Thailand never fails to amaze its countless visitors with the most colorful festivities and events sure to delight you with glimpses into the country’s heritage and traditions. Here’s a listing of the major Thai holidays and festivals you should not miss out!
SONGKRAN FESTIVAL (Month of April)
As the most important date in the Thai calendar, the Thai New Year or Songkran is celebrated nationwide through various exciting events. Get ready to be wet during this season, as splashing water is the norm throughout (better to bring your own water gun too)!
There’s the Had Yai Midnight Songkran in Songkhla and I San Maha Songkran Festival in Nong Khai, where you can come and splash water and watch a beauty pageant. You can also immerse yourself in traditional Thai culture and join the beautiful Songkran procession during the Ayutthaya Songkran Festival (Old Capital’s Songkran). The Phra Pradaeng Songkran in Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakarn, is formerly known as the “Pak Lat Songkran Festival”, with the notable addition of a colorful and elaborate Songkran procession staged by the Mon, or Raman, residents of Phra Pradaeng. Chiangmai also celebrates its own Songkran Festival with the same spectacular Songkran procession, culture shows and beauty contest.
BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (usually held month of January)
Enjoy an exciting exhibition on spectacular posters that are available along with the seminars and conferences related to the film. Jazz concerts serve to complement the artistic flavor of the series of events.
BO SANG UMBRELLA FAIR & SAN KAMPHAENG HANDICRAFT (month of January, in Chiangmai)
A colorful festival featuring contests, cultural performances, stalls selling traditional paper umbrellas and handicrafts to be found in the main street of Bo Sang.
CHIANG MAI FLOWER FESTIVAL (Month of February, Chiangmai)
Witness the beautiful flower-decorated floats, ladies in the Flower Queen Beauty Pageant and the flower arrangement contest in this highly-anticipated colorful season in the North.
PHUKET VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL (Month of October, Phuket)
For all veggie-lovers this festival is for you! Or if you just simply enjoy seeing superhuman displays of devotion like scaling razor – ranged ladder, then this festival is not to be missed.
FRUIT DAY IN CHANTABURI (May-June)
This event is a series of sales fairs organized by community housewives and One Tumbon One Product (OTOP), featuring fruit-decorated floats on parade, best fruit products showcase and modified fruit product contest.
HUA HIN JAZZ FESTIVAL (Month of June)
You can relax and enjoy breezy waves of the sound at the Hua Hin Jazz Festival which features both renowned Thai and International Jazz musicians, familiar all-time favorite and contemporary works.
BUN LUANG & PHI TA KHON FESTIVAL ( Month of June, Wat Phonchai, Loie)
This is the biggest merit-making ceremony of Dan Sai District, featuring participants wearing fancy and colorful ghost masks with very pointy noses, dressing up in guilted costumes.
NEW YEAR CELEBRATION (December 31 – January 1)
Thailand welcomes the New Year with various kinds of colorful events nationwide. You can head on over to any of their renowned beaches—mainly Pattaya and Phuket, or go up north to Chiang Mai to usher in the New Year with an official countdown. Bangkok also offers a load of parties that will definitely ensure that you start the New Year right with a bang!
