Once you’ve got your Halloween costume plan out of the way, I know you’re already considering your December itinerary. This year, why not try something outside the usual festivities by going to Wonderfruit Festival? The carbon-neutral four-day arts and music festival is now on its fifth year, and they’ve got quite a lineup in store.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Wonderfruit, here’s a bit of a primer: it’s a music festival held in Pattaya, Thailand that not just gathers musicians from around the world but also has talks and workshops, plus a bit of a gastronomical adventure, too. All of these are rooted in promoting sustainable living. They also have installations from world-renowned artists who also believe in the same cause. Expect no trash here, just good vibrations and creativity that’s still environmentally conscious.
This year’s run boasts of a new permanent location which gives more opportunities for the festival to remain sustainable through locally-sourced bamboo used as foundation for the setup. It also promises views of lush coconut plantations, tropical evergreen forests, pristine lakes and beaches, and stunning sunsets and sunrises, set against mountain vistas. Add to that how the festival will be banning all single-use plastic products in the area.
Now, for the main event. This year, the Wonderfruit dance area called The Quarry has been revamped by architectural design studio all(zone) with geometric foldable panels made of recyclable materials. Here, you can dance and enjoy the music of Craig Richards, Margaret Dygas and Felix Dickinson, or lounge in tree-lined pockets of chill out zones, swaying to the tunes of the likes of Bobby Pleasure, Saoirse, Midland, Radioactive Man (live) and Mathew Jonson (live).
At the Solar Stage, the main stage of the festival, there will be the sunset and sunrise music programs featuring Nicolas Lutz, Louis Cole, Stars and Rabbit, and NJWA. The Solar Stage has been outfitted with designs by Gregg Fleishman, acclaimed champion of sustainable and innovative architecture. He created a modular geometric building system of interlocked wood panels, designed for exploring, climbing, dancing and gathering in and around.
By the evening, guests or Wonderers shall be basking in the beats of Icelandic multi-instrumentalist and singer Sóley, Bangkok-based Costlywood, and enjoying the performances of Peter Broderick and Knower.
At the Theater of Feasts, you’ll get culinary performances as award-winning chefs take the stage with a bright kitchen island in the center, crafting feasts “in the round” for their audience. Add to that In the Eyes of the Animal by Marshmallow Laser Feast, which is a VR experience where Wonderers can put on a wooden headset and traverse familiar forest landscape through the perspective of woodland creatures.
There is also Bath House, another addition to the Fields, will be home for those who want to relax and discover bath rituals. On the other hand, Silent Room will offer complete peace and quiet for Wonderers to reach a meditative-like state, while Wonder Garden will host an array of transformational wellness experiences.
#Wonderfruit2018 takes place from Dec. 13 to 16 in The Fields at Siam Country Club, just 150 kilometers (two-hour drive) southeast of Bangkok. Phase two ticket pricing begins at THB 5,800 ($177 or £136) for an adult four-day pass. Visit Wonderfruit’s website for more information about securing your tickets and accommodation.
