On April 16, 2026, Ms. Bacharee Puengpak, Consul-General of Thailand in Chicago, together with officials and staff of Team Thailand in Chicago, attended the 2026 St. Louis Songkran Celebration, organized by the Thai Association of Greater St. Louis in collaboration with the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis, Missouri.
The event featured a variety of activities, including Thai food and product vendors, pouring water on a Buddha statue, an exhibition on Thailand’s history, fruit-carving demonstrations, and booths promoting Thai tourism and providing photo opportunities in traditional Thai attire, organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chicago Office. The program also included a traditional Thai long-drum parade, followed by Thai cultural performances held in the museum’s auditorium.
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Kongsak Tanphaichitr, President of the Thai Association of Greater St. Louis, delivered welcome remarks. The Consul-General then gave congratulatory remarks before the audience enjoyed a presentation on the history of the Songkran Festival, followed by Thai classical dance and music performances by teachers and students from Wat Phrasriratanaram in Missouri, as well as guest performers from the Thai music institute and the Thai dance school of Wat Dhammaram in Chicago and the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute of Chicago (TCFAI). On this occasion, the Consul-General also presented the sponsorship money from the Consulate-General to Prof. Dr. Kongsak Tanpaichit to support the Thai Association of Greater St. Louis in organizing the event, including the exhibition promoting Thailand.
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chicago would like to express our congratulations on the successful organization of the 2026 St. Louis Songkran Celebration, which was warmly received by both Thai and international audiences. We would also like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the organizing committee, the Missouri History Museum, supporters, performers, and all participants for their contributions to this successful event.