Southeast Asian New Year Celebration: Songkran Festival 2026 (SF)

Celebrate the Southeast Asian New Year at Civic Center with a vibrant, all-day cultural festival featuring a parade, live music, performances, food, and a traditional water blessing ceremony open to all. With support from the APA Heritage Foundation, the Royal Thai Consulate General, the Thai Association of Northern California, theThai Cultural Councils of Berkeley and Fremont, and the Thai Census.

• Opening parade with traditional Thai dance & long drums
• Water blessing ceremony (interactive + open to the public)
• Live cultural performances from Thai and Southeast Asian groups
• Vietnamese jazz band (live set)
• Community pageant (costume, evening gown, Q&A, awards)
• Live concert finale
• Southeast Asian food + vendors

11:00 AM – Opening Parade
11:15 AM – Opening Ceremony
11:45 AM – Water Blessing
Afternoon – Performances, Vietnamese jazz, pageant
4:30–5:30 PM – Live Concert Finale

Come for an hour or stay all day.

• One of SF’s only Southeast Asian New Year festivals
• UNESCO-recognized cultural tradition
• Civic Center location during AAPI Heritage Month

Date: May 16, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: Fulton Plaza, Civic Center, SF
Admission: Free (RSVP encouraged)

Free event. RSVP for updates and schedule highlights.

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