The 2014 Thai Village, the 4th annual event of its kind, was held on Saturday, July 19. The gathering was held in the courtyard of the Grace Church in Georgetown, across the street from the Thai Embassy. It truly was a celebration, one of Thai culture, and it featured a range of performances, artists, cuisines, and other indulgences.
The Thai Village kicked off with a group of dancers and drummers leading the way for remarks from the Ambassador of Thailand, Vijavat Isarabhakdi. Several other ambassadors from southeast Asian countries were also in attendance.
Food vendors included half a dozen prominent Thai restaurants from the D.C. area, including Bangkok Garden, Thai Tanic, DC Noodle, Asia Nine, DC Thai, Tara Temple and Zaab Thai. From familiar staples such as Pad Thai to Chicken Larb, to kabobs, slider sandwiches, pork jerky and all kinds of fried delights, such as Thai curry puffs, they all had long lines and delicious bites for a few bucks. And of course, sweet Thai iced tea should never be passed on.
But getting a taste of Thai food was only one part of the experience. The Thai Artists Alliance (TAA) helped arrange for a number of performers and artists to attend the event, including traditional dancers and drummers, musicians, painters and more. There was a Muay Thai exhibition, and when you just needed to unwind, two different types of Thai massage being offered for free, from the Thai Wellness Center and Origins Thai Spa.
So the Thai Village was truly about experiencing a taste of Thai culture, foods and performances, arts and traditions, and so much more. For those interested in visiting Thailand for themselves — such as, ahem, me personally in several months — there were also informative guides and booklets available to take home as well.
A portion of the proceeds from the event, which was free to attend but offered various good and items for sale in addition to the food vendors, was donated to charities who help human trafficking victims in Thailand.
