Buffalo Racing Festival

Held annually for more than 140 years, the Buffalo racing festival is the most celebrated cultural tradition of the Chonburi province in Thailand. It originated as a way to express appreciation to the buffaloes after they worked for the farmers throughout the year. Today, this festival includes a number of interesting activities such as the most healthy buffalo contest and buffalo fashion contest, reminding the farmers of the importance of their buffaloes. In preparation for the main race event, the buffaloes go through strict training regimes and special diets to ensure they’re in good condition to compete. This festival also involves the Miss Buffalo pageant, a title that may not sound flattering but is esteemed and strongly desires by young women in Chonburi. As with any other Thai festival, food stalls, rides and music concerts are plentiful in the evenings.