Virtually every week there's a festival, party or concert taking place in Pattaya. All this, on top of the famous Thai celebrations that take place every year. Here are some of the main events taking place, but if you know of any others coming soon, drop us a line and let us know! Our email is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Monday August 1, 6pm-11pm

Friday, August 5, 6pm-

Songkran! Thai new year is celebrated in mid-April with the mother of all water fights. Wan Lai is the day when everyone grabs a water pistol or bucket of icy-cold water and drenches anybody in sight. There is also a religious side to Songkran, the water is a symbol of forgiveness.

Head up to Yasothon in the north-east to have a blast with this annual rocket festival. Known as Boon Bang Fai, it involves a few days of street parties before marching off to a field to let off 30-ft homemade rockets. Sometimes they go up, sometimes they go sideways and sometimes they even clip passing planes on their way up. The festival marks the start of the rainy season, so the rockets are a way of waking up the spirits in the sky to ensure they sent plenty of water for the crops. This is usually held in the second week of May.

Loy Krathong: Small vessels filled with candles and incense sticks are set afloat on the water in one of Thailand's most beautiful festivals. It's all about releasing past problems and looking forward to the future. It's also the time of year when Thais decide on which partner they want to be with, so who you spend Loi Krathong with is something of a statement to the world. Traditionally, it's also the time of year when younger Thais start searching for their ideal partner. Loy Krathong is held in mid-November, but exact dates depend on the position of the moon.

December 5: HM the King's Birthday.  A national holiday, when all Thais come together to pay respect to the world's  longest-reigning monarch.

December 31: Yeah, OK, everywhere celebrates the new year, but in Thailand it's a major, major deal. Known as 'Countdown', most Thais have a few days off work and head home to mark the new year.