The best things to do in Chiang Mai this weekend (August 27-30)

For the uninitiated, Magic Theatre is much more than a monthly poetry night. The community at this living room like cafe and creative space are just as welcoming and supportive as the sofas that line their walls. So if you have a burning desire to read, sing or perform any of your deepest creations, this is the space for you. Before the floor is opened featured artists get the evening going; this month sees many regulars take to the stage – from freeflowing Mali and Josefina, both reading their wildly moving poems to sound voyager Mo who shares his expressive musical experimentation – there’s a lot to see, hear and imbibe on. Arrive early to catch them, and a good seat of course.

August 27. Free entry. Kindred Studio, Lansieow Freeative Art Space. 7pm-10pm

There’s never a dull moment at Deaf Shop but the team have really gone hard this weekend, booking their biggest guest DJ yet, Parisian hip-hop producer Onra. Revered for his gob smacking sets and sumptuous album releases that have seen the maestro build tracks from his own collection of regional vinyl, amassed during his travels across Asia. Expect a heady mix of Bangkok Nosthaigia and jams from his Chinoiseries LPs, as well as recent LP After Dark, this performance is going to be one for the books. Do not sleep on it. We’re losing it with excitement.

Find out more about Onra and his Saturday event here.

August 29. Free entry. Deaf Shop, Old City. 9pm-late

Mexican artist and printmaker Juana Estrada Hernández brings her deeply personal work to Chiang Mai with Nuestras Historias! Escribamos un Capitulo Nuevo, a solo exhibition at Hello, Print Friend Studios. Drawing on generations of migration within her own family, Estrada Hernández uses cultural traditions, food, language and lived experience to explore immigration and assimilation alongside ideas of resistance, identity and pride – while questioning the contradictions behind the so-called American Dream. Catch the opening reception on Friday evening, or visit the exhibition during weekday gallery hours until September 9.

August 28-September 9. Free. Hello, Print Friend Studios. Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (opening reception August 28, 4-8pm)

Is there anywhere better to round up your weekend of huge hip-hop shows than Fringe’s Coffee Rave? No there is not. The team are back with their unfathomably fun and oh-so-rowdy monthly party that couldn’t be better timed. Whether you’re in it for one of their wildly moreish caffeine creations (hello, matcha caramel pudding) or want to go rogue and grab a red plastic cup of sneaky beer, DJs from the Fringe family roster will get you going, with sets of afrobeats, baile funk, Jersey hip-hop and a tasteful smattering of techno, no doubt.

August 30. Free entry. Fringe, Wat Ket. From 1pm-6pm

Feel like basking in the cool glow of the full moon? It’s not just you. The fine folks at Sense Dhara Dhevi Wellness Club are putting on a special Full Moon Gathering this weekend at their fancy palatial spa, converting the grounds into a full-day dedicated to wellness, community and culture. This second edition brings more than the first, starting with wholesome morning wellness activities before the energy picks up as the sun goes down, culminating in live music and an evening of Ecstatic Dance and freshly popped wine. Early birds have already snapped up their allocation, but regular full-day passes are still available, giving you access to everything from morning until night.

August 29. B1,200. Sense Dhara Dhevi Wellness Club. Tickets are available via DM or from all Sense Massage branches. Call 081 595 0678 for more information. 11am-8pm

Got ideas for a greener Chiang Mai? Climate Action Day brings together the city’s climate-conscious crowd for a full day of talks, workshops, games and good old-fashioned networking. The main stage tackles some of the big questions facing the city, with panels exploring sustainable tourism, resilient cities and local food systems, alongside discussions with game designers and a fireside chat imagining what Chiang Mai's climate movement could look like in 2027. Away from the talks, get hands-on with TEDxChiang Mai’s Play for Purpose climate games, join a soundscapes workshop with Tonio Flores or pitch your own planet-saving ideas with prizes up for grabs for the best ones. The day wraps up with live music, dinner and a chance to meet people working across climate, education and social innovation. Registration opens at 8.30am, with lunch and dinner included.

August 29. Free; advance registration required here. Weave Artisan Society. 9am-early evening

Nimman Rave is back for round 10 – their biggest yet – as local electronic collective Tekno.CNX takes over the Lounge Room at Warmup Café for a seven-hour underground session. Expect things deep, groovy and heavy on the rolling techno, with H3NRI, FØSTER, SWILL'O and D-JANE behind the decks until 3am. Capacity is deliberately tight at just 100 ravers, so this one's likely to get sweaty fast – and probably sell out even faster. Tickets include one free drink.

August 28. B200 early bird; B300 on the door. Reserve here. Warmup Café, Lounge Room, 40 Nimman Rd. 8pm-3am

Why settle for one club when your ticket gets you two? Community and Drumz PLZ join forces for their second takeover, spreading one big night across neighbouring RED and CAVECAVE – both on Huay Kaew Road. RED takes the high-energy route with bass, latincore and footwork from Cheek and Spellbound, before Anna Morgan and Oomboi Lauw team up for the 3am closing set. Next door, CAVECAVE goes deeper with dub and deep techno from Rybax, Phoenix and Oneness. One wristband gets you into both venues, so you can hop between dancefloors as the mood takes you – and with the last set finishing at 4am, there's plenty of time to try both.

August 29. B200, B100 for students. RED and CAVECAVE. 10pm-4am

Put the phone away and pick up a paintbrush instead. Slow Art Saturday at Jugnu Studio is a laid-back afternoon of painting designed to get you creating without worrying too much about the end result. Led by Nymph, the three-hour session invites beginners and seasoned artists alike to take inspiration from nature, colour and emotion, and simply see where the brush takes them. Bring your own art supplies for the cheaper ticket, or pay a little extra and they'll provide everything you need.

August 29. B125 with your own materials; B350 including materials. Jugnu Studio, Chang Phueak. 2-5pm

Saving the planet sounds a lot more appealing when there’s live music, great food and plenty of shopping involved. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Amazing Chiang Mai Green Guide Fest takes over Railway Park for three days, bringing together more than 35 food vendors, local crafts, creative workshops, exhibitions, contemporary Lanna culture and a farm-to-table showcase from well-known chefs. There’s a strong musical line-up too: Serious Bacon and Khian Khai and Vanich play Friday, T_047 and Mirr take Saturday, while Earth Patravee and Moving and Cut close things out on Sunday. Sustainability isn't just window dressing, either. Organisers are aiming for a carbon-neutral event with eco-friendly materials, waste separation, EV shuttles and carbon offsets – so you can eat, shop and dance with a slightly cleaner conscience.

August 28-30. Free. Railway Park, Chiang Mai. 3pm-9pm

Hotel bars are not uncommon, but what is uncommon is when they have something extra worth visiting for. The Marriott’s Wang Bar is one of these spots, where the bar is less about the drinks (although they’re still very good) and more about the experience. Inside, you’ll find three zones that are all about the fun, packed with massive-size golf simulators, private karaoke rooms and e-gaming setups that are a blast – all starting at just B750 per hour. At the bar, golf-inspired drinks make up the menu, served in a plush yet authentic Lanna-heritage style setting. A great start to the long holidays, or a nice filler after the splashing is over next weekend. 

Now open. Free entry, B750 per hour of activity. Wang Bar, Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel. Open Wed-Sun, 2pm-midnight.