The wait is almost over. This Nov 9 finally sees the official opening of super-luxury riverside mall IconSiam with what is called IconSiam City Opening Mega Phenomenon.

The three-day celebration (Nov 9-11)—on which Siam Piwat, the giant developer behind Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery is spending a whopping B1 billion to promote—will kick off with an invitation-only, red carpet private event on Friday Nov 9.  

But the real action is reserved or Saturday and Sunday, Nov 10-11, when the general public is invited to enjoy historic shows and performances for free, with the following highlights.

An F4 concert by Chinese and Taiwanese actors Dylan Wang, Darren Chen, Connor Leong and Caesar Wu who starred in the 2018 remake of the “Meteor Garden” series will take place, according to Khaosod English, at 7pm on Saturday at the outdoor River Park area. 

A big riverside show will take place on the bank of the Chao Phraya River called “Eternal Prosperity,” featuring both Thai and international contemporary art and cultural performances such as a Thai shadow play designed by renowned painter and contemporary mixed media artist Kamol Tassananchaleem, and floral and butterfly performances by stilt walkers from Australia’s Empress Stilt Dance.

Visitors can expect to find sculptures designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat decorating the 1,000-sq-meter stage, which will be used for traditional Thai performances, contemporary Thai dances, international performance art and circus acts.

Also included in the show are Sri Mahasamut junks, which will be sailing along the Chao Phraya River. There will also be a visual performance in the air by 1,500 drones, which Siam Piwat claims to be the first large-scale drone performance in Thailand and the largest number of drones used in a show in Southeast Asia.

The Eternal Prosperity show will be performed both on Saturday and Sunday from 8pm, ending with a river dance at 10pm at the River Park area. Alongside the performance will be a light show projected on the nearby luxury residential buildings Magnolia Waterfront Residences and The Residences at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. 

Heading inside there will be welcoming garland shows with dancers performing on a 17-meter-high stage, Chinese acrobatic shows and music performances from the Ekkarong band with celebrated artist and composer Jiraphan Angsawanon and singer Saowanit “Kob” Nawapan,

There will also be contemporary art installations like “Concentration,” showcasing Thai silk fabrics by four leading Thai designers, and magic performances headlined by Spanish magician Charlie Mag, best known for his live dove illusions.

The so-called “Paragon by the River” is expected to draw in the hordes with 100-plus restaurants spanning Michelin-starred spin-offs, Taiwan’s Harbour rooftop bar and Bangkok’s first branch of Singapore's premium Jumbo Seafood restaurant, while over 500 shops will include the giant Japanese Takashimaya department store, Thailand’s very first Apple Store, A Land, COS, Adidas Originals, Nike Kicks Lounge and JD Sports.

IconSiam will also include a Thai Heritage Museum and a world-class 3,500-seat auditorium, as well as the Sook Siam zone, dedicated to promoting local products and handicrafts.

To get to to IconSiam, from BTS Saphan Taksin exit 2, you can take shuttle boats labeled with IconSiam signage at Sathorn Pier, take the IconSiam mini buses from BTS Krung Thon Buri exit 4, or take public buses number 4, 6, 84, 88, 89, 111, 149, 167, and 177.

Should you move across the river? Read Why life on Charoen Nakhon has never been sweeter