Pattaya in December: Father's Day on the 5th - how to spend the holiday as a family
On 5 December Thailand celebrates Father's Day and dresses in yellow, and in 2026 the country gets a long weekend through Monday the 7th. Here is what to give Dad, what will be closed and where to go with kids in Pattaya.
5 December is Father's Day in Thailand. It is the birthday of King Rama IX, Bhumibol Adulyadej, whom Thais call the father of the nation, and it is also the country's National Day. In 2026 the date falls on a Saturday, so Monday 7 December has been declared a holiday too: the whole of Thailand gets a long weekend.
The country turns yellow for the occasion. King Bhumibol was born on a Monday, and Monday's colour in the Thai calendar is yellow. Yellow shirts on the streets, yellow flags on buildings, portraits of the King framed in flowers outside malls and at intersections - that is what Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya look like these days.
The classic gift for Dad on this day is a canna flower, called "phuttharaksa" in Thai, which means "protected by the Buddha". It is given in yellow, the colour of the holiday. Children bring cannas to their fathers and grandfathers, bow to them and say thank you. If you are in Thailand with your family, it is a lovely Thai custom to borrow: a yellow canna in a pot will outlive any bouquet.
On the evening of 5 December candle-lighting ceremonies in memory of the King take place across the country. The largest is traditionally held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, but candles are lit in other cities as well. Tourists are welcome to attend; light-coloured clothes are best, and a yellow shirt is perfect. When the royal anthem plays, everyone stands - please stand too.
What to keep in mind over the holiday:
1. Government offices and banks are closed on 5 and 7 December - immigration too, so plan any visa extension for other days.
2. Shopping malls, markets, cafes and parks are open as usual.
3. It is a long weekend - Thais head to the sea themselves, and Pattaya is the closest beach to Bangkok. Book hotels and popular places in advance.
Where to go with kids in Pattaya on 5 December. The most family-friendly option is Nong Nooch Tropical Garden: a huge park with themed gardens, an elephant show and a dinosaur valley that keeps children busy all day. The easiest way there is a Nong Nooch tour: hotel transfer, entrance ticket and a Russian-speaking guide are included, and you are back in Pattaya by lunchtime.
If you would rather decide yourselves when to go and where to stop, rent a car for the long weekend. You can drive around the festively decorated city first and still make it to the candle-lighting in the evening.
Forward this to friends who will be in Pattaya with kids in early December, so they can buy Dad a canna and book Nong Nooch while there are still spots for the long weekend.
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