|
Thailand has many festivals; the following highlights often include a spectacular parade, followed by evening performances of
classical dance and drama. |
| |
January
Don Chedi Memorial Fair - Suphanburi
Week-long festival; celebrates Prince Naresuanthe's victory over the Vurmese (Late January)
King Mengrai Festival - Chiang Rai (North)
Northern festival to honor King Mengrai, founder of the Lanna Kingdom,
with parade and sound-and-light show. (late January)
Nakhon Phanom Prathat Phanom Festival - Nakhon Phanom
(Northeast) A week-long fair held at the most honored stupa in the
Northeast. (Late January) |
| |
|
February
Chinese New Year - Nationwide
Asia's most important festival for the Chinese community is best observed in predominantly Chinese towns such as Nakhon Sawan, a few hours north of Bangkok. (Late Jan-Mid Feb)
Chainat Giant Straw Birds - Chainat (South)
A southern event that features giant models of birds constructed with dried rice stalks. (Early Feb)
Chiang Mai Flower Festival - Chiang Mai (North)
The northern city honors its chief product with processions, floats, and beauty contests. (Early Feb)
Makha Puja - Nationwide
Important Buddhist festival with candlelight processions around major temples. (Feb. full moon)
March
Wat Phra Buddhaphat Fair - Saraburi
Thousands of pilgrims flood this small town to honor a giant imprint
of the foot of Buddha. (Early March)
Singing Dove Festival - Yala (South)
Southern festival with bird displays and bird-singing contests. (Mid March)
Thao Suranari Fair - Nakhon Ratchasima
The female military hero is honored for her spirited resistance against Lao forces during a siege from Vientiane. (Late March)
April
Pattaya Festival - Pattaya
Major week-long festival at Thailand's original beach resort, three hours from the capital, with both cultural and hedonistic offerings. (Early April)
Songkran - Nationwide
The Thai New Year is also known as the “water festival”, when
everyone drenched by friends, family and strangers - a welcome respite
from the heat. (Mid April)
Si Satchanalai Ordinations - Si Satchanalai
Dozens of young monks are ordained into the Buddhist priesthood after a very colorful and photogenic parade. (Late April) |
| |
|
May
Royal Ploughing Ceremony - Bangkok
Hindu ceremony held annually at Sanam Luang to ensure good fortune for the nation's farmers. (Early May)
Visaka Pua - Nationwide
A major Buddhist holiday that commemorates the birth, death, and enlightenment of the Buddha with candlelight processions around the temples. (Early May)
Rocket Festival - Northeast Thailand
Rockets are fired into the air to bring rain in places throughout the Northeast; the display in Yasothan is the most spectacular. (Mid May) |
|
July
Candle Festival - Ubon Ratchathani
Major parade with more than 100 lavishly decorated floats, dance performances, traditional Issan music, and other cultural shows. (Mid July)
Khao Phansa - Nationwide
A big day for young men to enter the Buddhist priesthood at the beginning of the “rains retreat”. (Mid July)
Asanha Puja - Nationwide
Buddha's first sermon is celebrated in temples throughout Thailand. (July full moon)
|
September
Phichit Boat Races - Phichit
Longtail boat races are held around the country at the height of the rainy season. Famous venues are Nan, Phimai, Nakhon Phanom, and Phichit. (Early Sept)
Narathiwat Fair - Narathiwat
A week-long Muslim fair with boat races, singing-dove competitions, and demonstrations of traditional martial arts. (Late Sept)
October
Phuket Vegetarian Festival - Phuket Town
Major Chinese festival with a parade, Chinese cultural performances, and men who pierce their body with needles, knives, and sharpened steel blades. (Late Sept-early Oct)
Sakhon Nakhon Wax Candle Festival - Sakhon Nakhon
The end of Buddhist Lent and the rains retreat is marked with boat
races and an elaborate parade of floats, giant candles, and beauty
queens. (Mid Oct)
Ok Phansa - Nationawide
End of the three-month Lenten season, when Buddhists present new robes to monks. (Mid-late Oct)
November
Loy Krathong - Nationwide Delightful festival with day-long
parades, beauty contests, and evening events to honor the ancient
water spirit of Mae Kong Ka. (Mid Nov)
Wat Salet Fare - Bangkok The city's largest temple fair, with folk dance and drama, modern entertainment, and a candlelight procession around the Golden Mount of Wat Saket. (Mid Nov)
River Kwai Historical Week - Kanchanaburi
A week-long festival to remember the events of World War II, with
exhibitions, memorial services, and a sound-and-light show over
the famous bridge. (Late Nov)
Surin Elephant Roundup - Surin
Thailand's most famous animal and national symbol is honored with staged elephant hunts, rodeos, and elephant polo to the amusement of thousands of visitors. (Late Nov)
December
King's Birthday - Bangkok
King Bhumibol Adulyadej is honored with a parade down Rachadamoen Klang Avenue. (Dec 5)
Chiang Mai Winter Fair - Chiang Mai
Major cool-season festival with cultural activities, beauty contests, and a grand parade.
(Late Dec) |
|
|
|
|
