Credit: Thai New Year | Kiian Oksana via Shutterstock.
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Staff Writer
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March 25, 2026
We know for a fact that L.A. is a melting pot of cultures, and a testament to this is that next month the city is gearing up to host one of what’s widely considered the biggest Thai New Year celebrations in the country.
The 17th annual Songkran Festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year, will be held in late April, as a free, all-day event that will transform Hollywood Boulevard into a vibrant street festival packed with culture, food, and nonstop entertainment.
In the city, Songkran energy comes alive through blending tradition with street-party vibes featuring multiple stages with live music, Thai dance performances, Muay Thai demonstrations, cooking showcases, and hundreds of vendors.
A record-breaking Pad Thai attempt
One of this year’s biggest highlights is a bold attempt to break a food-related record. Organizers aim to sell 1,200 orders of pad thai within a single hour, turning one of Thailand’s most iconic dishes into a high-energy, community-driven challenge.
Participants will receive an official Pad Thai world record T-shirt and a certificate of participation, making it a full-on “I was there” moment, not just lunch.
The largest Thai hub outside Thailand
There’s a reason this festival stands out: L.A. is home to the largest Thai community outside Thailand, with 80,000 to 100,000 Thai citizens and Thai-Americans living mainly in Thai Town.
The area is so culturally significant that it’s often nicknamed Thailand’s “77th province.” That deep-rooted community is what makes this Songkran celebration not just big, but authentic.
On top of that, the Thai New Year regularly draws massive crowds, around 100,000 attendees in past years, and spans multiple city blocks filled with over 200 vendors.
📆 When: April 26, 2026. 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Thai Town, Hollywood Blvd (between Western Ave & Normandie Ave)