The 17th Songkran Festival in Hollywood Thai Town drew more than 200,000 visitors and set a Guinness World Record when 35 restaurants sold 1,338 plates of Pad Thai in one hour, exceeding the target of 1,200.
The 17th Songkran Festival drew more than 200,000 visitors to Hollywood Boulevard on April 26 for what organizers called the largest Thai festival held outside Thailand. But the main event that day was not the cultural parade or the Muay Thai demonstrations. It was a Guinness World Record attempt that exceeded expectations.
Thirty-five restaurants prepared Pad Thai on-site, each equipped with giant woks. The challenge: sell 1,200 plates within one hour. The result: 1,338 portions sold in 60 minutes, surpassing the target by 138 plates.
Representatives from Guinness World Records later confirmed the achievement on stage, and participants received certificates recognizing their involvement.
The event stretched across a three-kilometer stretch of Hollywood Boulevard, which was closed to host the celebration. Proceedings began at 10 a.m. with a cultural parade featuring Thai youth in traditional dress, participants from the Miss Thai Town 2026 pageant, and around 30 social media influencers.
Oak Soonthornwan, also known as Chinnakrit Soonthornwan, came up with the idea to break the old Guinness record of around 1,000 plates. He is also a co-founder of DS Night Market, a weekly Thai gathering taking place in Chinatown.
It seemed like everyone can eat it. Its vegan, he said about mango sticky rice. But the popular dessert is difficult to make, and Oak added, Its Thai, but the name is not Thai.
Pad Thai is Thai. This is how we do it together. This is how we do world history, he said.
Soonthornwan's team had received about 700 orders from participants before the event. The idea followed strong early demand, with more than 700 Pad Thai orders placed in advance, according to Tor Sornlump, a representative from the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles.
The event was supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand Los Angeles Office and the Department of International Trade Promotion.
The all-day Sunday New Year celebration included five stages focusing on food, music, a beer garden and even boxing. In addition to the Pad Thai challenge, participating chefs took part in a cooking competition, preparing Pad Thai in different styles.
A large-scale cooking demonstration using a giant pan also took place, with public figures including Sudarat Keyuraphan and Pita Limjaroenrat joining the activity.
Activities ran from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and included cultural performances, live music, and Muay Thai demonstrations. Organizers reported strong engagement at food stalls throughout the day, with visitors queuing for Thai dishes and desserts. Popular items included mango sticky rice, durian sticky rice, and fresh durian.
Many attendees wore Thai-inspired clothing, contributing to the festival atmosphere. The event drew visitors from across Southern California and Thailand, as well as from Boston, Florida and New York.
The festival celebrates Songkran, Thailands biggest annual holiday. In Thailand, the New Year begins with water guns and buckets, engaging in splash battles as part of the cleansing celebration. The streets of Thailand turn into what is often called the world's biggest water fight from April 13-15.
While the scale may be smaller, but the intention remains just as powerful, centered around community, gratitude and a fresh start.
In the San Fernando Valley, Wat Thai of Los Angeles has become a cultural hub where the celebration comes to life. The temple is located at 8225 Coldwater Canyon Ave in North Hollywood.
Visitors can experience traditional Thai dance, live music, and some of the most beloved dishes in Thai cuisine, all while taking part in meaningful rituals. At the heart of it all are water blessings. Instead of splash fights, many begin by gently pouring scented water over Buddha statues and into the hands of monks and elders.
It is an act of respect, believed to bring good fortune, protection, and renewal for the year ahead. Another tradition often seen is the building of sand pagodas on temple grounds. Each one symbolizes returning what was taken from the temple over the year, each grain of sand representing a small act of giving back.
This article was generated with AI assistance.