THAILAND'S FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN FEBUARY 2009

The North Face River Kwai Trophy 2009
Date : 28 February 2009
Venue : Saiyok district, Kanchanaburi

Under the banner of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series, the event will attract 120 teams comprising of two participants in each team, who will tackle an adventure course that includes running, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking. The race route travels along scenic trails and explore the mountainnns and farmlands of western Thailand.
Backing the event are the Tourism Authority of Thailand and North Face, while the actual running of the event comes under sports activity specialist, Active Management Asia.

Extreme adventure racing, that test stamina and team work, has grown in popularity in Thailand with the Kanchanaburi event attracting nearly 60% of its participants from neighbouring countries such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, as well as participants from even Europe.
The 2006 augural event gained 46 team registrations, while the 2007 event grew to attract 80 teams and 120 teams in the 2008 event. Now 120 teams, of two participants in each team, will participate in the 2009 event.

There are three signature events in the 2009 series. The season kicks off with the River Kwai Trophy in Kanchanaburi, followed by the inaugural Chiang Mai Challenge, 10 May and the second Bangkok Challenge, hosted in Nong Chok district, on the outskirts of the capital, this November.

Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony
Date : 13-15 February 2009
Venue : Ko Kradan, Sikao District, Trang

The brides and grooms parade through the city streets and attend lavish parties. The wedding ceremony will be held on the beach in a traditional Thai style while the registration procedure will take place underwater off Ko Kradan.

For more informations :
TAT Trang Office, Tel : 66 (0) 7521 5867, 7521 1058, 7521 1085
Trang Tourism Coordination Centre, Tel. 66 (0) 7521 5867-8
Trang Chamber of Commerce, Tel. 66 (0) 2545 3322

Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2009
Date : 6 - 8 February 2009
Venue : Nong Buak Hat Park, Chiang Mai

If you are obsessed with beautiful flowers and decorative plants, this is the festival for you. Experience these beautiful flower-decorated floats and a magnificent tapestry of floral splendor that blankets the land. There are also agricultural exhibitions, floral contents, and product sales by local groups of housewives.

A highlight of the festival is the grand parade that attracts sponsoring companies and organisations that beautify floats with elaborate flower decorations, presenting an eco-tourism message or just simply stealing the hearts of spectators with their vivid colours and beauty.

The parade leads up to the annual beauty competition to crown the city’s flower queen, who represents the flower growers and exporters as an ambassador of good will.

Entertainment, an opportunity to dine on tasty northern snacks and view cultural performances are clearly features that draw both visitors and locals to this annual event. Home and garden lovers discover Chiang Mai is a February showcase for exotic orchids, flowering plants and blooms that thrive in the northern valley’s temperate cool season.Particularly during the cool season months, mid-November through to February, this northern provinces justifies its title “Rose of the North.” But for flower lovers, who flock to this annual festival, 6 to 8 February in the town’s Buak Hat Park, there is far more to the town’s garden reputation than the impressive display of elegant roses.

Since 1977 when the annual festival was inaugurated, it has earned a reputation on par with similar events such as Japan Sakura Flower Festival and the Netherlands’ flower parades. This was further enhanced by the successful flower expo in 2006.
Due variations of climate and its mountain landscapes, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival presents a diversity of blooms and flowers. Many of them, originally imported from temperate climes such as carnations, chrysanthemum, tulips, are displayed side-by-side with tropical flowers including exotic orchids.

Contact :
TAT Chiang Mai Office
Tel : 66 (0) 5324 8604, 5324 8607, 5324 1466
Chiang Mai Municipality Office
Tel : 66 5324 8604
Website : www.tatchiangmai .org

Phuket International Blues Rock Festival
Date : 19 - 22 February, 2009
Venue : Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Phuket

The 2009 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival promises to be bigger than ever with at least 12 acts performing on stage during the two-night event. Now a firm fixture in Phuket’s annual entertainment calendar, the festival attracts top blues bands from around Thailand, while two popular bands from Australia and the US return once more. Ricky Zen will once again MC the event which will have a minimum of twelve acts total with five international bands, and its headliner will be none other than Eric Bibb! Eric is a New York native but has lived in Europe most of his adult life. He is one of the greatest contemporary bluesers and tours constantly all over the world. We are very pleased to have been able to secure this wonderful artist for the 2009 show.
Next on the big newcomer list is California’s Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s. Mitch is a world class New Orleans style boogie-woogie piano man and has set crowds abuzz around the world for 30+ years. From Europe comes Bert Deivert & Janne Zander, a top rated blues duo from Sweden.
The OZ contribution to the festival this year is a beautiful lady from the city of Perth in Western Australia. Her name is KNIKI and her voice is grunty, strong and sexy. Having listened to her just released second cd, "JUST", we just felt compelled to invite her to the 2009 show.

The 2009 festival will see a tribute act for the first time: "Chasing Jimi" - a Tribute to Jimi Hendrix featuring Jimmy Fame (USA).
By popular demand Rich Harper will return along with The Blues Machine and Bangkok’s Cannonball.
Our very own Groove Doctors fronted by Tony ’Hacksaw’ Wilson will also be back for some on-stage surgery.
See The Bands page, and more coming – stay tuned!

Established to support local charities, this year’s event will donate funds to charities that organise education for young children -- the Phuket International Women’s Club and the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation.

For more information
www.phuketbluesfestival.com

Lantern Festival : the Color of the South
Dates: 1 November, 2008 – 28 February, 2009
(Paricitpate 12 November, 2008)
Venue: Hat Yai Municipality Park, Hat Yai District, Songkhla

Highlights :
Features the creative wonderful lanterns in the theme of the 7 wonders i.e. Fabulous International Lantern, Amazing Fowl and Animal, World of Kids as well as contemporary style.

For further details : please contact TAT Hat Yai Tel : 66 (0) 7423 8518