Weekend fun at Jing Jai Market - Chiang Mai Citylife

By Pinn Jingkaojai | Wed 3 Mar 2021

With a sense of normalcy, community, and hope on the rise again, Jing Jai Farmer’s Market and Rustic Market is the place to be. Every Saturday and Sunday Jing Jai Market, which translates to sincere in Thai, opens Chiang Mai up to an abundance of coffee stands, second hand stores, food, fresh produce, and events. Rows of cars on Asadathorn Road line up on the side of the street like arrows pointing to the event that opens from 6:30 am to 1 pm every weekend. Parking can also be found elsewhere such as at the Grand Napat close by. As you arrive at its entrance you are joined by bustling market-goers carrying their own shopping bags filled with goods, snacks, or souvenirs. Since 2018, no plastic bags have been allowed to be distributed.

Upon entrance, an organised COVID checkpoint with hand sanitiser, and temperature measuring machines greet visitors — the usual routine. A conglomeration of sounds from live music to muffled chatters and laughter behind face masks, chirping birds that live in the event space’s towering trees, and the squeaking horn of the market’s free transportation golf cart will fill your ears. Vibrant colours such from the fresh green of the organic market, to the rainbow array of second-hand books, handicrafts, and different types of fresh foods being cooked in front of your eyes, will keep you going from stall to stall. You will find it all here because it is the “largest handmade products centre and the first organic market in Chiang Mai.”

Many events are happening at Jing Jai, adding to its fun. Over this past weekend there was the Bloom Bazaar by Chiang Mai Bloom which featured masses of colourful vibrant flowers. There were also workshops such as face mask embroidering, natural tie-dye, key chain making, acrylic flower painting, and crafting clay jewellery across multiple art stations.

Then there is the Jing Jai Warehouse which is currently one of the multiple venues across the city hosting the Art for Air. This is a Chiang Mai-wide art exhibition that showcases the issue of pollution and global warming through different mediums of art which will continue until 30th April. The exhibition’s goal is to raise awareness for Chiang Mai’s yearly “pollution season” starting around March where smoke from burning fills the air and cover the town with a toxic haze. Some featuring artists at Jing Jai Warehouse are Angkrit Ajchariyasophon, Thawatchai Phansawat, Apichatpong Weerasetkul, and Nattaphat Phaetong and many more. Other venues include the infamous Three Kings Monuments, Lanna Folklife Museum, Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre, Chiang Mai Historical Centre, and MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum. Other artists are featured in the latter.

Come join Jing Mai market every weekend for fresh food to eat or take home, a cosy community atmosphere, and experience what it all has to offer. Jing Jai Market truly embodies the “Sabai” Chiang Mai lifestyle.