Local people and tourists have been out in force this weekend to enjoy the 33rd annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival. Held on the first full weekend of February, the festival has confirmed Chiang Mai’s reputation as a city justifiably proud of its floral pedigree. Even those with a limited interest in horticultural matters have been enjoying the weekend which features beauty contests, a street parade, local markets and food stalls.
The main parade commenced yesterday morning at Nawarat Bridge (on the Ping River) before heading down Thapae Road and then along a route adjacent to the old walled city past Thapae Gate, Chiang Mai Gate and Suan Prung Gate before finishing at Buak Hat Public Park. Thousands of locals and tourists joined together to enjoy the spectacle of giant floral displays and traditional Lanna and northern Thai costumes as the procession slowly made its way along Chiang Mai’s streets. The road outside Buak Hat park is closed for the weekend as the area becomes the main focus of the festival. As well as the floral exhibition and gardening contests, there is a mini-funfair, local markets and music. It’s all sanuk mak as the locals say and of course, no festival in Thailand can properly call itself a festival if there isn’t a vast array of food-stalls to keep everybody happy and well-fed.
photos © thaizer.com
