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Amongst the annual traditions of Pattaya have grown up two that occur at the same time each September.
One is the Jesters Charity Fair at the Diana Driving Range in North Pattaya.
The other is that it rains.
Just as the previous year the day of the fair, September 12th this year, dawned cloudy and overcast and an early morning downpour didn’t auger well.
However this did clear up and we made our way to the ground to see what was in store for this event this year.
But on arrival the rain started again and continued on and off for most of the day albeit not mostly heavy so it was still possible to continue with most of the events planned.
For those of you who are not familiar with this event, the Jesters, a group of motor cycle enthusiasts here in Pattaya have for a good number of years now organised an annual charity drive to collect funds for needy children, principally those under the care of the sisters at the Fountain of Life home here in Pattaya.
The charity collection is actually an on-going year round process but it culminates each year with two main events, an outdoor fair provided mostly for the entertainment of children on a Sunday afternoon and a party for the more adult members of society (leastwise in physical years) at Shenanigans pub and restaurant the following Saturday evening.
Apart from enabling people attending to have a good time, the purpose of these two events is to raise money for the charity. This is done a number of ways, firstly by having a number of local companies and organisations providing sponsorship, and secondly by during these events selling raffle tickets and auctioning items all of whose proceeds go to the fund total.
In spite of the weather a good crowd turned up and also a record number of stalls were staffed providing such offerings as food and drink, various games of skill, handicrafts for sale or just general information about their product.
These were arranged down both sides of the main driving range at the far end of which was a (fortunately) covered stage on which a succession of entertainers provided music and also fun games.
In front of this stage was a grassy knoll on which various children’s’ events were staged, none too serious.
Later in the day the main raffle took place with prizes mostly more suitable for children being awarded to the lucky winners.
We were later told that in spite of the damp conditions this event plus the following Shenanigans evening produced a combined total of over 5 million Baht for the charity a full million more than last year.
Can this continue? Well you can be sure the events will and the organisers will try their best.
Congratulations to all concerned.
By the way, the ‘gentleman’ in the lead photo was later given the winning name of ‘Albert’.
A selection of photos taken at the event follow here. As usual to view any of these in full size, just click on the thumbnail image.
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