If you see thousands of people standing around very, very still as electronic music blares in a field outside Pattaya, you can thank the Chonburi Police Department.
Attendees ready to dance at EDM fest Creamfields Thailand, slated to begin tomorrow in Pattaya, got a last-minute warning by the municipal police force today that they won’t be able to drink alcohol or dance in the event area.
Chonburi authorities announced that the two-day dance festival should refrain from selling or consuming alcohol, not dance in the festival area due to the current COVID situation.
While the former may not be a deal-breaker – alcohol not really such crowd’s drug of choice – a dancing ban at a dance festival seems paradoxical.
The announcement came as a surprise, given it was issued hours before the festival was to open at Pattaya’s Nongnooch Garden.
Difficulties have surrounded the EDM festival since it was announced in March. The festival, Thailand’s spin-off of renowned UK festival Creamfields, disappointed many with its rather weak lineup.
Many EDM devotees have said the threadbare lineup of international DJs have already played Thailand many times before and complained that they expected more global DJs worthy of the Creamfields brand. Others rolled their eyes at the fact half the lineup consisted of local acts.
The organizers have not responded publicly to the criticism.
One of the international headliners, Fedde Le Grand, tested positive for COVID on Thursday night.
