Festivals in Thailand | Thai Festival Overview
Are you planning a trip to Thailand and want to experience the country's unique culture?
Look no further than Thailand's festivals and celebrations! Thai people love celebrations, which is evident in the countless Thai festivals.
These Thailand festivals are both Thailand-wide and also unique regional festivals.
In this blog post, we will introduce you to some of the most unique Thai festivals and traditions you will not find anywhere else in the world.
Songkran Festival-Water Festival
First up is the Songkran Festival, celebrated in mid-April and marks the Thai New Year.
During this spring festival, people splash water on each other to symbolize cleansing and renewal. Songkran is a fun and lively water festival attracting locals and tourists.
If you're planning to experience Songkran, wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and bring a waterproof bag to protect your belongings.
The Songkran Festival is one of the most popular festivals in Thailand, with a fun-loving party atmosphere. It occurs just before the rainy season begins, and it is celebrated all over the country. Big cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai hold bigger celebrations than other small towns or villages.
All the days are national holidays marked by festivities such as parades, music performances, traditional food stalls, and visits to the temple.
Northern areas of Thailand have much longer celebrations than southern parts do.
Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is another popular destination for Songkran celebrations. The city is known for its ancient temples and beautiful scenery, and during Songkran, it comes alive with water fights and parades. The festival's highlight is the procession of the Phra Buddha Sihing image, which is carried through the city streets.
Songkran in Phuket
Phuket is a popular destination for tourists, and during Songkran, it is transformed into a water wonderland. The streets are lined with people throwing water at each other, and there are also parades and cultural performances to enjoy.
Songkran in Pattaya
Known as the party city of Thailand, Pattaya has the longest festival celebrations in Thailand. Water splashing "fights" begin on the morning of 13 April on every beach road in Pattaya. Live music stages are set up on the beach, and there are also cultural performances to enjoy.
Remember to wear clothes you don't mind getting wet and bring a waterproof bag to protect your belongings!
Loy Krathong Festival
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and nearby countries with significant South Western Tai cultures.
It is also known as the Festival of Lights and takes place on the evening of the full moon night of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November
During this festival, people gather around lakes, rivers, and canals to release krathongs, small boats made of banana leaves, on waterways.
The krathongs are decorated with flowers, candles, and incense sticks and are floated away as a symbol of letting go of all one's hatred, anger, and defilements.
This act represents the release of negative thoughts and starting anew
Loy Krathong is a beautiful and peaceful water festival best experienced by the river or canal.
If you're planning to experience Loy Krathong, several cities hold celebrations on a much larger scale. The best places to experience the Loy Krathong Festival are Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, Bangkok, and Phuket.
In Chiang Mai, the festival is celebrated with the Yi Peng Festival, which involves releasing thousands of lanterns into the sky. Sukhothai is a good place to go if you want a more local and cultural experience, and Bangkok celebrates Loy Krathong with its style and activities.
How to Celebrate Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand
The most common way to celebrate Loy Krathong is to make or purchase your own Krathong to participate in the ceremony and send it down a major waterway.
The candle in the middle of each krathong can carry a prayer, memory, or wish on its journey.
Many places host cultural activities, such as Ram Wong dance performances, krathong-making competitions, and beauty contests.
Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession (Lai Ruea Fai') Festival
Another festival you shouldn't miss is the Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession (Lai Ruea Fai') Festival.
This festival is celebrated in October and features illuminated boats floating down the Mekong River.
What you will see at the Nakhon Phanom Illuminated Boat Procession (Lai Ruea Fai')
The boats are decorated with colorful lights and are accompanied by traditional music and dance performances. This festival is a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Mekong River. The boats are decorated with colorful lights and are accompanied by traditional music and dance performances.
This festival is a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Mekong River.
Vegetarian Festival Phuket
The Vegetarian Festival is another unique food festival that is celebrated in October.
During this festival, people follow a strict vegetarian diet and participate in various rituals to purify their bodies and minds. The Vegetarian Festival is celebrated all over Thailand, but the most popular destination to experience this is the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.
During the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, food stands display many vegetarian dishes in all imaginable varieties.
The festival is celebrated to pay respect to the Nine Emperor Gods, and it is believed that by following a vegetarian diet, people can purify their bodies and minds and bring good luck and prosperity to their lives.
The Vegetarian Festival is an internationally known event, and while it also happens modestly in Bangkok around the same dates, it is mostly a Phuket event.
What you will see at The Vegetarian Festival
The festival is celebrated with colorful processions, firecrackers, and other rituals. The festival's highlight is the street processions, where people dress in white and carry incense sticks and candles.
