The best things to do in Chiang Mai this weekend (March 19-22)

This Friday night, Ploen Ruedee Market screens two films back to back under the open sky. One of Chiang Mai's more exciting weekend spots, Ploen Ruedee transforms its market venue into an open air cinema for the evening – inviting you to grab a blanket, pull up a chair and settle in for a movie in the city's warm night breeze.

On the bill are Zootopia and Superman, two family friendly picks that keep things light and easy-going.. Whether you're bringing the kids or just looking for a laid back night out, it's an easy yes. Best of all, entry is free – which means more money to spend on market street food, ice creams and a beer or two as you set in for the night on a camping chair or slightly-weathered hay bale. 

Mar 20. Free. Ploen Ruedee Market. From 6pm

If electronic music is what gets you dancing, Techno Night 5 is calling your name. Tekno.CNX brings people together with beats that can be felt and understood across cultures – no matter what language you speak, you can vibe to the music. Or at least, that’s what they claim. This weekend, Foster, Indrew, Swill'O and Che'Molly take to the decks, ready and willing to keep the floor moving well into the early hours. Taking place at Liquid Room CNX, the dark and gritty atmosphere adds to the underground feel and makes for the perfect setting for a night on the town. But with only 100 tickets available, grab yours before they're gone.

Mar 20. Early bird B226, Final release B339. Tickets here. Liquid Room CNX. 9pm onwards

For the first time ever, Chiang Mai is hosting the Union Cycliste Internationale Para-Cycling Road World Cup and it’s happening at Rajabhat University (Mae Rim Campus). Sure, it’s a little far from the city, but with over 44 countries and 400 individuals taking part, this three day sporting event is one full of adrenaline and suspense.

Time trials kick off on Thursday, with races running through Saturday, featuring everything from standard bicycles to modified bikes and handbikes that can be used by athletes with a range of physical impairments. If there’s one time to be there, make sure it’s at the finish line on the main road of Rajabhat University around 3-4pm when the main race of the world cup comes to a photo-finish.

Mar 17-22. Free. Rajabhat University (Mae Rim Campus). More information on specific races and race timetables, click here. 

Who knew plums could be experienced in so many ways? Kriengkrai Mahamitr is hosting a Plum to Table Festival, taking you on a journey from orchard to table and celebrating everything this underrated fruit has to offer.Don't underestimate this one, set to be a lively occasion filled with free tastings, cooking demonstrations and live music, there’s much more to it than just the fruit. And, if you're a fan of Japanese culture, it get’s even better with an opening ceremony featuring a Kagami Biraki ritual – where everyone helps open the ume plum brewing barrel together and share the very first glass.

Mar 21-22. Free. Kriengkrai Mahamitr. 11.30am-9pm

If you fancy something a bit more elevated, the Contrasts concert is for you. The classical chamber orchestra is filling the Shangri-La Hotel with the sounds of vocal and instrumental symphonies for one special night. The programme features three prominent artists: soprano Hannah Xiong, clarinetist Nutt Kasemsant and pianist Jonas Dept. Together they take audiences through different eras of music, showcasing the remarkable range that three very different sounds can produce in harmony. Each ticket includes a glass of wine and canapés, and with only 80 seats available, the experience is refreshingly up close and personal. Dust off those dress shoes and get ready for a night that oozes sophistication.

Mar 21. B950 per person. Tickets here. Shangri-La Chiang Mai. 6pm

Every year, Chiang Mai University students put together an art thesis exhibition, showcasing everything they have worked on throughout the year. This year the theme is Vrddhi – a Sanskrit term meaning growth – with the main goal of cultivating and preserving local Thai arts and culture. This is the city’s biggest showcase of new-generation creativity, with work spanning accessories and jewellery design, furniture design, fashion design, stop motion and ceramics. Taking place at Central Chiang Mai Airport from Friday through Sunday, it’s an easy choice, given you can witness fresh takes on local Thai culture from the next generation of Thai artists before catching up on your weekly dose of retail therapy and chain restaurant buffet dinners.

