Year 2008 the Wat Chalong Fair with be held from February 6 to 12.

Wat Cholong Fair Description

The Wat Chalong Fair is an 8 day event every year at the end of January. Wat Chalong is the most revered Buddhist temple in south Thailand.

The finger bone of Buddha is kept in the special “Chedi” that is the largest temple building. Thai people flock to the festival for the fun, games, food, shopping, and socializing. Many Thai people also show respect for their religion and temple by making an offering at the main temple by laying flowers, lighting a candle and some incense while offering a prayer. The entire Wat (Temple) is transformed with bright lights and music and the smell of fresh BBQ roasting in the air. It is really quite exciting and a great way to better understand the Thai culture and people.

Vendors offer goods for sale in long rows of canvas tent shops and stalls. Everything you might think of is for sale. Lots of clothing, bags, hats, jewelry, cosmetics, flowers, ceramics, and more types of food, snacks and sweets are on display than you can imagine.

Like most fairs and festivals there are entertainment areas with games of chance, water-dunk tanks, shooting games for stuffed animals and presents, dart games, etc. There are large playground areas with air-cushion slides, train rides, ferris wheels, and merry-go-rounds.

At the front of the fair, which is quite large and requires lots of walking, is the restaurant area with large patio style eating areas. Thai cuisine from all parts of Thailand is available. From southern Thai cuisine to Issan dishes, the fair offers something of a “taste of Thailand.”

The fair has gotten bigger every year. It seems something new is for sale very year. This year there were several orchid sellers and exotic koy and goldfish for outdoor aquariums.

Muay Thai boxing matches are held every two or three days along with Thai “Reekay” which is a cultural dance and musical style of entertainment. The last three days of the fair, popular Thai vocal artists take stage for concerts that bring more than 15,000 people. No matter what day or night you come (opens most days around 11:00 a.m.) the Wat Chalong Fair is great fun with lots of bargains to be had shopping and great food for the eating.