The 2026 Songkran Water Festival parade in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, dazzled with a length exceeding 2 kilometers. This event has been held continuously for over 110 years, featuring free som tum (papaya salad) distributed to local residents and tourists along the entire route.
On 16 Apr 2026 GMT+7, a reporter described the atmosphere of the Songkran Water Festival in Mae Sot District, Tak Province. Mayor Kul Krueawira of Mae Sot Municipality, along with the municipal executives, the Mae Sot district chief, senior administrative officers, and other stakeholders, welcomed Governor Chusak Ruying of Tak Province. He presided over the opening ceremony of the 2026 cultural heritage parade of the Chod city tradition. Attending were Ms. Thamolwan Charoenwongpisit, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tak Office, the Superintendent of Mae Sot Police Station, and representatives from government and private sectors, who all joined the event in full.
The annual Songkran parade has been held continuously for over 110 years and is considered the Water Festival of Mae Sot city. This year, more than 12 groups participated, forming a procession about 2 kilometers long. It started with the Mae Sot Municipality group, followed by 9 temple groups, 19 community groups, and concluded with the Vijitraporn Mae Sot group, a distinguished troupe representing the LGBTQ+ community, providing a platform for them to showcase their talents. Each group was beautifully decorated.
A highlight of the event was that every group included vehicles offering free water, beverages, crispy rice snacks, crackers, and som tum prepared directly on the floats to distribute to locals and tourists free of charge. The atmosphere was lively and festive.
