Sail through a day of art, music and riverfront culture at the Art Island Festival on July 5

Fancy filling a weekend with art, live tunes and good company by the water? The Art Island Festival hands a riverside stretch of the Chao Phraya over to makers, beat-lovers and anyone with a creative streak.

By day, wander stalls stacked with original paintings, handmade trinkets and one-off pieces from independent creators, then roll up your sleeves at a hands-on workshop and craft something to carry home. The waterfront setting keeps things gloriously unhurried: claim a spot in the mellow lounge area, grab a bite and a cold drink and watch longtail boats drift past while a soft breeze rolls in and the evening light turns golden over the river. It's the sort of place where an afternoon slips by without you noticing.

Once the sun dips, the mood lifts. DJs take over a deck perched atop a moored vessel for an open-air psytrance set that sends a charge rippling across the water – proper end-of-the-night stuff that pulls the crowd together. Few gatherings fold gallery browsing, a solid party and easy waterside hanging quite so neatly, all on one site.

You catch it all at Bangkok Island Pier, Rama 3 Soi 64, on July 5 from 4pm until 11.59pm. Entry stays free for everyone.