A Culinary Celebration: Thai New Year Songkran Festival 2025 in Hollywood

 Hollywood Boulevard transformed into a bustling Thai street market this April, as the annual Songkran Festival returned for 2025. Known as the Thai New Year, Songkran is a time of celebration, cleansing, and renewal—and here in Thai Town, Los Angeles, it’s also one of the best places to experience Thailand’s incredible culinary heritage without boarding a flight.


🍜 The Food Scene: A Thai Culinary Wonderland

This year’s festival showcased over 200 food vendors, offering a delicious cross-section of Thailand’s rich and diverse food culture. From fiery curries to sweet, creamy desserts, visitors were treated to authentic flavors from all regions of Thailand.

Must-Try Dishes That Stole the Show:

  • Pad Thai: Freshly stir-fried in massive woks right in front of the crowd. The aroma of tamarind, garlic, and sizzling noodles drew in lines that stretched down the block.

  • Som Tum (Papaya Salad): Spicy, crunchy, and tangy, this refreshing salad balanced out the heavier dishes with its zesty lime and chili kick.

  • Thai BBQ Skewers: Juicy cuts of pork and chicken marinated in sweet-and-savory sauces grilled to perfection.

  • Green Curry: Rich, fragrant, and served steaming hot with jasmine rice.

  • Khao Soi: A northern Thai specialty of egg noodles in creamy coconut curry broth, garnished with pickled mustard greens and crispy shallots.

  • Mango Sticky Rice: The crowd favorite. Perfectly ripe mango slices served with glutinous rice and drizzled with sweet coconut milk.

  • Thai Iced Tea: Orange-hued and creamy, this beverage was the go-to drink to cool down between bites.

There was even a giant communal wok station where chefs whipped up the “World’s Largest Pad Thai” every hour, drawing hundreds of excited foodies with cameras in hand and chopsticks at the ready.

🎭 Beyond the Food: Cultural Richness on Display

While the food was the heart of the festival, the soul was found in the cultural programming that surrounded it.

  • Live Thai Dance Performances brought elegance and tradition to the stage, with dancers in ornate costumes moving in sync to classical Thai music.

  • Muay Thai Demonstrations captivated the crowd with skilled fighters showing off powerful strikes, disciplined technique, and traditional rituals.

  • Water Blessing Ceremonies, a central part of the Thai New Year tradition, offered a chance for spiritual renewal and respect for elders.

🎉 Why Songkran in LA Is So Special

Thai Town in Hollywood is the only officially recognized Thai Town in the United States, making this festival the largest Thai cultural celebration outside of Thailand. Each year, it draws tens of thousands of people from all backgrounds—foodies, travelers, families, and culture lovers.

It’s a unique blend of authentic tradition and LA vibrancy. And with every dish served and every performance applauded, it honors the Thai community’s contribution to the cultural fabric of the city.

If you missed it this year, mark your calendar for next April. Because once you taste authentic pad thai on the streets of Hollywood, the Songkran Festival will become your annual tradition, too.

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