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Bookmark & shareMany festivals are linked to agricultural seasons or to Buddhist or Brahman rituals and follow a lunar calendar. New Year/Songkran, is celebrated in mid-April by 'bathing' Buddha images, paying respects to monks and elders by sprinkling water over their hands, and generally tossing water in the air for fun. Expect to get soaked, unless you'd prefer to skulk in your room. The sowing and harvesting of rice has given rise to a cycle of festivals. To kick off the official rice-planting season in June, the king participates in an ancient Brahman ritual in a large field (Sanam Luang) in central Bangkok. A Rocket Festival is also held in June in the country's northeast, using a volatile mixture of bamboo and gunpowder to convince the sky to send rain for the new rice season; and the rice harvest from September through to May leads to joyous local celebrations throughout Thailand.
The Vegetarian Festival in Phuket and Trang, during which devout Chinese Buddhists eat only vegetarian food, runs for nine days from late September to early October. Merit-making processions are the most visible expression of this festival, but there are also ceremonies at Chinese temples. The Elephant Roundup in Surin in November is a festival popular with the kind of people who enjoy watching pachyderms play soccer. During the Loi Krathong Festival, held after the rainy season (usually in November), candle-lit floats are cast into waterways to bring good fortune for the coming year. Bangkok and Thailand's northern provinces are especially good places to catch this celebration.
The exact dates for festivals may vary from year to year, either because of the lunar calendar or because local authorities have decided to change festival dates. For specific dates, contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT; www.tourismthailand.org).
Browse by Month
January
That Phanom Festival
Jan/Feb
festival/event
A 10-day homage to the northeast's most sacred Buddhist stupa (Phra That Phanom) in Nakhon Phanom Province. Pilgrims from all over the country, as well as from Laos, attend.
Bangkok International Film Festival
Jan/Feb
festival/event
Films from around the world, with an emphasis on Asian cinema, are screened in the capital. Events end with the awarding of the festival's Golden Kinnaree in a range of categories (www.bangkok film.org).
Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Jan/Feb
festival/event
Colourful floats and parades exhibit Chiang Mai's cultivated flora.
Phra Nakhon Khiri Diamond Festival
Jan/Feb
festival/event
This week-long celebration of Phetchaburi's history and architecture focuses on Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, a hill topped by a former royal palace overlooking the city. It features a sound-and-light show and presentations of Thai classical dance-drama.
Chinese New Year
Jan/Feb
festival/event
Called trùt jiin in Thai, Chinese all over Thailand celebrate their lunar New Year with a week of house-cleaning, lion dances and fireworks.
New Year's Day
1 Jan
official holiday
Magha Puja
Jan/Feb
official holiday
Held on the full moon of the third lunar month to commemorate Buddha preaching to 1250 enlightened monks who came to hear him 'without prior summons'. A public holiday throughout the country, it culminates with a candle-lit walk around the wian thian (main chapel) at every wat.
Related Travel Stories
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Thailand Full Moon Party
podcast by Fleur Bainger, June 2007
Are they what they used to be? Fleur Bainger goes to Koh Pha-Ngan's most famous bash, where debate runs hot. Bucket cocktails - friend. Read the full article ›
Tags: Festivals & Events • Island & Beaches • Thailand
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
