Perched alongside Thailand's favourite romantic destination and of immense historical and cultural value, Mrigadayavan Palace is the jewel in the Kingdom's coronet of royal summer palaces.

Declared a National Heritage Site in 1981 and with extensive renovations ongoing since 1992, the palace in Hua Hin is celebrating its new lease on life from Saturday through Monday with the Mrigadayavan Palace Winter Fair.

And if a winter fair at a summer palace sounds like something from a fairytale, the array of exhibits and events on offer might justify the expectations.

Klaomard Yipintsoi, who had served as curator of many art shows, was recruited two years ago as director of the Office of Mrigadayavan Palace, tasked with turning it into a living museum of benefit to a broad public audience.

Funding limitations and the fact that the original furniture is long gone mean that Kloamard's museum can't pose as a repository of antiques, but the palace remains a treasure house of social history.

The fair was inaugurated last year to celebrate the 80th birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess Petcharat Rajsuda, the daughter of King Rama VI and a generous supporter of the Mrigadayavan Palace Foundation.

This weekend's event is inspired by the winter fairs held in the reigns of Rama V and Rama VI.

With the stunning palace, illuminated at night, as its backdrop, the fair will feature a series of lively cultural presentations, ranging from a traditional "Lakorn Chatri" folk drama typical of Phetchaburi to the contemporary play "Andromeda", adapted from a story by Rama VI.

A Scottish pipe band and the Vajiravuj College Jazz Band will perform and there will also be khon masked-dance shows. Local families that have long been close to the monarchy will be serving royal dishes as well.

Khaomard is grateful for all the volunteer help her mission has received from many skilled artisans and professionals. Those young generations of volunteers like Paveena Viriyaprapaikit, from Libraria Fine Stationary at the Siam Society, to help with the products at the fair, and Lalitya Rangsit, a Cambridge University graduate on museum and heritage management, to help with the fair's exhibitions. Bodipol Jutrakul, a graduate from Domus Academy, Italy, is helping on designing the exhibitions and Mali Jaturajinda and her team at Beourfriend Design Studio will handle the graphic design works.

"They don't earn anything," she says. "I wish the kind of generosity they display could be something that everyone did for society."

These helpers share the concern that a priceless cultural heritage might fade with time - or be lost forever - unless citizens get actively involved.

"Hua Hin is embracing the new without a trace of the heritage of an early age," Khaomard says. "The least we can do is to preserve this place and its memories."

Nakorn Pongnoi, director of the Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park, is bringing his play "Andromeda" to the fair.

It was inspired by and has verses from Rama VI's "Vivaha Phra Samudra", which was in turn a retelling of the Greek fable. There will be a performance on Sunday and, on Monday, it will be part of a gala dinner to be attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Somsavali.

"Literature was one of His Majesty King Vajiravudh's greatest loves, and he's been recognised as one of the country's major poets of his day," Nakorn says. "I'm familiar with many of his works, and for the Winter Fair I wrote a new play inspired by his writing."

Rama VI built the Mrigadayavan summer palace - informally called the Royal Home of Love and Hope - in the mid-1920s. It boasts beautiful designs in golden teak by Italian architect Ercole Manfredi. An ornate, two-storey pavilion faces the sea and elevated walkways roam the grounds.

But King Vajiravudh visited only twice before he died in 1925 at the age of 44. Of his personal belongings, only a small mahogany writing desk and chair and an elegant dresser remain. Both are on view in the King's suite.

For many years the palace stood empty, the salt air having its predictably adverse effects. No members of the royal family came to visit, and meanwhile the Border Patrol Police were given permission to conduct training there. They took good care of it until restorations could begin.

Well aware of the palace's importance, Klaomard set out to make the most of what was left.

There remained evidence of the traditions and tastes of its era, and of the King's interests beyond literature - democracy, the newspapers and the nation's identity, as well as music and education.

"It was hard at the beginning to collate what we had," Klaomard says, "but it became enjoyable when we realised just what we had."

The palace has cultural activities year round. People come to hear Thai classical music or learn to make floral garlands. Children have lessons that can lead to scholarships.

"We bring the old traditions back to life, and use them in practical ways," Kloamard says. "This isn't Disneyland - we don't have a lot of different themes - but the renovations can help show what really happened in that period."

The setting alone is wonderful. The vast grounds are being given new life as a landscaped garden under the direction of ML Poomchai Chumbala, the celebrated interior designer.

The transformation will be total and take five years, but guests at this weekend's fair will be able to admire the completed first garden.

Located near the entrance, the circular Venice Vanich Garden has tall hedges bordering two rows and a fountain in the centre. The name came from the title that Rama VI's gave his translation of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice".

The primary funding for the palace's refurbishment comes from admission fees (Bt30, Bt15 for children) and an annual gift from Princess Petcharat.

Such charitable spirit, the voluntary effort of dozens of helpers and the interest of the nation are what is needed to allow the Palace of Love and Hope to fully live up to its name.

Vipasai Niyamabha

The Nation