Central Pattaya Beach Fun Fest 2009
Posted by Paula Fan Club
Event Date: 23 January 2006
Photo Credits: http://www.pattayadailynews.com
BIG SUCCESS FOR PATTAYA CITY’S FIRST MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL
On 23rd January 2009 Pattaya exploded in an extravaganza of colour, music and dance as the Fun City staged its first ever Mardi Gras Festival.
At 6:00 pm Pattaya City mayor, Mr. Ittipol Khunpluem, Mr. Niki Kongkrut of the TAT Pattaya office and Mr. Kobchai Jirathiwat of the Central Pattana Co. officiated over the ceremony to celebrate the Pattaya International Mardi Gras and the grand opening of the city’s massive new shopping mall, the Central Festival on Pattaya Beach.
The Mardi Gras, whose sponsors included the Central Pattana Group and various Pattaya Tourism and Hotel clubs, was based on celebrations of the same name around the world but was not designed to support Gay and Lesbian groups. Instead it focused on three themes - Thai Contemporary Arts, Modern Beach Lifestyle and an Under the Sea Celebration.
The highlight was an energetic Electric Parade which took place in the evening and featured local schools and private companies. Traffic was brought to a standstill as the parade followed its course around central Pattaya, which finished at the new shopping mall.
At the end crowds were treated to a display of more than 300 fireworks, followed by a concert from a popular Thai band.
Even though the Mardi Gras was organized very quickly (only 3-4 months) the organizations responsible had put together an impressive and successful event and showed what Pattaya can do best.
An estimated crowd of 25000 people had joined in with the event and a good time was had by all. Those that PDN spoke to said they enjoyed themselves and hoped the Mardi Gras would be repeated again next year.
