On May 18th -19th, 2024, Consul-General Katanawadee Kalayanamit, Deputy Consul-General Natnapang Damrongsoontornchai, and staff members attended the Minnesota Songkran Festival 2024 at the Minnesota State Capitol.
The 3rd annual festival was co-organized by the Thai Cultural Council of Minnesota, Wat Promwachirayan, the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chicago, the Department of Cultural Promotion, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thai Trade Center in Chicago, and various private sectors. Maintaining its main theme, “Songkran for All,” the festival welcomed everyone to join for free.
The festival featured various activities and attractions throughout the two-day event, which attracted approximately 40,000 attendees. Besides Thai cuisine and products from Thailand, there were diverse activities such as the Maha Songkran Parade, Thai music and dance performances, traditional Thai games, a papaya salad eating contest, performances from Asian communities in Minnesota, and a Lanna dance and umbrella painting demonstration by Ms. Waewdao Sirisook, a performer and artist from Chiang Mai. Additionally, there was a papaya salad demonstration and tasting by Mr. Chumpol Jangprai, Chairman of the Food Industry Steering Committee under the National Soft Power Committee. Highlights included performances by Ms. Anntonia Porsild, Miss Universe Thailand 2023, Ms. Panida Kernjinda, Miss Thailand 2024, and Ms. Atitiya Benjapak, the 2nd runner-up Miss Thailand 2024.
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chicago would like to congratulate the successful organization of the Minnesota Songkran Festival 2024. It is now regarded as one of the largest Thai Festivals in the United States. We also would like to thank the Minnesota state government, organizers, volunteers, supporters, vendors, artists, and performers, as well as all attendees.