Governor Thanin Supasaen says the event is a celebration of what Lampang does not have in the way of swanky hotels, hectic nightlife venues and plush shopping centres. He added that visitors would only find a town that retained its traditional aura and horse-drawn carriages still plied its thoroughfares.
The governor noted Lampang had developed after the main north-south railway track between Bangkok and Chiang Mai was laid a century ago. He explained that Lampang would be forever associated with railways and therefore, in correlation with horse-drawn carriages, trains were one of two principal themes for the festival.
The festival is being staged in the environs of Prasan Maitri Road. This links Nakhon Lampang Train Station to the town’s historic rail bridge over the Wang River. As well as carriages, the fest features fairground rides and amusements, traditional dancing and live entertainment provided by the likes of the Mai Muang Band.
Lampang Old Town Festival gets underway
News in Asia
Yesterday saw the start of the Lampang Old Town Festival. The northern Thai town is holding the five-day cultural extravaganza to showcase its timeless charms and the fact little has changed here in the past century.