Thailand Festivals

Following is a list of some festivals in Thailand which are appropriate for you and your family to attend. Most of the festival dates are based on the lunar calendar, so please double check the actual date of the festival before making your travel plans.

Children's Day

On the second Saturday of January, the Thai people celebrate Children's Day by taking their children out to have fun. Many local authorities organise special events and other places of interests usually let children in for half price or even for free on this day. Children are considered to be the most valuable resource of the country. There is a Thai saying that goes, "Children are the future of the nation, if the children are intelligent, the country will be prosperous." To help stimulate children to be aware of their significant role in the country, the National Children's Day was held for the first time on the first monday of October 1955 and continued like this until 1963. Then it was changed to the second Saturday of January.

Children's Day is a significant event for Thai families. If you plan to travel to Thailand during January, make sure to leave your itinerary open for this special day.

Songkran

Songkran Festival, April 13-15, is the traditional Thai New Year. This is the time for Thais to pay homage to Buddha images, clean their houses, and sprinkle water on their elders in a show of respect. Most Thai people travel to visit their families or head to the beaches for a vacation. Anyone who ventures out on the streets is likely to get a thorough dousing of water, all in good fun, but also quite welcome at the peak of the hot season. The festival actually lasts longer than the official three day holiday. In Chiang Mai, the celebration lasts about two weeks. In Bangkok, most of the residents return to their home village and the streets are fairly empty.

Rocket Festival

During the second weekend of May, the Rockt Festival or Bun Bang Fai takes place in Yasothon province. The festival is based on the belief that the rain god, Phaya Thean, will send rain for the upcoming rice growing season. The rockets are built weeks in advance as the average length is 27 feet. They are filled with up to 60 pounds of gunpowder. Prizes are awarded for the rockets which travel the highest distance.

Candle Festival

The candle festival in Ubon Ratchathani, marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent. The main event is a candle parade. The ornate candles can be up to 15 feet high. At the end of the festival, the candles are donated to local temples.

Buffalo Races

Loy Krathong

One of the most beautiful and popular festivals in Thailand is Loy Krathong. This takes place on the full moon in November. During the evening, many people will go to their local canal or river to float their krathongs. They believe this will bring them good luck. The krathongs contain a flower, a candle and three incense sticks which are lighted before being placed on the water. The people usually make a wish at the same time. Some people believe that if the candle remains burning until the krathong is out of sight then their wish will come true. By the end of the evening, there are hundreds of flickering lights bobbing up and down on the water. Quite often there are also firework displays as well as shows and beauty contests for everyone. Overall it is really a memorable evening.

Elephant Round Up

The elephant round up festival is celebrated each year near the end of November. This is the most popular event for foreign tourists in the Northeast of Thailand. There are usuallly over 100 elephants involved in the festival.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival

Flowers in Chiang Mai are at their best before the end of the cool season when this festival is held. This falls on the first weekend of February. The main event of the festival is the parade held on Saturday morning. Floats are decorated with flowers to illustrate the theme chosen for the year. The beauty queens surrounded by flowers draw large crowds to the event. Besides the flowers, beauty contests are held and the Thai beauty participants will sit atop the floats in the parade. It is also usual to have a beauty contest for the visiting tourists as well.