Banthat Thong serves up three months of spooky nights, moonlit dancing and festive sparkle
Halloween, Loy Krathong and year-end celebrations aim to bring repeat visitors and more spending to Bangkok’s Banthat Thong food district.
- Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU), in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), will host three festivals on Banthat Thong Road from October to December 2026.
- The "3 Months, 3 Festivals" program will feature themed events for Halloween (Oct 26–Nov 1), Loy Krathong (Nov 18–24), and Christmas/New Year (Dec 25–31).
- The initiative aims to transform the area from a "Food Street" into a "Food & Festival Street" to boost visitor spending and support local businesses.
- Each festival will have unique attractions, such as a Thai ghost parade for Halloween, a swing dance event for Loy Krathong, and a temple fair-style Christmas celebration.
Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU) has joined the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and local businesses to organise three festivals on Bangkok’s Banthat Thong Road between October 26 and December 31, 2026. The programme aims to increase visitor spending and support neighbourhood businesses during the year-end tourism season.
The Banthat Thong temple-fair programme combines traditional Thai fairground entertainment with Halloween, Loy Krathong, Christmas and New Year celebrations under the concept “3 Months, 3 Festivals”.
PMCU wants to develop Banthat Thong from a “Food Street” into a “Food & Festival Street”, giving visitors more reasons to return throughout the year through activities that complement the district’s restaurants.
Tourism activity in Banthat Thong had become livelier in 2026, with Thai and international visitors continuing to explore the food district.
Local shops join Banthat Thong’s push for repeat visitors
Participating Banthat Thong businesses will decorate their shopfronts to match each month’s theme and coordinate promotions and special activities. Plans also include street decorations, new landmarks and photo spots, extending the festival atmosphere along the food street and into its restaurants.
PMCU and its partners intend to direct festival visitors towards local shops, encourage spending and help both established restaurants and newer businesses reach a wider range of customers.
PMCU has previously worked with businesses and other partners on Pop Art activities, Chinese New Year celebrations in Banthat Thong and Banthat Thong fairs. The year-end programme builds on those events by combining dining with activities, performances and opportunities to meet and socialise.
Banthat Thong schedules three seasonal festivals
Banthat Thong’s programme begins with Halloween on October 26 and continues with separate Loy Krathong and Christmas–New Year events in November and December.
October 26–November 1, Halloween: Banthat Thong’s opening event has a Thai theme meaning “Graveyard breakout”. Plans include a large haunted house and a parade of Thai ghost characters along the food street. Performers will also interact with people dining in restaurants and pose for photographs. Live storytelling will come from the Thai ghost-story programme whose title translates as “Wednesday Night Under the Blanket”.
November 18–24, Loy Krathong: Banthat Thong’s November event centres on youthful fun under the full moon. A space in the district will become a dance floor beneath a giant moon installation, with “Swing Under the Moon” inviting visitors to try swing dancing. The programme combines the atmosphere of Loy Krathong with music and contemporary leisure activities.
December 25–31, Christmas and New Year: Banthat Thong’s final event has a theme of joy ringing out to the stars. Organisers describe it as the district’s first full-scale Christmas and New Year celebration in the style of a Thai temple fair. Attractions will include festive lighting, a specially designed illuminated Christmas tree, fairground game stalls and activities for families, groups of friends and tourists.
Banthat Thong festivals aim to generate local spending
PMCU, TAT and participating businesses want the programme to extend the time visitors spend in Banthat Thong and encourage spending throughout the year-end period. The organisers also see the festivals as part of a longer-term effort to develop the neighbourhood as a creative economy district.
Thansettakij reported forecasts of more than 300,000 attendees per festival and more than 160 million baht circulating in the local economy. These are projected figures, rather than recorded attendance or spending results.