During the processions, people also perform acts of self-mortification, such as piercing their cheeks with sharp objects or walking on hot coals.
The Uthai Thani Tak Bat Devo Festival
The Uthai Thani Tak Bat Devo Festival is celebrated in November and is a Buddhist festival that involves giving alms to monks.
During this religious festival, people wake up early in the morning to offer food to the monks and receive blessings in return.
The Uthai Thani Tak Bat Devo Festival is a great way to experience the local Buddhist culture and learn about the importance of giving.
The Tak Bat Devo Festival is celebrated throughout Thailand, but Uthai Thani is the most popular destination to experience this festival.
What you will see at The Uthai Thani Tak Bat Devo Festival
The festival is a beautiful and peaceful event involving a procession of Buddhist monks walking down a hill to take food offerings from the locals.
The monks wore traditional orange robes and carried alms bowls to collect food.
The local people offered the monks food to make merit and received blessings in return.
The festival is a great way to experience the local Buddhist culture and learn about the importance of giving, eating some local cuisine, drinking local rice wine, and paying respect to Thai monks.
Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival (Wing Kwai)
Another unique festival you shouldn't miss is the Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival (Wing Kwai), which is celebrated every third weekend in October.
During this festival, buffalos are decorated with colorful ribbons and race down the streets past Chonburi city hall, a great sight. The Water Buffalo Racing Festival is lively and vibrant.
The festival also features traditional live folk music and dance performances, and it is a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
The Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival is a unique event celebrated in the town of Chonburi, located in eastern Thailand.
The festival is a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
What you will see at The Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival
The festival's highlight is the buffalo race, where buffalos are decorated with colorful ribbons and raced down the streets.
The festival also features traditional music, dance performances, and food stalls selling local delicacies.
The Lantern Festival – Yi Peng, Chiang Mai
The Lantern Festival – Yi Peng, Chiang Mai, is celebrated on a full-moon night following the Thai Calendar in November. It is a beautiful festival that involves releasing lanterns into the full moon and sky.
The lanterns are decorated with wishes and prayers and are believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Lantern Festival is a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Chiang Mai.
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival is celebrated primarily in northern Thailand, specifically in Chiang Mai. Yee Peng Festival / Yi Peng Festival – Lantern Festival-Also known as the festival of lights or the Loi Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai province (Northern Thailand), the Yee Peng is easy to distinguish due to the massive parade of floating lanterns in the night sky every November.
The festival is a beautiful and peaceful event that involves releasing thousands of lanterns into the night sky. The lanterns are decorated with wishes and prayers and are believed to bring good luck and happiness.
What you will see at The Yi Peng Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is a unique and magical Southeast Asia experience that is not to be missed. The festival is celebrated over several days and includes various activities such as parades, cultural performances, and food stalls.
The highlight of the festival is the mass release of floating lanterns, where thousands of paper lanterns are released into the night sky at the same time.
This creates a beautiful and mesmerizing sight that will take your breath away.
The Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival
The Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival is celebrated in November and is a beautiful water festival that involves releasing krathongs and candles into the water.
The festival also features traditional music and dance performances and is a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Sukhothai.
The Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival is celebrated to pay respect to the Goddess of Water and the Buddha.
It is a time for people to make merit and offer prayers for good luck and happiness.
The festival is celebrated all over Thailand, but the most popular destination to experience this festival is Sukhothai and northern Thailand.
What you will see at The Sukhothai Loy Krathong and Candle Festival
During the festival, people release krathongs and candles into the water as a symbol of letting go of negative thoughts and starting anew.
The krathongs are made of banana leaves and are decorated with flowers and candles. The festival is a beautiful and peaceful event best experienced by the river or canal.
The Pattaya Firework Festival
The Pattaya Firework Festival is celebrated in November and is a beautiful festival that involves fireworks displays over the ocean.
The festival also features traditional music and dance performances and is a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
If you're planning to experience the Pattaya Firework Festival, here are some things you should know:
Dates: The Pattaya Firework Festival is usually held in late November, and the exact dates may vary yearly. Make sure to check the festival dates before planning your trip.
Location: The festival takes place along the beach in Pattaya, a popular tourist destination in Thailand—several spots along the beach offer uninterrupted views of the fireworks displays.
Activities: Besides the fireworks displays, the festival also features traditional music and dance performances, street food hawkers, and other cultural activities. It's a great way to experience the local culture and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Accommodation: Pattaya is a popular tourist destination, so booking your accommodation well in advance is important. There are several hotels and resorts in the area that offer packages for the festival.
