Mrs. Katanawadee Kalayanamit, Consul-General in Chicago, led a team representing the Thai community in the Midwest region of the United States to participate in the “Sawasdee[...]

From September 12-14, 2025, Mrs. Katanawadee Kalayanamit, Consul-General in Chicago, led a team representing the Thai community in the Midwest region of the United States to participate in the "Sawasdee DC Thai Festival" held at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (between 4th and 7th Streets). The event was organized in collaboration with the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Team Thailand USA, as well as the Royal Thai Consulates-General in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago

Sawasdee DC Thai Festival is a celebration that showcases Thai culture blended with innovation, featuring food, fashion, art, handicrafts, Muay Thai, and T-Pop. The festival aims to promote and strengthen the relationship between Thailand and the United States.

During the Festival, Thai community leaders from several Midwestern states - including Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa - contributed a variety of cultural activities. For instance, the Illinois delegation participated in the opening parade; the Minnesota group brought a Thai Khon performance troupe based in the U.S. to perform on stage and also joined the parade. These performances attracted great interest from tens of thousands of American and international attendees.