Thailand has a tropical climate and enjoys many festivals too. Read on to find out the best time to visit Thailand.
Wat Phantao during Yi Peng © Takeaway@Wikimedia.org,
Thailand has a busy calendar of festivals and events. From Songkran — the Thai New Year — to regional music, food and culture festivals, there’s something special to do in Thailand every month of the year.
Many of Thailand’s events and holidays take place at certain points on the Lunar New Year, meaning the dates change annually. Below, we’ve listed all of Thailand’s major events to give you an idea of what to expect during your holiday.
January
- Children’s Day
In Thailand, Children’s Day takes place on the second Saturday of January. Although there’s little of interest for tourists, the large crowds of children and parents mean attractions aimed at families can be quite crowded. - Bo Sang Umbrella Festival
Every year, the small village of Bo Sang holds a festival dedicated to its most famous export: handmade umbrellas. The Bo Sang Umbrella Festival let local umbrella merchants show off their most colourful and creative creations.
Bo Sang is located about 20 minutes from Chiang Mai by road. The Umbrella Festival is held over three days during the third week of January. As well as the umbrellas, the festival has a bike parade and beauty pageant, making it a fun day trip from Chiang Mai.
February
- Chiang Mai Flower Festival
The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held over three days in the first two weeks of February. As the date varies from year to year, it’s important to look up the date of each specific festival if you plan on attending while in Chiang Mai.
The Flower Festival is timed to coincide with the end of Chiang Mai’s cool season, which is when the city’s famous flowers are fully bloomed. The festival features a Flower Festival Parade, which runs along Charoen Muang Road on Saturday. - Chinese New Year
Like many other events on this calendar, the dates of Chinese New Year can vary. Most of the time, the first day of the Chinese New Year falls somewhere between January 21 and February 20, making it a convenient holiday if you’re in Thailand during high season.
Thailand’s large ethnic Chinese population makes Chinese New Year one of the most popular holidays of the year. Head to Yaowarat in Bangkok to catch the celebrations at their peak and to enjoy excellent Chinese food.
Chinese New Year in Bangkok ©Aleksandr Zykov
March
- National Muay Boran Day (Boxer’s Day)
As Thailand’s national sport, Muay Thai has a special significance across the country. Boxer’s Day, better known as National Muay Boran Day, is a holiday in memory of Nai Khanomtom, a legendary figure partially responsible for the popularity of Muay Thai.
Muay Boran Day takes place on March 17th. Special events are held across the country, with a large Muay Thai tournament in Ayutthaya. - Pattaya Music Festival
Every March, the beachfront area of Pattaya becomes crowded with artists and fans for the annual Pattaya Music Festival. Artists are a mix of Thai bands and international acts covering most popular musical genres. - Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)
Phi Ta Khon is an annual festival, known in English as the Ghost Festival, that takes place in the rural Loei Province. The festival, which is part of the Buddhist merit-making holiday of Bun Phawet, involves residents seeking protection and support from the spirit of the Mun river.
Highlights of the Phi Ta Khon include the festival procession, which is made up of residents of the town of Dan Sai wearing homemade masks and patchwork outfits, and a series of dance competitions on the second day of the festival. - Wat Bang Phra Tattoo Festival (Sak Yant)
The Wat Bang Phra Tattoo Festival (Sak Yant) takes place on the first Saturday of March at Wat Bang Phra, a large Buddhist temple in Nakhon Pathom Province. The temple is just 45 minutes from Bangkok by road, making it a fun day trip.During the festival, monks tattoo thousands of visitors with Sak Yant — Buddhist tattoos that protect people from harm and provide good fortune. Some attendees fall into a trance based on the subject of their tattoos.
Songkran Festival Silom © YANG HAI
April
- Songkran
From the 13th until the 15th of April, Thailand’s schools, offices and businesses shut down for Songkran. The Thai New Year festival involves the pouring of water to wash away past sins — a ritual that’s evolved into a gigantic three-day water fight that takes place almost everywhere.
Songkran hotspots include Chiang Mai, which transforms into a giant water fight arena for the festival, and Bangkok’s Khao San and Silom Roads. If you’re in Thailand during Songkran, it’s best to put your normal travel schedule aside and enjoy the festivities.
May
- Royal Ploughing Ceremony
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony takes place at the start of Thailand’s rice growing season. An ancient ceremony, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony has taken place for more than 700 years to wish good fortune to Thailand’s farmers.
