What to Buy for a Songkran Festival

A Songkran Festival needs more than food and drinks. Plan for outdoor water activities, a buffet that can stay safe, and enough cooling capacity for an active crowd. Shop for ingredients and ice close to the event, while arranging reusable tableware, serving equipment, tents, and waste bins earlier. Confirm the guest count before buying perishables, and collect dietary requirements before finalising rice, noodles, marinades, sauces, meat, and tofu.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
Folding chairsqty 70
Buffet tablesqty 4
Bar stoolsqty 6
Waste binsqty 6

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 80
Reusable bowlsqty 70
Reusable drinking glassesqty 100
Wine glassesqty 50
Coffee cupsqty 50
Table knivesqty 80
Table spoonsqty 80
Table forksqty 80
Teaspoonsqty 50
Serving tongsqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 10

Catering

Food warmersqty 6
Serving plattersqty 12
Sauce bowlsqty 10
Drink dispensersqty 4
Water jugsqty 8
Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4
Groceries
- Jasmine rice - 8 kilograms
- Rice noodles - 3 kilograms
- Chicken thighs - 6 kilogram
- Pork - 4 kilograms
- Firm tofu - 3 kilogram
- Shrimp - 3 Kilograms
- Eggs - 60 pieces
- Coconut milk - 12 cans
- Red curry paste - 6 jars
- Green curry paste - 4 jars
- Soy sauce - 4 bottles
- Fish sauce - 3 bottles
- Oyster sauce - 3 bottles
- Sweet chili sauce - 4 bottles
- Sriracha - 3 bottles
- Peanut sauce - 3 kilogram
- Tamarind paste - 2 jars
- Sesame oil - 2 bottles
- Sunflower oil - 5 liter
- Cane sugar - 2 kilograms
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Chili flakes - 250 gram
- Curry powder - 250 grams
- Cumin powder - 150 grams
- Coriander powder - 150 grams
- Garlic - 1 kilogram
- Ginger - 750 grams
- Lemongrass - 30 pieces
- Kaffir lime leaves - 300 gram
- Thai basil - 15 bunches
- Coriander - 15 bunches
- Limes - 60 pieces
- Cucumbers - 20 pieces
- Carrots - 5 kilograms
- Red bell peppers - 20 pieces
- Green bell peppers - 15 pieces
- Red onions - 3 kilogram
- Spring onions - 20 bunches
- Chinese cabbage - 8 pieces
- Sugar snaps - 3 kilograms
- Bean sprouts - 3 kilograms
- Mushrooms - 3 kilogram
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilograms
- Mangoes - 30 pieces
- Pineapples - 8 pieces
- Papayas - 8 pieces
- Watermelons - 4 pieces
- Peanuts - 2 kilograms
- Cashews - 1.5 kilograms
- Shredded coconut - 1 kilogram
- Shrimp crackers - 2 kilograms
- Shrimp chips - 1,5 kilogram
- Paprika chips - 1 kilogram
- Plain chips - 1 kilogram
- Rice crackers - 1 kilogram
- Coconut ice cream - 6 liters
- Mango ice cream - 6 liters
- Coconut milk for dessert - 6 cans
- Condensed milk - 4 cans
- Sticky rice - 3 kilograms
- Rice flour - 1 kilogram
- Pandan extract - 2 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Ginger beer - 8 bottles
- Thai iced tea - 6 liters
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 80 bottles
- Fruit juice - 12 liter
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 120 bottles
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Rosé - 8 bottles
- Ice cubes - 30 kilograms
- Paper napkins - 300 pieces
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Organic dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Microfiber cloths - 20 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 packs
- Hand sanitizer gel - 6 bottles

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 6
Chef's knifeqty 4
Mixing bowlsqty 8
Measuring cupsqty 3
Aluminum foilqty 4
Food storage containersqty 20
Kitchen tongsqty 6
Portable cooktopsqty 3

Equipment

Bluetooth speakersqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Waterproof protective coversqty 6
Power banksqty 4

Decorations

Thai flagsqty 8
Colorful garlandsqty 12
Paper lanternsqty 20
Flower bowlsqty 6
Tableclothsqty 8
Photo backdrop
Name badgesqty 80
Badge holdersqty 80

Sports equipment

Water gunsqty 50
Buckets of waterqty 20
Water sprayersqty 4
Inflatable water tubsqty 3
Plastic scoopsqty 20
Safe barrier conesqty 12
Rubber non-slip matsqty 12

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 6
LED lampsqty 8
Battery lanternsqty 6

Cleaning

Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Hand broomsqty 3
Disposable glovesqty 10
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Tips

Buy ice and collect drinks on the day of the festival or within 24 hours beforehand. Fill coolers shortly before guests arrive so drinks stay cold during the water activities.
Plan roughly 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then about 1 drink per person per additional hour. Add extra water because guests will be active outdoors and may get wet.
Shop for meat, tofu, fruit, and vegetables 1–2 days before the event. Wash produce, prepare marinades, and portion sauces only after the final visitor count is confirmed.
Count reusable plates, bowls, glasses, forks, spoons, and knives before shopping. Have at least one complete place setting per guest, plus 10% extra for items that are dropped, wet, or still in use.
Arrange tents, tables, chairs, buffet equipment, and waste bins before the forecast is final. Keep dry goods and tableware covered, and leave a clearly marked dry area for food, phones, and spare clothing.

Frequently asked questions

What food do I need for a Songkran Festival?: Plan rice and noodles as the base, then add marinated meat and tofu, sauces, fruit, and vegetables. Confirm the guest count and dietary requirements at least 3 days before shopping so you can portion the menu accurately.
How much water and ice do I need for Songkran?: Allow at least 1 litre of drinking water per person, plus around 0.5–1 kg of ice per person for cooling drinks and food. Buy or collect the ice on the event day, preferably within 6 hours of serving.
How many plates and glasses do I need for a Songkran party?: Prepare one reusable plate, bowl, drinking glass, fork, spoon, and knife per guest, plus 10% spare. For 50 guests, that means at least 55 of each frequently used item.
What should I buy for an outdoor Songkran Festival?: Arrange party tents, foldable tables, chairs, buffet tables, coolers, drink dispensers, water jugs, serving equipment, and waste bins. Secure the outdoor setup at least 1 day beforehand, and check the weather forecast again on the morning of the festival.

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