Nong Khai calendar 2008


For upcoming gigs etc, look out for posters in bars or ask a resident.


January

  1. • New Year’s day, Jan 1.


February

  1. • Macha Buchu day. Full moon day. I think it’s Jan 8 this year.

  2. • Nong Khai’s Anou Savari street festival. Takes place at the end of Feb or early March and lasts a week.


March


April

  1. • Chakri Memorial day, April 6.

  2. • Song kran. Theoretically April 13-15 but spreads out from there in both directions. The world-famous Thai water festival is big in Nong Khai. Aside from the relentless soaking, talc, and lao-khao, there’s an organised festival on the land near Wat Pho Chai - two big stages, a funfair and the usual festival stalls. Do not expect to get anything done during Song kran.


May

  1. • Labor day, May 1.

  2. • Coronation day, May 5.

  3. • Nong Khai often has rocket festivals in May (and June). Big fuckoff rockets. Really, really big. No, bigger than that. Big. For some reason the biggest are in nearby Nam Souai. One-tonne fireworks drop out of the sky all day. Mind your head.


June

  1. • Wisakha Bucha day, June 18 in 2008. Buddha’s birthday. More rockets, if they don’t coincide with the above.

  2. • Nong Khai’s Candle festival. In either June or July, the day before the beginning of Buddhist Lent. Huge candles are paraded around town on floats. Lots of costumes and music.

  3. • Khoa Phansa day, June 23 in 2007. Buddhist Lent


July

  1. • Mid-year bank holiday, July 1.

  2. •Buddhist lent starts July 18 I think.


August

  1. • Buddhist Lent day (observed), Aug 2.

  2. • Queen’s birthday, Aug 12.


September


October

  1. • Chulalongkorn Memorial Day, Oct 23.

  2. • Naga fireballs appear on the Mekong at the end of Buddhist Lent. Expect half a million vistors to Nong Khai. Boat races, street festivals, funfairs, etc.


November

  1. • Loy Kratong festival. Place your own personal floating shrine on the Mekong and wish for good luck...

  2. • Chinese dragon festival, in late November.


December

  1. • King’s birthday, 5th

  2. • Constitution day, 10th

  3. • New Year’s Eve, 31st


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