งานช้าง สุรินทร์ 2568 Surin Elephant Roundup

Surin Elephant Round-Up / Surin Elephant Festival (2025) — what it is, when it is, what happens, and tips.

⸻

What Is the Surin Elephant Round-Up?
• It’s a cultural festival in Surin Province, Thailand, centered around elephants. 
• The festival features a variety of elephant shows — elephants doing tricks, mock battles, “elephant buffet,” tug-of-war, even playing games like soccer. 
• It’s rooted in the history and traditions of the Kuy people, who have long associated with elephants. 
• The event is very big for tourism: Surin is known for having “the world’s largest domestic elephant village” during the festival. 

⸻

Key Details for the 2025 Edition
• Dates: 15–26 November 2025. 
• Times:
• Elephant Fair: Daily 09:00–21:00 at Surin Elephant Show Stadium. 
• Mini Shows: Every evening around 19:00. 
• Main Round-up (the big elephant performance): 22–23 Nov at 08:00. 
• Elephant “welcome & feeding party”: 21 Nov at ~07:00. 
• Locations:
• Surin Elephant Show Stadium. 
• The feeding party at the Monument of Phraya Surin Phakdi Sri Narong Changwang in Surin city. 
• Opening Ceremony: 15 Nov 2025 marks the grand opening. 
• Other Highlights:
• Charity / lottery draw on 26 Nov. 
• Local product fair (“Elephant Fair”) during the festival. 

⸻

Historical & Cultural Context
• The Round-Up comes from traditional elephant hunts, but it’s now more of a spectacle than real hunting. 
• The staging includes re-enactments — elephants march, “fight,” perform tricks, and engage in shows that highlight their skills. 
• Over 300 elephants can take part in the show, according to local guidebooks. 

⸻

Tips for Visiting
1. Get There Early
• For the elephant parade (in the morning) — good viewing spots fill up.
• Seats with shade are more comfortable; some cheaper seats might be in full sun. (A trip-advisor post notes this.) 
2. Buy or Reserve Tickets
• Check local Surin guide sites / the official Surin Elephant Show website.
• For good seats (especially shaded), try to reserve early.
3. Bring Essentials
• Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses.
• Camera / phone: for photos — the elephant formations and parades are very photogenic.
• Water & snacks (though there’s a fair selling local goods)
4. Understand the Controversies
• Be aware that elephant festivals can raise ethical questions about animal welfare. (Some visitors / NGOs express concern.) 
• If this is important to you, try to research how the elephants are treated locally.
5. Explore More Than Just the Show
• The fair has local crafts, food stalls, and cultural exhibits. 
• If you have time, explore Surin Province (temples, local villages, silk weaving).

⸻

If you like, I can check recent reviews (2024/2025) to see how tourist-friendly the festival is right now (safety, cost, transport) — do you want me to do that?