Here we go! Dignitaries
release the parade.
A revered monk blesses Central
Festival Center Pattaya Beach for prosperity.
The main door was open at the
auspicious hour of 11.39
Thousands of customers wanted
to be the first shoppers at the complex.
Kobchai Chirathivat, President
and CEO of Central Pattana PCL gives the official opening speech.
Staff reporters
Wild, colorful costumes, imaginative floats, many Cooper Mini’s, and
animated characters made up Pattaya’s first “electric” parade during the
International Mardi Gras festivities last Friday.
Paula
Taylor
The event, organized in conjunction with Pattaya City, TAT, Chonburi
Provincial Administrative Organization and the Pattaya Business and Tourism
Association was in part held to boost tourism and in part to celebrate the
grand opening of the new Central Festival Center on Beach Road.
Thousands of spectators lined Beach Road and Second Road to watch the
colorful characters display their wildest costumes. Music boomed from giant
automobile stereo systems as celebrities mixed with models and bar staff,
waving to the crowd, enjoying the spotlight.
The parade was made up of three main categories: tourism, schools and the
Central Group. Floats and marchers from TAT, tourism related businesses,
Pattaya schools and Central Festival Pattaya Beach each did their best to
compete for prizes in the most beautiful parade that Pattaya ever organized.
The parade, with all its light and sound, rhythm and excitement, filled the
streets of Pattaya from Pattaya Beach Road along the way to 2nd Road and
ended in front of the Central Festival Center Pattaya Beach from the 2nd
Road entrance.
Later, fireworks lit the night sky, but the party didn’t end there, as
Central Festival Pattaya Beach, the biggest waterfront shopping complex
Asia, celebrated their grand opening with the “Unleash Your Festival Spirit”
theme before concerts from To-Saksit Vejasupaporn, Joey Boy, and Singh Neua
Sua Tai.
Other celebrities taking part included Sara Malakul Lane, Paula Taylor, Jui
Warattaya Nilkooha, and Pang Ornjira Laemwilai.
Obchai Jirathiwat, managing director of Central Pattana Co. Ltd., said
“(Central Pattana Group) CPN believes in the potential for increasing
tourism in Pattaya, which is the center of economy, telecommunications, and
tourism of the Eastern Seaboard. Central Festival Pattaya Beach will surely
attract more of the high-end customers as the premium mall is designed with
world-class luxury, and is the best and the biggest in the East.”
The center features restaurants, premium brand name shops and there is even
a Hilton Hotel on premises with 300 rooms that will open next year.
Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun, Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, and the
management team from Central Pattana presided over the opening ceremony.
Beautiful girls from the TAT
march off leading the grand parade.
Beauty queen from the Chonburi
Tourism Club.
Jui Warattaya Nilkooha and
Pang Ornjira Laemwilai.
Aang Therdtherng also joins in
the fun.
Nong Khao Hom and Nong Jang
lead the beautiful Fashion Club.
The Parade ended with Central
Festival Center Pattaya Beach’s mobile fashion stage.
B-Boy’s street dance
stimulates the crowd.
The Mini Coopers Group shows
off.
The car audio group powers-up
their speakers.
Kids with their colorful
costumes
show great Mardi Gras spirit. (Photo by Tom Brown)
Pattaya students have never
missed a parade organized by the city.
A beautiful contemporary show
made the night even more colorful.
Mayor Itthipol sings for the
crowd while MC Dai Diana dances to the rhythm.
Tor Saksit Vetsupaporn
entertains
the crowd with his ultimate talent in piano and song.
Thailand Hip Hop Star Joey Boy
made everyone dance the night away.
PMTV’s Paul Strachan
interviews Kobchai Chirathivat, the President & CEO.
Central Festival Center
Pattaya Beach is now fully opened.
Pang Ornjira Laemwilai, Jui
Warattaya Nilkooha, Wittaya Khunplome, Suthichai Chirathivat, Surapon
Pongtadsirikun, Wanchai Chirathivat, Itthipol Khunplome, Sara Malakul Lane
and Paula Taylor joined in the Grand Opening ceremonies for Central Festival
Center Pattaya Beach.
More than 50 Thai and
international journalists reported the event.
Full light and sound with
hundreds of fireworks, thousands of balloons, and millions of pieces of
confetti made the whole atmosphere really grand.
