaya
Next:
Pattaya International Fireworks Festival
Time of year:
Where: Pattaya Beach
Next: To be announced
Bangsaen Thailand Speed Festival
Time of year: November – December
Where: Bangsaen Beach Road, Chonburi
Next:
More information: http://www.thailandsuperseries.net/home.php
Jet Ski King’s Cup – World Cup
Time of year: December
Where: Jomtien Beach
Next: To be announced
King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Birthday Anniversary & Father’s Day
Time of year: December 5th
Where: Nationwide
Constitution Day
Thai public holiday
Time of year: December 10th every year.
Pattaya International Beach Football
Time of year:
Where: Jomtien Beach
Next: To be announced
Pattaya New Countdown & Fireworks Display
Time of year: Every New Years Eve
Where: Fireworks displays on Pattaya Beach, Bali Hai & several other locations. Cancelled 2016
Also watch out for the spectacular drifting events when the Thailand Series Drift comes to town, this one’s a real crowd puller.