PATTAYA, THAILAND – Pattaya officials completed final preparations for the 17th “Walk and Eat in Naklua” festival, which was set to turn the historic Na Kluea community into a large culture and street food market over several weekends.
City hall meeting sets framework
The final planning session took place in conference room 231 at Pattaya City Hall and was led by Deputy Mayor Wuthisak Rermkijakarn. Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkarn, senior city administrators, representatives of various agencies and the contracted event organizer also attended. The talks focused on procedures, safety and organization, with officials stressing that all parties had to work closely together to ensure smooth operations and a coherent event concept.
Six weekends of programming in Na Kluea
The festival was scheduled for six consecutive weekends, on Saturdays and Sundays, from 20–21 December 2025 to 24–25 January 2026, covering 12 days in total in the Na Kluea community. The city aimed to promote tourism through art, culture and cuisine, stimulate the local economy, expand trading opportunities and achieve a fair distribution of income for residents.
Street food zones, culture and OTOP products
Planners discussed clearly structured event areas, including zones for local and fresh seafood, stage programs with cultural performances and live music, and sales spaces for community products and OTOP goods (One Tambon One Product). Additional emphasis was placed on safety measures, comfort for visitors, orderly traffic management and overall cleanliness of the festival grounds.
Street art alleys and immersive lighting
Organizers announced an especially intensive use of light, color and sound to create an immersive atmosphere for this edition. In the Thai Sin and Yok Rong Ya alleys, building walls were decorated with murals and designated as “street art alleys” to underline the historic character of Na Kluea.
“We want to create an environment that impresses visitors and at the same time strengthens the pride of the community.”
said Wuthisak Rermkijakarn, Deputy Mayor.
Open-air cinema, demonstrations and mascot
Beyond food and stage programs, further attractions were planned, including open-air film screenings with two films per day at the Pae Kong Shrine. Demonstrations of traditional fishing and cooking techniques, along with craft presentations, were intended to reflect the lifestyle and identity of the community. With the mascot “Nong Na Kluea”, organizers planned to welcome guests and give the festival a recognizable face.
Part of Pattaya’s long-term strategy
Deputy Mayor Wuthisak underlined the importance of coordinated action across all sectors to create sustainable income and a strong community, with the aim of convincing both visitors and local residents. The festival formed part of Pattaya’s long-term strategy to present itself not only as a party destination, but as a year-round city for sports, tourism and cultural experiences.