H.M. the Queen’s Birthday Celebrations

Date : 12 August 2008

Venue : Nationwide

An alms-giving ceremony in the morning is followed by a huge festival of music and culture at Sanam Luang in Bangkok to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday. You can also appreciate the beauty of the decorations along Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

Contact:

Tourism Authority of Thailand, TAT Call Centre 1672August 12 Celebrations Organising Committee Tel. : 66 (0) 2356 0051-2

Phi Ta Khon Festival

Phi Ta Khon Festival

Date : 4-6 July 2008

Venue : Dan Sai District, Loei

Phi Ta Khon is an utterly unique celebration during the Bun Luang Festival, the biggest yearly merit-making ceremony of entertainment, the locals believe that it is also rain-making ceremony. The most interesting part of the festival is the uniqueness of the costumes. The participants wear a ghost mask, made of a colourful bamboo sticky rice steamer, and dress in a costume made of many pieces of fabric sewn together. The masked “ghosts” have a special bell that they wear around their waists. The first activity, which normally starts in the Phra Uppakhut image. In the afternoon, many colourful parades commence. Both small and large Phi Ta Khons will participate in the procession of Budhisattra Vessantara, the Buddha’s penultimate incarnation into the city. There is also a rocket procession. Each village will make their own parade for the competition and other cultural performances.

Contact:

TAT Northeastern Office : Region 5, Tel : 66 (0) 4232 5406

Loei Tourism Coordination Centre, Tel : 66 (0) 4281 2812

http://www.tourismthailand.org/

The International Wax Sculpture at Ubon Ratchathani Province

The International wax sculpture At Ubon Ratchathani Province1 - 31 July 2008

Week 1 : 1 - 6 July 2008 "Visit the Artisan Community"

Activities

- Opening the 3rd International Wax Sculpture

- Visit to candle crafting communities and learn the insights into an ancient artistic tradition and local culture.

- Gathering of art students from all art institute in Thailand.

- Activity "I-san Tourism Year"- Start of wax sculptures by International artists.

- Displays of local flags, performances, pottery, etc.

Week 2 : 7 - 13 July 2008 "Global Cooling by Wax Sculpture"

Activities

- Wax sculpture made by representatives of 9 countries from Germany, China, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, Ukrain, Luxembourg, Italy and India including Ubon Rachathani local artist, work under concept "Global Cooling @ Thailand" at Ubon Ratchathani National Museum.

Week 3 : 14 - 20 July 2008 "A Touch of Buddhism And Arts"

Activities

- 18 July 2008, The Buddhist Lenten Candle Procession parade.

- Wax Sculpture by International Young Artists from the Greater Mekong Subregion : China, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

- Enjoy light and sound Show, Miss candle beauty contest.Broadcasting via http://www.tourismthailand.org/ on 18 July 2008

Week 4-5 : 21 - 31 July 2008 "Wisdom on Buddhism Land"

Activities

- Display of the Buddhist Lent Candle created by Ubon Ratchathani’s local artist

- Presentations of I-san flok performances and various kinds of food.

- Exhibition of 10 masterpieces created by 9 international artists plus 1 local artist at the Ubon Rachathani National Museum. The exhibition will be until 31 July 2008.

- Melting the Candle Cerenony ; "Back to Emptiness" on 31 July 2008

For any further information

- TAT Ubon Ratchathani, Tel. : 66 (0) 4524 3770-1, Fax. 66 (0) 4524 3771

Email : tatubon@tat.or.th

- Events Planning Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)

Tel : 66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 3475-77

Email : eprodiv@tat.or.th

- TAT call center 1672

- Website : http://www.thailandwaxcarving.com/

http://www.tourismthailand.org/