Photos Pattaya.com

The Pattaya authorities propose to conduct a Mardi Gras in Pattaya each year. The Pattaya Mardi event usually kicks off on Beach Road near Central Shopping Complex on Beach Road. One of the attractions during the event is the colorful street procession which begins near the Hard Rock Cafe.

Pattaya's first Mardi Gras was held in 2009. It was promoted as "Pattay's first electrical carnival parade".

"Mardi Gras" means Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday. It is a carnival held in some countries on Shrove Tuesday (the last day before Lent) but especially in New Orleans. It is the day before Ash Wednesday. Many cultures around the world hold a festival or Carnival in the days preceding Lent, culminating in the biggest celebrations on Mardi Gras. Now Thailand has joined the list of countries that celebrate with a Mardi Gras.

If you like taking photos with your camera or phone then you will find plenty of photo taking opportunities at the Pattaya Mardi Gras.

The participants of the procession usually line up along Beach Road before it gets moving. Included in the procession are floats sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), school children from the local schools, Thai traditional dancers dressed in traditional costumes, marching bands, a few designer cars, stars from the local ladyboy show and several representations of local girly bars which featured the bar girls dressed in skimpy clothing. You might see some of the girls performing erotic dances on platforms harnessed to the back sections of pickup trucks.

The procession route is around five kilometers long and it takes about an hour for the procession to pass by. The Pattaya Mardi Gras processions that I attended started at approximately 5:00 p.m. It was a colorful, fun event, and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

  • BigPicPattaya Mardi Gras 001
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 001
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 002
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 003
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 004
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 005
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 006
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 007
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 008
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 009
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 010
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 011
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 012
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 013
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 014
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 015
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 016
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 017
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 018
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 019
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 020
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 021
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 022
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 023
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 024
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 025
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 026
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 027
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 028
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 029
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 030
  • Pattaya Mardi Gras 031