Mar 20-22. Free. Central Chiang Mai Airport. Opens 6pm on March 20, then open from 11am-9pm on March 21-22

Learn how to speak Thai like a local in the low-lit, moody atmosphere of the Lobbyist. This bar, hidden inside the Nimman Mai? Hotel, feels like stepping into a secret haven – think warm toned walls, soft glowing lighting and plush seating that makes you want to settle in for the night. But, instead of soft murmurings and sweet musings between couples, the space lifts its voice for a night of Thai language learning over a cocktail or three. Fun, friendly and open to all, this is where you want to be if Gen Z Thai slang is next on your flashcard schedule. And when drinks are served, it’s a perfect excuse to finally learn more than just ‘khob khun kha’.

Mar 21. B399 per person. Call 053 400 567 to book or message on Instagram. Lobbyist Bar. 7pm

Dust off your leather jacket and prepare to lose your voice as HAJI FURUTA – one of Chiang Mai’s heaviest rock bands – are rolling into Yoda’s CNX Gallery with a spike-studded dose of hard rock and no-nonsense rock ’n’ roll. Warming things up is DJ Analog Budda, spinning gritty cuts before the main act takes over and cranks the energy all the way up. It’s loud, it’s sweaty and at this price point, there’s really no excuse not to be front row.

March 21. B100 (includes a free drink). Yoda’s CNX Gallery. 9pm-11.30pm

The Retro Recess crew is at it again, this time swapping ball-pit shenanigans with something a little more arty. Step out for an afternoon and join this laid-back, community-driven photography session where curiosity is asked to take the lead. With guidance from Chiang Mai’s most playful adults, curious prompts, shared shooting time and gentle guidance leads you through the sois and back alleys of the Old City for a photographer's walkabout that’s anything but serious. Whether you’re shooting on a DSLR, whipping out an old film camera or just using your phone (they have experts in both at hand to help), it’s where you can connect, experiment and rediscover the joy of taking photos with great encouragement from Sabrina and her team. 

March 22. B100. Starting at Studio By Char. 3pm-5pm

From runners and hikers to cyclists and full-time ravers, MASOMETOP brings its community-driven energy to 828 for a night where movement meets music. This genre-hopping ride takes you from the gravel-paths of the UKG scene to dark synths and driving techno as the night gets deeper. There’s even complimentary shots for the first 30 guests, so get in early and settle in for the long haul.

March 20. B150 (includes one drink). 828.Alleyway. 6pm-late

Can bad art save you? Tear Factory Boy seems to think so. Bad Art Saves My Life, now showing at Head High Second Floor, leans into disappointment, jealousy and creative-industry burnout though art that is full of humour and meme-friendly faces. Spread across three interconnected rooms, the show moves from ‘The Money Face’ – a sharp jab at NFT-era art-market greed – to a room full of memes, where internet hilarity is reproduced through physical art and paint culture. Then, drag yourself out of the depths of Reddit to the ‘Not Ready Readymade’ room, where you’ll find everyday objects transformed with poems, jokes and quotes. This exhibition is best described as a portrait of our times – anxious, hyper-capitalised, chronically online and coping the only way we know how: through humour. 

Feb 28-Apr 10. Free. Head High Second Floor. Opening night 6pm, Feb 28

This exhibition at Deja Gallery invites you to sit with a question most of us have asked ourselves at least once: what if a different choice had been made? Featuring works by Jood Jung, Ignat Martynov, Chae Sengkwon, Jessica Chen, Kotaro Yokomizo and Christine Cho, the exhibition explores how we carry our past and the quiet weight of decisions left behind. Each piece approaches that theme differently, making the experience feel personal rather than prescriptive.

Feb 13-May 22. Free. Deja Gallery. Open Mon, Wed-Sun 8.30am-5pm

Old and New Dreams is an immersive sound installation by American musician and multimedia artist Dan Elbert, that uses overhead cameras to track movement, combining art with the real-time happenings, assigning and modulating melodies based on how you move through the space. Walk faster and your musical line swells. Stand closer together and harmonies bloom. Drift in solo and it’s an intimate quartet; arrive in numbers and the room expands into a full orchestral swell. Become part of the art, as they say, or simply enjoy the installation for what it is alongside live musical performances, food by Maadae Balance Kitchen and drinks from North Gate Spirit. 

Feb 28-Mar 22. Free. Haan Studio. Opening night 6pm, Feb 28