Where to go for Children’s Day?

Posted by Northerner on January 12th, 2012 filed in Attractions, Festival

It is Thai National Children’s Day tomorrow and places normally closed to the general public throw open their gates to provide youngsters with memories they will treasure forever. The annual celebration in honour of Thailand’s youngest generation falls on the second Saturday in January and is known as wan dek. Military camps at Chiang Mai’s Wing41 Air Force base, Kavila Army Barracks and the Thai Army Cavalry base on the road out to Mae Rim are ideal places to head for to enjoy a great day out.

Wing41’s headquarters is located next to Chiang Mai International Airport. This is where I usually head for, not because it is any better than the others, but it is easier for me to get to. Traffic jams on Chiang Mai’s roads on wan dek are usually long and time consuming. At Wing41, the festivities begin right outside the gate with lots of snack and model aircraft vendors doing a brisk business.

On the fields and parking apron before the runway there are usually tanks, aircraft and fire engines which children can clamber over. There are also periodic displays with dog-handlers and parachutists among professionals giving displays of their finely honed skills.

The day’s entertainment is not limited to military bases as Chiang Mai Zoo and Kad Suan Kaew Shopping Centre are among other popular locations with diverse activities and lots of free goodies for the children. Even government offices usually stage something on the day. There is rarely an entrance fee to Children’s Day events and youngsters and their parents can roam around freely.