City
officials light the Christmas tree at Bali Hai pier, officially starting the
weeklong countdown to 2012.
Manoon Makpol
Pattaya’s week-long countdown to the New Year ticks off
its final seconds Saturday with explosives and a Bodyslam.
Pattaya Countdown 2012 began Christmas night with daily
concerts, fireworks and a half-million people expected to visit town for the
shows and a Beach Road street market. Countdown epicenter, Bali Hai Pier,
was decked out with holiday decorations with art exhibitions mixed in with
the music.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Chonburi Gov. Khomsan
Ekachai launched festivities Dec. 25 with lighting of the city Christmas
tree. Performers AB Normal and 25 Hours kicked off the week’s playbill of
top-name Thai artists, including Ice Saranyu, Joey Boy, Shin Shinnavut,
Singh Nheui, Thaitanium, Instinct, Sei Tai, Big Ass, Potato, Yingyong
Yodbuangarm, Apaporn Nakhornsawan and Girly Berry.
The finale, Dec. 31, will feature rockers Bodyslam along
with Tono Ritkun, Klear, and Kala in a concert to be televised nationally on
Channel 3. Tickets are still available for 1,000 baht.
Itthiphol said the annual Countdown, cosponsored by the
Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization and the Grammy music label,
is a major event for the city that not only drives huge revenues for the
week, but also enhances the reputation of the city as a world-class tourist
destination.
All hotels and entertainment venues throughout town will
be holding exciting events, culminating in a grand fireworks display that
will span the length of the beach. Since bars and entertainment venues are
allowed to stay open until 6 a.m. on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, expect
the partying to continue well into the wee hours of the morning.