The best things to do in Chiang Mai this weekend (July 31-Aug 3)

Chiang Mai’s newest tropical lounge opens its doors for a night of celebration and experience. Described as an open-air island-vibe cocktail bar that is ‘tiki-adjacent’ and ‘atmospherically torchlit’, this is the city’s latest space for rhythm, ritual and tropical fantasy immersion. You heard it here first – a full evening of live island music including Nut Montuno with mellow bossa nova, Bamboo Ba’s hypnotic tribal sounds and Chang & Te’s acoustic reggae set. On the menu, a magical lineup of tiki cocktails from the Voodoo Witch Doctor lab and spontaneous fire performances throughout the night.

Aug 2. Free. Tiki Torch, 12 Huay Kaew Road. 7pm-midnight. 

Red's newest resident, Ruks, teams up with Kaztet D (selector, producer and leading label head from Vietnam) as they party through eclectic house grooves that draw from global traditions, dubwise roots and deep club energy. The party kicks off late but you can join early from 8pm and enjoy a free pre-party at the Blu outdoor lounge, supported by a classic open decks B2B DJ jam session where local and travelling DJs can share the decks, while partygoers gather to enjoy a wide range of fresh sounds in a relaxed, communal vibe.

Aug 1. B100. RED CNX. Free pre-party from 8pm. Main party 11.45pm onwards. 

Trade bongs for brushes and join the Green Dog crew for a chilled-out plant and pot painting session. Pick your favourite houseplant, grab a pot and give it a personalised splash of colour to match your condo’s curtains. Expect good tunes, relaxed chats and all the food, drinks and smokes you need to keep the creativity flowing, courtesy of Green Dog and its neighbouring haunts. 

Aug 3. From B150, depending on your plant. Green Dog. 4pm-7pm.

Step into the raw, unspoken world of Teerawat Mulvilai – also known as KA-GE, the visionary behind B-Floor Theatre – in this intimate, movement-based performance that strips back language to reveal the emotional truths of being human. Echoes In Motion is a visceral experience, using the body as its canvas to paint stories of life, society and presence in the here and now. With over 20 years at the forefront of experimental performance in Thailand, KA-GE is your ticket to witnessing the kind of theatre that lingers in your bones long after the curtain falls.

Aug 2-3. B250. Tickets here. Suan Anya Northern People’s History Museum. 2pm and 7pm showings. 

La Luna Gallery is back with another thought-provoking exhibition, this time titled ‘Reflections’, featuring works by three emerging artists from Nakhon Sawan. Each exploring their individual artistic identities through deeply personal expressions, the exhibition features sculptures and art that present new definitions of beauty shaped by their personal experiences and the environment, culture and society in which they exist. Each artist reflects on their surroundings and asks a fundamental question: who are we, truly? You’ll have to go to find out. 

Aug 3. Free. La Luna Gallery. 5pm-8pm.