Thai Festival to feature food, shopping, music: Office

Taipei, April 21 (CNA) This year's Thai Festival will run from April 25-28 in Taipei and Kaohsiung, showcasing food and musical performances, with visitors given a chance to win round-trip airline tickets between Taiwan and Thailand, the Thailand Trade and Economic Office said Monday.

The Taipei leg of the festival will take place from April 25-27 at FEDS Xinyi A13 department store, where people will be able to shop for traditional Thai snacks and Thai brands, including cosmetics and souvenirs, said Thai Representative to Taiwan Narong Boonsatheanwong.

Boonsatheanwong said the event will also feature musical performances from Chiang Mai, including Sbunnga, a dance company and The Ping Reverie, whose style the office describes as a fusion between jazz, pop, and traditional Thai music.

Four Thai actors from the upcoming Thai series "B-Friend" will hold a meet-and-greet at the venue and interact with fans, he said.

The "highlight" of the Taipei event will come on the afternoons of April 25 and 26 when a raffle draw will be held to give away round-trip tickets between Taiwan and Thailand, he said.

On April 28, Sbunnga will join the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music Youth Orchestra in presenting traditional Thai music and dance at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts Recital Hall at 7 p.m., Boonsatheanwong said, expressing hope that the performance will encourage members of the audience to visit Thailand and learn about its culture.

Boonsatheanwong thanked the department store and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) for their support in providing the venues for the festival.