Crowds: The Pattaya Firework Festival is popular, so be prepared for crowds and noise. Consider watching the fireworks from a rooftop restaurant or hotel to avoid the crowds.
In conclusion, the Pattaya Firework Festival is a beautiful festival that offers a great way to experience Thailand's local culture and traditions. With so many destinations, you're sure to find a celebration that suits your interests and schedule. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience!
Make sure to check the festival dates before planning your trip.
The Surin Elephant Round-Up Festival
The Surin Elephant Round-Up Festival is celebrated in November and is a unique festival that showcases elephants' skills.
The festival features elephant shows, parades, traditional music, and dance performances.
The Surin Elephant Round-Up Festival is a great way to experience the local wildlife and learn about the importance of preserving the natural environment.
The Surin Elephant Round-Up Festival is held annually in Surin Province, Isan, Thailand.
The festival has its origins in the royal hunts, which were conducted in Surin Province during medieval times.
What you will see at The Surin Elephant Round-Up Festival
The festival's highlight is the elephant shows, where elephants showcase their skills and abilities.
The festival also features parades, cultural performances, and food stalls selling local delicacies. The festival is a great way to experience the local culture and learn about the importance of preserving the natural environment.
The Colours of Doi Tung Festival
The Colours of Doi Tung Festival is celebrated in December and is a beautiful festival that showcases local handicrafts and products.
The festival also features traditional music and dance performances and is a great way to experience the local culture and support the local economy.
We encourage travelers to experience these events to understand Thai culture better and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
The Colours of Doi Tung Festival is a unique and fun event not to be missed.
What you will see at The Colours of Doi Tung Festival
The festival is held every weekend and is a public holiday in December and January. It features a fair that showcases the sale of food and goods by hill tribe people and other ethnic groups living in Doi Tung and nearby mountains.
The festival is held near the Mae Fah Luang Garden, a famous attraction of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation's Doi Tung Development Project.
The Ubon Ratchatani Candle Festival
The Ubon Ratchatani Candle Festival is a unique and beautiful festival celebrated in July.
The festival involves the creation of beautiful wax sculptures that are paraded through the streets.
The intricate wax sculptures result from weeks of painstaking work by teams of skilled artisans and form the centerpiece of the annual Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival.
The festival is a great way to experience the local culture and learn about the importance of preserving the natural environment.
The Ubon Ratchatani Candle Festival is a unique and fun event not to be missed.
What you will see at The Ubon Ratchatani Candle Festival
The festival is a unique and beautiful event that involves the creation of intricate wax sculptures that are paraded through the streets.
The sculptures are decorated with Thai elements, often depicting characters from Thai and Hindu myths and legends.
The Nakhon Si Thammarat Tenth Lunar Month Festival
The Nakhon Si Thammarat Tenth Lunar Month Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a unique and fascinating festival celebrated in August and based on Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
The Ghost Festival is a great way to experience the local beliefs and religious traditions surrounding the Hungry Ghost Festival. Here are some things you should know about this ghost festival itself:
Dates: The Nakhon Si Thammarat Tenth Lunar Month Festival is usually held in August, and the exact date or dates may vary from year to year. Make sure to check the festival dates before planning your trip.
Location: The festival takes place in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a province in southern Thailand. The festival is held at various locations throughout the province, including temples and other cultural sites.
Activities: The festival features a variety of activities, including traditional music and dance performances, food stalls selling local delicacies, and street parades. The festival's highlight is the Hungry Ghost ceremony, where offerings are made to the spirits of the deceased.
Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience!
The Lopburi Monkey Banquet Festival
The Lopburi Monkey Banquet Festival is a vibrant food and arts festival celebrated in November.
The festival involves feeding monkeys various fruits and vegetables, and it is a great way to experience the local wildlife and learn about the importance of preserving the natural environment.
The festival is held in the town of Lopburi, which is located in the central part of Thailand.
The festival was started in the 1980s by a local businessman who wanted to thank the monkeys for bringing tourist revenue to the town.
Over the years, the event has grown considerably, and thousands of tourists from around the globe arrive at Lopburi to share their unique experiences.
What you will see at The Lopburi Monkey Banquet Festival
During the annual food festival, over four thousand kilos are served up for the monkeys to feast upon.
The food is laid out on long tables and is prepared lovingly by teams of local chefs working together. The monkeys can get aggressive when feeding and tend to snatch any food and drinks they can get their hands on.
The festival is a unique and fun event that is not to be missed.
