Royal Trophy Long Boat Races and 🥳🥳🥳 Bees Wax Castle Festival Schedule

revisions/corrections/updates may occur and would be highlighted over the next 3 days

Tues 20	View the cultural area and beehive castle performances at the Government Center. Community products for sale. Light and Sound Show, Safe Food Festival
Wed 21	9:00 AM: Painting contest depicting the twelve traditions of the Beehive Castle at King Rama V Square. 6:00 PM: Opening ceremony with Drone show at King Rama V Square
Thu 22	Bai Sri Offering Ceremony at the King Rama V Monument Plaza 1:00 PM: Northeastern Thai folk song contest at King Rama V Square
Fri 23	9:00 AM: Longboat racing competition for the Royal Trophy at Nong Han Lake Race course. 1:00 PM: Sakon Nakhon traditional dance contest at King Rama V Square.
Sat 24	9:00 AM: Longboat racing competition for the Royal Trophy at Nong Han Lake Race course. 7:00 PM: Beehive Castle Princess Contest at King Rama V Square.
Sun 25	5:00 PM: Opening Ceremony and Beehive Castle Parade with Light and Sound Show at Thon Buri Intersection. 7:30 PM: Beehive Castle Offering Ceremony at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum Worawihan. 8:00 PM: Sakon Fight
Mon 26	7:00 AM: Merit-making and alms-giving for the end of Buddhist Rain Retreat,  Beehive Castles on display at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum  7:30 Announcement and award ceremony (Best Wax castle)

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Wax Castle Parade Grandstand

This year it's set up a short distance from the recently built Clock Tower. 

First Wax Castle parade I saw was 2002, the main grandstand was then at the intersection of the Police Box. Years later it was moved up near the gas station, with a waiting line not at the pump. 

If you want to see performances then find a seat close near one of  three grandstands and come early. Most likely there will be a live broadcasts. I was privileged enough twice to sit in the main grandstand

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Wax Castle Preview

Most castle construction is in it's final phase

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Phu Thai dance and ancient lam muay (Peacock Tail Dance)

Wax Castle celebration this year was a one temple show, rather than entries by a number of local temples.  

Can  only hope that the celebrations will return to more historic momentum which included the two day event of royal boat races.  

Wax Castle celebration is usually held for four or more days and concludes with the October full moon ( next October 9, 2022 ).

   

2020 Wax Castle Fair at new location

Wax castles where moved to their temporary location on Saturday late afternoon.  

Right about the time I was attending a football game.

Three days later and I still have not had the interest to attend.  

This year marks the 18th time I experienced the event, this year minus the boat races.  

Drove past, what appears to be a new fairground next to the museum.  

It was noon and not much action at that time of the day.

If you are going, travel by motorcycle. Easier parking

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2020 Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle festival

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Sakon Nakhon Longboat Races and Wax Castle Festival Schedule Translated (originally posted October 18)

 translated by Methee Upanisagorn

Sunday 21 October 2018 Grand Opening Ceremony "Royal Cup" at the marina near Nong Han.

08.00 - At the sculpture area of Sakon Nakhon province, the procession moves from the sculpture to the Mosaicai Road, straight to Srinakarin Park. 

11.00 - Grand Opening Ceremony "Championship Cup" - Guppy dance contest - The Long Cheer Boats Contest - Long boat race "Royal Cup" (qualifying round) 

18.00 - One Tambon One Store One product (OTOP) with amusement park in the city. - Bee blooms - Castle Bee Exhibition - Food Safety Festival - The color of sound and culture of Sakon Nakhon.

Monday 22 October 2018 Phanai Contest and the closing ceremony of the long boat race. "Championship Cup"

08.00 - The contest is made at Phan Rang Stadium. 

09.00 - Long boat race "Grand Prize Cup" Semifinals of all types and finals of all types at the Nah Rua14.00 - Closing Ceremony of Long Boat Race "Championship Cup" - Awarded the Long Boat Race "Champion Cup" of all types. 

18.00 - Temple of the bee and the ancient bee castle show at the city. - One Tambon One Store One product (OTOP) with amusement park in the city. - Bee blooms - Castle Bee Exhibition - Food Safety Festival - The color of sound and culture of Sakon Nakhon.

