Cultural shows and performances, food stalls, beauty pageants and contests are an essential part of the festival. The majority of the activities nowadays are food related and include among others preparation of ancient desserts and tasting of Thung Yao sweet tea.
Both Trang and Hat Yai are among the Thai cities with the highest population of Thais of full or partial Chinese ancestry. Other notable cities and provinces where the Chinese traders settled historically include Songkhla and Phuket in the south, Chanthaburi on the Eastern Seaboard, Bangkok, and the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
In Hat Yai, the Moon festival will take place during September 22-24 on Thammanoonwiti Road and Niphatuthit 1 Road. In Trang, the main action will take place in Thung Yao, Palian district.
If you cannot make it up to one of the locations of the festivals, despair not. Stores around the country – from 7/Elevens to Tesco and Macro, to Starbucks outlets – are selling a traditional mid-autumn treat, known as moon cakes. Small and large, these sweet round cakes come in different fashions with fillings of lotus seeds, black sesam, durian or even chocolate and mint. Buy one and make a wish!
Mid-Autumn Festival in Thailand – Where to Head for Best Celebrations?
News in Asia
Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Moon festival in Thailand, falls on September, 24 this year. It will be celebrated throughout the country with the largests parties organized in the southern provinces of Trang and Hat Yai where there is a high number of the Chinese descendants.