Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Known as one of Thailand’s most colourful events, the annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival takes place on the first weekend of February over the course of three days. Running for over 40 years, the event celebrates seasonal blooming flowers and attracts thousands of floral enthusiasts every year.
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-biggest city and located in the country’s north, is nicknamed the Rose of the North. While the Damask rose is found in Chiang Mai only, a huge variety of flowers – from the kingdom’s national yellow Ratchaphruek to white chrysanthemums and multi-coloured orchids – can also be found in the area, making it an ideal venue and underscores Thailand’s reputation of having the largest plant biodiversity in Southeast Asia.
The highlight of the festival is a floral parade which takes place on Saturday morning. Large floats adorned with colourful flowers as well as marching bands, school groups and dancers in traditional Thai and local hill tribe dresses take part. Competitions for the most beautiful and creative flower and plant displays around the city, as well as the best float, take place over the weekend, but it’s crowning the Chiang Mai Flower Festival beauty queen that is most popular among locals.
Nong Buak Hard Park – known for its many types of trees and flowers – is where most of the activities take place, including a fair to mark the occasion. Thanon Arak and Thanon Bamrungburi streets around the park are partly closed for a market with many food stalls, while in front of Thapae Gate concerts and shows are performed by school children from Chiang Mai.
Hong Kong Marathon
The Hong Kong Marathon is an annual sports event with the highest participation rate in Hong Kong. The first race was in 1997 to coincide with the opening of the new international airport and 2020 will mark the 24th year of the race.
Set to take place on 9 February in 2020, the race offers three distances including 10 km, a half marathon and a full marathon. Every year, thousands of local runners and international elites participate in this IAAF Gold Label Race. The route starts in the scenic Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon, races up into the New Territories and heads back down to a spectacular finish in Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island.
Wonderfruit Festival in Thailand
Just a short trip from Bangkok and set amongst the Thai countryside, Wonderfruit Festival is a unique and innovative event built on six pillars: art & architecture, wellness, farm to feast, music, family, and talks & workshops. Held each year over four days and four nights during December, Wonderfruit boasts an international live music acts and DJs, perspective-shifting talks and workshops, world-class cuisine, cutting-edge architecture, and much more.
Now in its seventh year, this environmentally-conscious event encourages sustainable living and brings together a global community that celebrates this lifestyle, proving that fun can go hand-in-hand with social responsibility. Each year the festival program’s is filled with action, expression, and discovery-packed experiences designed to inspire participants of all ages.
Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
Experience what is by far the largest ice and snow sculpture exhibition in the world, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival. Taking place from 5 January – 20 February in 2020, visitors can observe intricate sculpting techniques ranging from the traditional use of lanterns to the more modern use of lasers.
Outings to this chilly locale are particularly exciting after dark because of the way the multi-coloured LED lights illuminate the sculptures from within. In addition to showcasing these incredible art forms, many entertainment options are also available. Go through an ice maze, play ice golf, or give a try at ice archery and ice rock climbing.