On April 7, 2026, Consul-General Bacharee Puengpak, together with officials from Team Thailand in Chicago, attended the Songkran Thai New Year Festival held at the Music Building of Northern Illinois University (NIU). The program featured Thai cultural activities organized by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, as well as musical performances by the NIU Thai Music Ensemble and students from the Thai Cultural Fine Arts Institute of Chicago (TCFAI).

On this occasion, the Consul-General congratulated the NIU Thai Studies program and the NIU Thai Music Ensemble for successfully organizing the event, which helped promote Thailand's cultural heritage, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen bonds between the Thai community and other nationalities. She also emphasized the importance of expanding the partnership between Thailand and the NIU into many promising areas, particularly in cultural and academic cooperation.