Halfmoon Festival expands Thailand’s island party scene in 2024

Thailand’s Halfmoon Festival has grown its programming through 2024, running for two days every fortnight on Ko Pha Ngan.

The event series first began in 2002, with founders Jao Pattanasiri and Oren Mizrachi aiming to expand the scope of Thailand’s island party scene beyond the beaches into the tropical rainforest too, with a more environmentally conscious mindset.

“We hosted the Fullmoon Beach Party in 1999. We observed that eighty percent of the 20,000 individuals there on the Fullmoon dumped their trash into the ocean,” they said to Mixmag, noting that full clean-up proved impossible with the litter swept out into sea, while the move inland has allowed for a more eco-friendly approach amid the nature of Ko Pha Ngan, an island blessed with beaches, jungle, waterfalls, famous sunsets and more that revellers can explore.

The two-day event opens with a day pre-party at Harmony Beach Club, which runs from 2:PM to midnight, before the main event takes place deep in the Ban Tai jungle at the Magical Forest, running from 9:PM to sunrise.

DJs playing styles such as house, trance, techno, hip hop and reggaeton feature on the line-ups, spanning three dancefloors (Prime Stage, G Floor and The Cave), with high production levels (including lazers and “one-of-a-kind décor”) and weighty soundsystems, including “special acoustic sound tailored for outdoor events.”

Around 80 DJs play annually, with upcoming events featuring the likes of Silver Panda, Ghost Rider and Berg.

Accommodation options range across hotels, beach bungalows, hostels and more. There’s also the opportunity to partake in activities such as sunset boat trips, kayaking, yoga, hotspots for Thailand’s famous cuisine, and shows such as fireworks and fire dancers featuring among the festivities.

“We enjoy sharing and creating magical moments. We have carefully chosen a stunning location and had Carin Dickson decorate it so have transformed the jungle into a sizable green coconut garden named Magical Forest and we cannot wait to welcome the world,” say the organisers.

For further details, tickets and VIP packages, head to halfmoonfestival.com. Forthcoming dates can be found here.