„Wielkopolanie” in Thailand!
From April 17th to 24th, 2025, the “Wielkopolanie” Folklore Ensemble took part in the exceptional International Pearl Summer Festival 2025, held in the city of Pattaya, Thailand. In addition to representatives from Poland and Thailand, the festival stages also welcomed performers from Indonesia, Mexico, Moldova, Serbia, and Sri Lanka. This diverse group of participants from different parts of the world allowed for a fascinating comparison of distinct cultures and traditions.
During the festival, “Wielkopolanie” had the opportunity to showcase the energy and beauty of Polish folklore, performing dances from the Żywiec Beskids and the Rzeszów region.
The following days spent in Thailand provided an opportunity to explore the country’s remarkable culture and infrastructure. On the first day after arriving, which we spent in Bangkok—the capital of Thailand—we visited Wat Phra Kaew, known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country.
On the second day, we traveled to Pattaya, where our hotel was located. That day, we had the chance to participate in Thailand’s most famous festival—Songkran, also known as the Water Festival—characterized by city-wide celebrations in which everyone takes part in splashing water on each other. This incredible day concluded with the first of our three festival concerts.
The next day, honoring Polish Easter traditions, we began with a team breakfast in a special family-like atmosphere. We then spent the rest of the day at Suanthai Pattaya—a Thai cultural center—where we encountered Thailand’s iconic elephants, prepared traditional Thai dishes, rode a boat, experienced an elephant ride, and took a horse-drawn carriage ride. The second of our concerts during the trip also took place there in the evening.
The following day, we visited the Pattaya Floating Market, which offered insight into the traditional lifestyle of Thailand’s coastal communities and the opportunity to shop at traditional Thai market stalls. In the evening, all festival participants gathered for the final concert, preceded by a lavish banquet.
On the last day of our stay, we returned to Bangkok, where we explored this vast, world-renowned city. We visited the Mahanakhon SkyWalk Bangkok—a 314-meter skyscraper—from which we admired a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. That day, we also visited another of Bangkok’s Floating Markets, where we once again sampled traditional Thai cuisine.
The trip to the International Pearl Summer Festival 2025 in Thailand was undoubtedly an unforgettable experience for the members of the “Wielkopolanie” Folklore Ensemble, who returned home enriched with numerous new experiences.
The management and artists of “Wielkopolanie” extend their heartfelt thanks to the Marshal’s Office for financially supporting this trip.
