The 9th Thailand Balloon Festival (www.thailandballoonfestival.com) takes place this Mar 4-5 at Payap University, just a 10-minute drive from Chiang Mai city center. 

 

Apart from exciting hot air balloon flights (unfortunately not open to the public), there will be live music, workshops and a flea market full of delicious local food.

 

One such wokshop will teach you how to paint the mask of khon (Thai royal court dance) through guidance from Chiang Mai's Intanu Khon Thai (www.fb.com/intanukhon) group. 

 

There will also be a light and sound show featuring Lanna-meets-classical music from the Nimman Street Orchestra, conducted by Bringkop Vora-urai. 

 

In the name of charity, you can buy golf balls (B1,000 for 3 or B500 for 1) which will be dropped from the air—those that land closest to a lucky pin will win B30,000. 

 

Entrance is B200. For updates, see www.fb.com/thailandballoonfestival.