Almost irrespective of the time of year, there is likely to be something fun either happening in Guildford or else due to happen quite soon. A decent example of that comes in the form of the Magic of Thailand Festival, which is due to land in the town in July.
Taking place over a couple of days on a weekend towards the end of the month, the Festival is one that, unsurprisingly, celebrates everything good about Thailand. Anyone that has ever been there will know that there’s plenty worth celebrating, from the incredible hospitality of the people through to the delicious food, the weather and the welcoming nature of the Thai people.
When & Where?
As well as knowing that an event won’t be too far away for those living in Guildford, working in the town, or simply passing through, most people will be more than aware of the fact that Stoke Park is the place to head to for the vast majority of big events. That is certainly the case here, with the grounds of Guildford’s largest and award-winning park being taken over for the weekend in order to celebrate all things Thailand. Whilst the Festival isn’t likely to take up all 52 hectares of space on offer, it does at least mean that there should be plenty of space for everyone looking to get involved with proceedings to head along.
When it comes to when you need to head there, the event is taking place over a weekend towards the end of July. The first day of proceedings is the 25th of July, which is a Saturday, whilst the second day is the Sunday the 26th of July. Things get underway at 10am, lasting through until 7pm on both of the days, which means that there is plenty of time available for you to soak up the atmosphere and get involved in all of the fun on offer. Adult tickets cost £6, with children under the age of 15 going free. If you buy your ticket in advance, you will also be entered into a raffle to win a flight to Thailand itself, which is worth considering.
What Is the Magic of Thailand Festival?
Established in 2012 in order to introduce Thailand to people around the United Kingdom, the Magic of Thailand Festival has taken place in the likes of Manchester, Nottingham and Brighton in the past. Selling itself as a ‘weekend of wonder’, it is a family-friendly experience that promises to put Thai culture at the forefront of what is happening. Obviously, Thai food is one of the things that most people will know all about and there is no question that it is also the part of the Festival that the majority of people will be looking forward to the most. That isn’t all that is on offer over the course of the weekend, however.
This is about introducing people to numerous different aspects of Thai life, perhaps encouraging you to visit the country at some point in the future. Thai arts and crafts will also be on display, as well as the ability to watch some traditional Thai dancing and even some Muay Thai, which is essentially Thai kickboxing. If you’ve ever wondered what the fuss is all about when it comes to Thai ladyboys, this is a good chance to see thanks to the ladyboy shows taking place. Thai beer is something that might interest more than a few people, so the fact that there’s a Thai beer garden will doubtless be music to your ears if that’s you.
There is a competition entitled “I’m British, Get Me Out of Here!”, which you can get involved in if you would like a chance to win some great prizes. The fact that there are numerous different demonstrations taking place over the course of the weekend means that it will feel as though there’s always something going on that you can enjoy, as well as offering those of you with kids the chance to keep them occupied and entertained whilst learning about another country’s culture. The good news is that there are plenty of adults out there who are just as in need of learning about Thai culture as the young people in their care.
Things to Be Aware Of
As you might imagine with such a big festival taking place across a couple of days, there are a few things that you need to be made aware of. First and foremost, you can buy tickets on the day if you haven’t been able to get one ahead of time for some reason. The ticket lets you enter the festival as well as to see the shows and performances that take place. What the ticket price doesn’t include is any food or drink, or the cost of parking at Stoke Park. Similarly, if your kids want to have a go on some of the rides then they are not included in the price of your ticket either, which isn’t ideal if your kids are good at bugging you.
With the exception of those who have special dietary requirements, food and drink have to be bought on site and can’t be brought with you. Dogs on a lead are allowed to attend the festival, whilst both cash and card will be accepted at the majority of places when it comes to paying for any of the things that you might want during the course of the day. Though mobility scooters and wheelchairs are allowed, bikes and scooters are not. Bikes can be chained up to the fence that is located near to the security staff area, should you want to cycle to the area but not actually walk around with your bike whilst you enjoy everything that the Magic of Thailand Festival has to offer.