What’s On in Bangkok in April 2015

Written by Team Expique
Published: March 31, 2015

There is always something to do in Bangkok – hunt down the latest goings-on with our what’s-on guide. Know of another event taking place that you want to share? Let us know in the comments!

Songkran celebrations: 13-15 April

It’s time for Thai new year again, and that means Bangkok is about to descend into one massive water fight as all and sundry take to the streets with their water pistols and buckets of clay-clad, iced water. Watch out for our upcoming blog post on where to celebrate Songkran, but expect just about everywhere to be a no-go area if you want to stay dry! Popular areas for celebrating in the modern sense include Silom and Khaosan Road, while official festivities will centre on traditional rituals like pouring water to worship Buddha statues and pay respect to elders.

Activities will take place at seven spots along the Chaophraya river including Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Kalaya and Wat Prayun temples, plus the Maharaj pier, Yodipiman River walk at Pak Khlong Talat flower market, and Asiatique the Riverfront. On all three days a free shuttle boat service will operate every 20-30 minutes along the route from 9am until midnight.

National & International Book Fair: 27 March- 6 April

It’s your last chance to release your inner bookworm at the 43rd National Book Fair and 13th Bangkok International Book Fair, which run until 06 April at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (take the MRT to the station of the same name). Local and international booksellers and publishers come together and show off a vast array of books across a variety of genres, with plenty of bargain buys that attract huge crowds. Doors open at 10am each day; free entry.

Improvised Comedy Jam : 3 April

The Comedy Club Bangkok is the capital’s only dedicated English language comedy venue, and on 03 April it hosts a night of improvised comedy, including a short pre-show set by recent graduates of the club’s improvised comedy training programme. Tickets cost 400 baht, including a free drink with advanced bookings. Doors open at 8pm; above The Royal Oak pub on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1 (BTS Phrom Phong); www.comedyclubbangkok.com. The venue hosts weekly shows on Fridays, including frequent open mic nights.

F.O.B. Flea Market: 2-5 April

Expect great buys at this flea market where, if its tagline is to be believed, ‘music gets louder, shopping gets longer and life gets better’. This time the action takes place at Siam Discovery Plaza (BTS Siam) from 02 until 05 April, where you can count on Bangkok’s fashionistas stocking up on vintage clothing and more from small boutique local Thai designers. www.instagram.com/fobfleamarket

Superhuman exhibition: 28 March-25 April

This exhibition by Thai artist Krit Chantranet explores whether humans are complete or incomplete, and what fragility lies behind the our goals of perfection and success. As society expects us to become something beyond the ordinarily, even supernatural, is the path to that nirvana really just an illusion? Krit questions this in his brushstrokes of distorted human flesh and muscles that show the true imperfections of humanity, in a collection that is sure to get you thinking. Numthong Gallery, Monday-Saturday, 11am-6pm; BTS Ari; www.gallerynumthong.com.

One Weird Globe book launch: 4 April

Join travel blogger Chris Backe, who has spent the past two years living across Thailand’s four regions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi, as he launches his latest e-book, One Weird Globe, at our favourite comfort café Chomp (Thewet/Phra Athit river piers), a short hop from Khaosan Road in Bangkok’s Banglamphu area. The book lists 100+ bizarre and offbeat destinations across Thailand. Usually available on Amazon for $9.99, you can browse paper copies at the launch party and pick up a copy on a flash drive for just 300 baht. 8pm-1am; www.is.gd/thaibook.

How will you be spending you time in April in Bangkok? Let us know in the comments!

Songkran photo by John Shedrick; Bangkok International Book Fair photo by Keng Susumpow; stand-up comedy photo by Joe Lodge; flea market photo by jay_8085.

Categories: What’s On