The residents of this street in my girlfriend's home town decided to have a street party on December 30 (practice for the village party next night perhaps?) so they just closed off each end of the soi, put up a stage, and laid down mats in the middle of the road.
As soon as I stepped out of the front gate to have a look 2 complete strangers dragged me to their mat and gave me a glass of Chang beer and offered me food. Such is the warmth and hospitality of the Issaan people.