Chiang Mai Entertainment

Leisure and entertainment are two priorities among the people of Chiang Mai. Thailand’s northern capital is a tourist town, but it is also home to 300,000 people, many of whom prefer a laid-back lifestyle focused on meeting and eating with friends, enjoying nature, taking it easy and partying with visitors. Without losing its ancient charm, Chiang Mai has a myriad of simple entertainment options; this isn't Las Vegas, but rather a very quaint town of numerous restaurants and bars, karaoke lounges, a number of discos, cinemas and cultural shows.

Nightlife

The nightlife scene in Chiang Mai is more laid back than in Bangkok, but this mellow vibe suits the city perfectly. The city is a great place for a pub crawl, because it is easy to stumble from bar to bar. Bars are all over the city, but are mostly congregated on either side of the moat’s eastern flank in the Tapae Gate area, along the Ping River near Nawarat Bridge and in the vicinity of the Night Bazaar. Many bars feature live music and singers, with repertoires that include Thai ballads, soul, blues and pop favourites. There are also a number of discos which pump out dance floor anthems, cutting-edge trance and house, and retro classics.

Karaoke is a national obsession, and lounges can be found all over the city. Just about any bar in Chiang Mai has karaoke. Many of the city’s karaoke lounges are at Chiang Mai Land, a purpose-built street off Changklan Road, south of the city. Like the rest of Thailand, the nightlife in Chiang Mai is well-known for its go-go bars. These are located mostly along the western end of Loi Kroh Road including a walk-in arcade near the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel and a stretch off Moon Muang Road, south of Tapae Gate. These areas are well-contained, more discreet than Bangkok, and relatively tame.

Theatre and music

For an alternative fun night out, Simon’s Cabaret is Chiang Mai’s number one extravaganza of song, dance and costume. The stars are beautifully dressed guys who can easily fool you into thinking they are women. Soft drinks and beer are available on the menu, and be sure to make reservations, as these shows are becoming increasingly popular with tourists.

The Chiang Mai Puppet Playhouse uses beautifully made puppets that spring to life during a series of sketches that recount Buddhist folk tales. The 45-minute performances are accompanied by local musicians, and the northern Thai dialogue is explained by a narrative in English.

Festivals

Chiang Mai is an easy-going yet active city. On the one hand, it appears very sophisticated and to some degree very westernised; while on the other hand, influences from the surrounding farming communities and hill tribes infuse everyday life, which is evident in the city’s annual events and festivals.

• Chiang Mai Flower Festival is an annual festival that is held for three days during the first week of February, and it celebrates the rich diversity of plants for which Chiang Mai is famous for. It is also a chance to learn about north Thailand’s rich history. During this period, the streets of Chiang Mai are covered with displays of flowers, handicraft sales, flower competitions and beauty contests. Exquisite floral floats, portraying many themes, make their way along Thapae Road.
• Loy Krathong is a lively, historic festival, when Thais pay respect to the local river god and float their sins away. Fireworks and fire crackers go off in the evenings until the small hours of the morning, with thousands of people floating offerings down the Ping River. The festival is a dazzling array of lanterns, krathongs (floating offering trays made of banana leaves and holding coins, incense, flowers and a candle), fruit carving contests, beauty contests and Lanna cultural performances.
• Chiang Mai Mardi Gras is the city’s own version of a Mardi Gras parade to welcome the beginning of the peak tourist season. Changklan Road is closed to traffic and the streets are taken over by gaily-dressed marching bands, dancers and other revelers. This produces some sights to remember, so be sure to bring your camera along.