Some of the best experience in Thailand are visiting the local Thai festivals, which occur each year. Some of the festivals are listed below:
10 Best Festivals in Thailand
1. January: Bo Sang Umbrella Festival
The best festival in Thailand in January is Bo Sang Umbrella Festival, located in Chiang Mai. Bo Sang is actually a name of a village in Chiang Mai. They specialized in umbrella making, hence this festival is to celebrate the local craftsmanship of umbrella making.
The festival is held for three days on the third weekend of January, starting from Friday to Sunday. There’s usually a parade of umbrellas all over town, and you can actually see and learn the making of the umbrella from the pros. The festivity of the parade successfully invites tourists to come and see. The cultural shows and performances in the parade are surely entertaining.
2. February: Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Still located in Chiang Mai, the next best festival in Thailand you should join in is Chiang Mai Flower Festival. Of course, the main attraction of this festival is the flower parade on the street. You’ll find flowers in all kinds of colors, floating in the parade, well-decorated and well-shaped. The decorations are somehow so majestic, you will get utterly amazed by the local’s creativity.
The parade starts in the morning, around 9 AM, so people usually gather before the time to see the parade in the best visible spot. Not only the well-decorated flowers, you’ll see other shows and performances such as the popular Flower Festival’s beauty pageant, traditional dancers and marching bands. Students often join to make the parade more festive.
The purpose of this festival is actually so simple: to promote the floral industry and invite tourists from all over the world.
3. March: Thailand International Kite Festival
This best festival in Thailand is called Thailand International Kite Festival, located in Cha-Am. It’s the celebration of art, culture, and the joy of kite-flying. This festival showcases a mesmerizing array of traditional and creatively crafted kites from across the globe.
We recommend you bring the whole family to see this festival! Picture laughter echoing amidst the breeze as kites of all shapes and sizes take flight, painting the sky with kaleidoscopic hues. It’s more than just a visual feast; the festival offers a perfect family outing, blending cultural immersion with sheer joy.
Let your little ones witness the artistry of skilled kite flyers and perhaps even try their hand at kite-making workshops. With a backdrop of sun-kissed beaches, the Thailand International Kite Festival promises an enchanting day of shared experiences and unforgettable moments for the whole family.
4. April: Songkran Festival
Unlike the previous best festivals in Thailand, Songkran Festival happens nationwide, and is probably one of the most popular festivals in Thailand, held every 13 to 15 of April every single year. Songkran Festival is actually very related to religious celebration, where the locals wash the Buddha statues and give the best foods to the monks. But, of course, the most awaited celebration from the Songkran Festival is the water war!
The water war that people do during the Songkran Festival is not only a fun play. It actually has a background tradition and purpose. Back then, people usually splash the remaining water from the statue-washing activity on each other in order to get blessed and get fortunate for the next year ahead. They also believe water can clean themselves from bad things.
5. May: Visakha Bucha
Visakha Bucha, or Vesak as people call it in other countries, is the Buddhists celebration to commemorate Buddha, from his birth, enlightenment, to his death. It is frequently held every year, on the 15th day of the sixth lunar month, typically in May. It is actually one of the holiest Buddhist celebrations.
The day of Visakha Bucha will start as the family go together to the temple, while the sermons from the Dharmas are usually shown on nationwide TV and radio during the day. In the temple, they make offerings, and release the caged birds as a symbolic act of liberation.
Then comes evening, when they do Wian Tian or circumambulation procession. They will walk around the temple, clockwise, until three times while holding flowers or lit candles. It’s a very solemn celebration. Even seeing the celebration from afar already feels spiritual.
6. June: Phi Ta Khon
Probably, the Phi Ta Khon celebration will remind you of Halloween. During that day, people are dressing like ghosts. The celebration is held in Dan Sai District, Loei Province, Thailand and it’s not only a religious celebration, but also an interesting attraction for tourists.
“The ghosts” then would parade around town with music as the backsound. It’s really fun to watch, as the people are so creative in making the ghost costumes. You’ll find the scariest to the funniest one. There’s also other rituals like music performances, and the local craftsmanship exhibition.
Of course, there’s a back story and the purpose of Phi Ta Khon. It is related to the event of Buddha that met the spirits during his journey, and the Phi Ta Khon festival shows the joyous return of these spirits. Also, the primary purpose is to give respect to ancestors and pay homage to the spirits.
7. July: Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival
The Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival is held annually in the northeastern part of Thailand. It’s a very festive parade showcasing the crafted wax sculptures, often in religious and cultural themes. For both locals and tourists, this festival is visually stunning to watch.
Back then, before electricity existed, the Thai Buddhists frequently donated candles to temples around them to make sure they were always lit. Hence, the festival aims to honor the Buddhist teachings, promote local craftsmanship, and unite communities. It also shows the creativity that the Thai people have.
8. August: Queen’s Birthday and Mother’s Day
Yup, Thailand’s mother’s day is a little bit different. It’s on the same day as the birthday of Queen Sirikit, every 12th of August. Prior to the birthday/mother’s day, people already celebrate it by decorating their home with the picture of Her Majesty. The symbol of the day is the Jasmine flowers, showing the unconditional love a mother has for her children.
The Grand Palace is full of lights, and when the day comes, it will be very festive with the fireworks. The official ceremony itself will be held at night by the government. On that day, citizens also start their morning by giving alms to the monks at the temples.
Mothers will be invited to school as well, and the children will prostrate at their feet, to show the utmost respect to their mother.
9. September: Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a captivating yet the best festival in Thailand that happens in September. Rooted in Chinese Taoist beliefs, the festival spans nine days of intense rituals and communal participation.
The devotees that join this festival are the Chinese Taoist community that do vegetarian diets to purify the body and mind. The festival climaxes with awe-inspiring processions, featuring participants engaging in acts of self-mutilation, symbolizing the transfer of evil from the community.
Piercings, fire-walking, and elaborate parades create a surreal spectacle, showcasing the strength of faith and the unique fusion of Chinese and Thai cultural elements. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a testament to devotion and cultural heritage.
10. October: Loy Krathong
Lastly, the best festival in Thailand held in October is Loy Krathong that is celebrated nationwide. It’s not always celebrated in October. Sometimes it’s in November too, because the time is following the Thai lunar calendar, and according to that, Loy Krathong is celebrated in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. People also know it as the Festivals of Lights.
The purpose of this festival is to pay homage to the river spirits and express gratitude to the goddess of water. They will float the “krathongs” to the rivers, lakes, or seas. The krathong itself is already decorated beautifully, made with banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks.
As they float the “krathongs”, they also send their prayers, hopes, and express apologies. Later, the lighted candles will be glowing all over. When you watch, you will absolutely feel the magical ambience. It’s a very joyous celebration, hence skipping it when you visit Thailand would be such a waste.
Other Festivals include:
- Bun Bang Fai also known as the Rocket Festival, this festival takes place in May and involves launching bamboo rockets into the sky to encourage rain from the god of rain.
- Phi Ta Khon also known as the Ghost Festival, this festival takes place in June and is located in the small town of Dan Sai in Loei Province.
- Yi Peng Lantern Festival – This festival takes place in November and features lanterns flying in the sky.
- Wing Kwai also known as the Buffalo Racing Festival, this festival takes place in October in Chonburi.
There are also many other festivals including the Lunar New Year in Chinatown, Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival, Sat Duan Sip, Lopburi Monkey Banquet Festival, and Kaeng Hin Phoeng Whitewater Rafting Festival.
You can experience the real Thailand at any of these annual/local festivals.