While we were in Khao Lak, there was a local festival on. It took over half of the main street and included probably close to 100 food, tour and art stalls. It had two main stages showing on one some local dance and on the other the Khao Lak 2011 beauty pageant. Local festivals are fantastic, especially for travelers. Here are 5 reasons you should always make an effort to get to local festivals.
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| From Street Festival in Khao Lak |
They are authentic
In almost all cases – with the exception of some backpacker organized events such as full moon parties in Thailand – these festivals are put on for locals. This means that they are authentic entertainment that’s almost certainly local in nature. This gives you an unbiased perspective on local life and tastes. Don’t be surprised if it doesn’t exactly match up with what you would expect either.
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| From Street Festival in Khao Lak |
They are usually very inexpensive
Because these festivals are for locals, they are usually priced in local prices. As a tourist, you are probably used to being targeted by tourist prices. Local festivals are different and you’ll almost never experience a tourist price hike.
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| From Street Festival in Khao Lak |
They usually have great local food
One of the best places to eat is at local markets or festivals. They usually offer wide ranges of sampler food that’s made for local consumption. If you are like us and enjoy food prepared for local taste buds ( I hate it when Thai food is called “western spicy” for example), then you will love local festivals. The food is made in bulk and is prepared to local taste.
They are fun
It’s hard not to have fun at a local festival. The atmosphere is often lighthearted and fun. There are usually some kind of entertainment for children and families are often out enjoying the shows. They are designed to entertain and with an open mind, you can’t not enjoy them.
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| From Street Festival in Khao Lak |
They are great for meeting people
Sometimes it is hard to meet people while traveling. Some places seem to have a hard outer shell. Festivals bring everyone out, locals and travelers alike. If you are interested in chit chatting with locals or other travelers, a local festival is a great place to do it.
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We’re a married couple who quit our jobs to seek out new adventures and vistas on a round-the-world trip. We love meeting new people and sharing experiences and travel stories from our life on the road.
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