In Bangkok, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony takes place primarily on Sanam Luang, where a procession makes its way around the field scattering rice seed. After the ceremony, Buddhist astrologers offer predictions on the outcome of the rice growing season. - Yasothon Rocket Festival
The Yasothon Rocket Festival takes place over Friday, Saturday and Sunday in mid-May in Yasothon Province. The first two days of the festival involve a series of mor lam concerts and the Hae Bangfai Ko street parade.
The third day of the festival is by far the most well known. Competitors from around Thailand create bang fai — giant skyrockets made from bamboo or PVC piping — which are launched into the sky.
Many of the rockets contain more than 100 kg of gunpowder, letting them travel more than a mile into the air before descending. Judges rank the rockets based on the height they reach, as well as the beauty of their vapour trail as they ascend. - Inthakin Festival
Held in Chiang Mai during late May or early June, the Inthakin Festival is a Brahmic festival in which offerings are made to the city pillar. The festival involves public concerts, festival games and lots of great Thai street food and lasts for eight days.
June
- Hua Hin Jazz Festival
Held in the first weekend of June or occasionally in mid-May, the Hua Hin Jazz Festival brings together Thailand’s top jazz musicians for three days of live jazz on Hua Hin Beach. Hua Hin’s proximity to Bangkok makes the festival a popular weekend break for city residents.
July
- Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival
The Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival, which typically takes place in July, marks the start of the Buddhist lent period. Thousands of residents of Ubon Ratchathani and surrounding areas bring candles and gifts to local wats for monks to use throughout lent.
August
- Por Tor Festival
One of Phuket’s most important Chinese festivals, Por Tor (Hungry Ghost in English) is a Chinese merit-making festival. During the festival, offerings of food are made for deceased loved ones and ancestors who, throughout Por Tor, can once again visit their old homes.
September
- Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Phuket Vegetarian Festival takes place over nine days in late September and October. The festival is about far more than just vegetarian food, with a range of interesting ceremonies making it one of Phuket’s most iconic events. - Some of the ceremonies during the festival involve body piercing, tattoos, ascending ladders with sharpened steps and walking on fire. The festival is not for the faint of heart, but its wild atmosphere and extreme ceremonies make it one of Phuket’s most unforgettable events.
October
- Chonburi Annual Buffalo Racing Festival
Every year, buffalo races are held in front of Chonburi City Hall. The Chonburi Annual Buffalo Racing Festival sees some of Thailand’s fastest buffaloes compete in live races. The festival also involves beauty contests, live concerts and martial arts competitions. - Naga Fireball Festival
The Naga Fireball Festival takes place in Nong Khai Province from October 10th to 16th. The festival observes mysterious Naga fireballs — glowing balls that rise from the Mekong River — floating into the air before disappearing.
Scientists believe that the fireballs could be the result of phosphine gas, which forms inside the river and is released during October. Others believe that the fireballs are propelled from the Laos side of the river, which is out of view during the nighttime festival
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Loi Krathong © Tim Gerland
November
- Loi Krathong
Loi Krathong is one of Thailand’s most well known and charming festivals. On the full moon of the 12th Thai month, people around Thailand float beautiful decorative baskets on rivers and lakes country the country.
Many businesses, government departments and local clubs compete to create and launch the most impressive krathongs. Along with the floating baskets, many people release lanterns into the sky. Fireworks displays are held in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other major Thai cities. - Surin Elephant Roundup
The Surin Elephant Roundup is a two-day elephant festival held in Surin Province during the third weekend of November. The festival involves a series of events that showcase the skill and strength of trained elephants, including an elephants vs. Royal Thai Army tug of war.
December
- King’s Birthday
The King’s Birthday, which is also Father’s Day in Thailand, occurs on December 5th. One of the most important dates of the year, the King’s Birthday involves public celebrations in most of Thailand’s major cities.
Although the King’s Birthday isn’t a major event for tourists, visitors to Thailand are free to join the public celebrations around Ratchadamnoen and Sanam Luang in Bangkok. - New Year’s Eve
Thailand takes the New Year seriously, with huge amounts of fireworks and plenty of exciting parties. If you’re in Bangkok on December 31st, catch the fireworks from the Riverside area or watch the equally impressive display from in front of Central World.