Tuesday 23 October 2018 Opening ceremony of Bee Castle "Champion Cup" for the year 2018.

15.00 - Bring the bee-shaped palace procession and the ancient bee castle. Every set of performances at the set point. 

15.30 - Folk music and folk arts17.00 - Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn cup. The statue at the statue. 

17.30 - Opening ceremony of Bee Castle "Champion Cup" for the year 2018. - Move the bee-shaped castle along the light path to Wat Phra That Choom Chum. 

18.00 - Temple of the bee and the ancient bee castle show at the city. - One Tambon One Store One product (OTOP) with amusement park in the city. - Bee blooms - Castle Bee Exhibition - Food Safety Festival - Temple of the bee and the ancient bee castle to set up a show at the municipality of Sakon Nakhon. - The color of sound and culture of Sakon Nakhon.

Wednesday 24 October 2018 Merit making ceremony

06.00 - The public servants of the people together at Wat Phra That Choom Chum. 

07.00 - The merit-making ceremony around the relics.

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Opening day Sakon Nakhon Royal Longboat Races and Wax castle festival

It all starts with a short land parade when the race trophies are delivered Sunday Morning 8 am

There's a bit of pomp involved and most likely a speech

You'll want to be looking for a good seat along the waterfront to see the boat parade and the peacock feather dance competition 11am

The rest of the day it's racing competition.  

Check out the main temple during the afternoon for various activities and exhibits.

Early evening check out the action at the Municipal grounds (across the street from the Sakon  Nakhon Police headquarters and Immigration offices). There's a food fair, entertainment, and all wax castle float entries are on display

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Sakon Nakhon 2018 Royal Longboat Races and Wax Castle Festival

The Blue line represents the Race trophy delivery route taken on the morning of 21 October.

The orange route is the wax castle parade route with three grandstand locations

1023 October 23 :: Wax Castle Parade

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If you missed them...

Thai Tube Channel has a collection of videos of the Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle parade and the lighted barge parade in Nakhon Phanom

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Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival 2017

Something a bit different this year, mini parades accompanied the tractor pulled floats.  A few of the floats had already arrived by the time I arrived.  Obviously this sculpture was a bit heavy, it was tilted quite a bit to one side.  The boys set it on the ground a couple times. Problem was obvious, they had all the short guys on one side, the tall guys on the other.

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Festival day two

This evening is a great time to spend at the city grounds with plenty of things to see and do. Thai media will be trumpeting this visit for days.  Wonder what the impact on the trade deficit will be. I'll watch some of the ceremonies on TV

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Wax Castle Parade VIP grandstand going up

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2017 Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival Schedule and Parade Route

Best viewing of the parade is near one of two VIP grandstands. This is generally where paraders stop and perform.

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Action at the Ming Muang Grounds

Setting up early at the the Town Square. That open space across from the immigration and police compounds. Many of the vendors are already operational. Half the field is still used for sport.  The grass area is still a slightly mushy from all the recent rains.  Watch your step, possible  'dog poop.'

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Hobnob at Ming Muang Grounds

Muang is easily translated to town Ming on the other hand gets a bit more complicated. It is doubtful that it has anything to do with a Chinese dynasty centuries ago.  Google ming muang grounds and you find the name used all over Thailand.  http://www.thai-language.com/dict/search  has some interesting answers: " to converse, mingle, mix, blend, combine, intermingle, interweave, join, merge, unite; associate, consort, fraternize, hang about or around, hobnob, rub shoulders (informal), socialize" Google maps erroneously labels the area a stadium. I have frequently referred to the area as the Municipal grounds. The name is most appropriate.  Government Office on the map is actually the Sakon Nakhon Immigration office.  During the Wax Castle Festival there are a variety of contests, performances, displays, eateries, etc.

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Wax Castle construction is underway

There appear to be no Royal Longboat Races this year. As the boat races are royally sponsored events, it would be inapropriate the have such events before the royal cremation

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Building a castle updated

Building materials, mostly candle wax are donated by the community.  Most of the early preparations are done during the cooler evening hours when wax is melted and poured into forms. This work is done mostly by novice monks and volunteers.             Most of the assembling is done during the day by artisans and apprentices.        Wax castles are on display at the city grounds (across from the police station) the evening prior to the parade

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