For 100 years the Thai Red Cross has stood as a shining symbol of hope in the kingdom and this week the organisation celebrates its significant milestone with a magnificent fair focused on generosity, kindness and boundless fun in the name of charity.
This year’s instalment of the much-loved annual jamboree, which was first stage in 1923 at Sanam Luang, takes place from December 11-22 at Lumpini Park on Rama IV Road. Gates open at 11am and close at 10pm daily.
With so many public and private sector organisations taking part, visitors can enjoy an exciting mix of booths offering discounted products galore, mouth-watering food and beverages, fun games, musical interludes and some great raffle prizes. Highlights of the event range from marching bands, lion dances and dog shows to sepak takraw matches (kick volleyball) and krabi krabong demonstrations (traditional Thai martial arts). There’s even a ballroom dance session at the Lumpini Recreation Center on December 15 at 5pm.
In addition, fair-goers can take in a traditional Thai costume contest, a virtual merit-making trip to nine destinations, online fortune telling, a simulated kite flying contest, visit an online haunted house and watch screenings of 17 rare short films. And this year, for the first time, Red Cross raffle tickets for fantastic prizes can be purchased online.
The fair is easily accessible by public transport via nearby BTS Skytrain stations at Ratchadamri (exit 4) and Sala Daeng (exit 6), and MRT stations at Silom (exit 1) and Lumpini (exit 3). If you're coming by bus, take numbers 4, 13, 45, 47, 50, 62, 74, 76, 77, 141, 504, 505, 514, 547 or A3. A free shuttle service also runs every 30 minutes from the National Stadium and Benchakitti Forest Park to Lumpini. If you're driving, there's parking space for up to 750 cars at the park.
However, if you can't make it in person but want to do your bit for charity, don’t worry – there are many ways to contribute online at redcrossfair.com.