Chiang Mai Winter Fair
An annual festival that is held in Chiang Mai's city hall and which features
a variety of products for sale, a Miss Chiang Mai beauty contest, and
all night entertainment.
The Mekong Friendship Festival
Residents of China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand come together to enjoy
arts and cultural performances, exhibitions, and souvenir sales.
Don Chedi Memorial Fair
A historic event that took place way back in 1592 at Don Chedi, when
King Naresuan the Great of Ayutthaya won a elephant-back duel against
the leader of an enemy force. This led to the liberation of the kingdom
from foreign occupation. The fair, held at the memorial fair, commemorates
the momentous event with exhibitions and outdoor entertainment.
Phra That Phanom Homage-Paying Fair
This seven-day event that occurs at the end of January usually attracts
thousand of Buddist devotees who pay homage to the famous Phra That
Phanom, a relic of the Lord Buddha.
Chinese New Year and Dragon & Lion Parade
A festival held every year by local residents of Chinese descent to honor
the Golden deity for his benevolence. A colorful costumed procession makes
its way through the streets of the provincial capital with marching bands,
lion and dragon dances from five nations, and figures of venerated deities.
Straw Bird Fair
As straw is a plentiful by-product in rice farming, the local villagers
of Chai Nat create from it, large colorful straw birds representing
the more than 85 species that are found in the Chai Nat Bird Park. The
straw birds are put on show in a fair that also features local handicrafts
and culinary delicacies.
Lampang's Annual Elephant Khantoke Fair
As known, elephants are considered to be sacred animals by the Thais.
In order to support food supplies and conservation projects, the yearly
Khantoke for the Elephant Fair is held by the Thai Elephant Conservation
Centre. The fair not only features a spectacular procession, but also
includes cultural performances and local music shows.
Magha Puja
An important Buddhist holy day that commemorates the occasion of 1250
Buddha disciples spontaneously congregating to hear him preach. Merit-making
ceremonies take place during the day at temples throughout the country,
while at night, triple candlelit circumambulations are staged around temple
chapels.
International Kite Festival
Kite-flying has been enjoyed by the Thai people since ancient times
when it became the most popular traditional sport during the reign of
King Rama IV.
Thao Suranari Fair
This annual fair is a tribute to the local heroine, Thao Suranani, who
rallied townspeople against invaders during the 1800s. Celebrations
customarily feature fireworks displays, colorful processions, cultural
displays and exhibitions, and beauty contests.
Songkran Festival
A traditional Thai New Year that is an occasion for merrymaking in Bangkok
as well as in other parts of the country. Thais mark the occasion with
religious ceremonies as well as public festivities. Anyone who ventures
out on the streets is likely to get a thorough soaking but all in a spirit
of fun and goodwill at the peak of the hot season.
Visakha Puja
This is the holiest of all Buddhist religious days, marking the birth,
enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. As on Magha Puja, temples throughout
the country are crowded with people who come to listen to sermons by revered
monks. In the evening there are solemn candlelit processions around major
chapels.
Yasothon Bun Bangfai Rocket Festival
Northeastern villagers fashion rockets of all kinds, some of them several
meters long. The launching of these rockets is believed to ensure plentiful
rains during the coming rice planting season.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
This ancient Brahman ritual celebrates the official commencement of
the rice-growing season and is staged at Sanam Luang, the large field
across the Grand Palace. Colorful costumes are worn by the participants
who perform various ceremonies that are believed to forecast the abundance
of the next rice crop.
Phi Ta Khon Festival
With origins from a well-known Buddhist tale, the colourful and vibrant
Phi Ta Khon procession features young men who dress up as spirits to accompany
a scared Buddha image and taunt villagers. This event will be held at
Amphoe Dan Sai, Loei. There will be competitions of masked dances and
processions.
Sunthon Phu Day (June)
Sunthon Phu (the celebrated Rattanakosin poet) is remembered for his
classical literary works by all Thai people old and young. This annual
event marking the poet's birthday is held at the Sunthon Phu Memorial
Park, Ban Kram, Amphoe Klaeng. Some of the major highlights of this
event are cultural performances and puppet shows depicting Sunthon Phu's
work, poetry recitals and folk entertainment
King Mongkut Play
This play adapted from the famous "The King and I" and "Anna
and the King of Siam" reveals the splendid life in the Thai Royal
Court through the viewpoint from the inside, with the expectation of
promoting King Mongkut (Rama IV) with the right and original historical
information.
Pattaya Marathon 2000 (July)
World-class and local runners will all gathered together to participate
this international competition. Considered as being the most picturesque
running routes in South East Asia, Pattaya is the scenic venue to held
this event.
Candle Festival (July)
With the commencement of the Phansa (known in Thai as Khao Phansa),
the northeastern city of Ubon Ratchathani put on a show presenting beautifully
carved beeswax candles, some of them several meters tall. They are put
on parade before being presented to local temples.
Tak Bat Dok Mai - Merit-making Festival (July)
This event is held at the beginning of the Buddhist Lent when Buddhist
monks must remain in their temples to meditate and study. Devotees give
offerings of flowers and incense to a procession of monks. They then
present the offerings as tribute to Lord Buddha at the Shrine of the
Holy Footprint which is at the Wat Phra Buddha Bat, Saraburi.
Asalha Puja (July)
The full moon day of th 8th lunar month marks the preaching of Lord
Buddha's first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining Enlightenment
more than 2,500 years ago. In the evening, candlelit processions take
place in Buddhist temples around the country.
Khao Phansa - Buddhist Lent (July)
The festival that marks the beginning of the annual three-month Rains
Retreat during which the Buddhist monks customarily stay inside their
temples to meditate and study. Phansa is the most auspicious time for
Buddhist ordinations since it marks a period of renewed spiritual vigor.
Rambutan Fair
This event will be held at Surat Thani since it is known for its luscious
rambutans that grow throughout the province. This fair will includes exhibitions
of local products and floats adorned with rambutans, as well as many other
exhilarating fun-filled activities.
Longan Fair
Longan (as Thai called it lamyai) season is at its peak in August. A
fair is held in Lamphun, about half an hour's drive south of Chiang
Mai, during this season, featuring a fruit contest and a stunning Miss
Longan beauty contest.
Her Majesty Queen's Birthday Celebrations
A nationwide holiday that sees public buildings being decorated to honor
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday. The most splendid buildings are
in Bangkok, particularly along Ratchadamnoen Avenue and in the area
around the Grand Palace, where both government offices and streets are
garlanded with colored lights. The queen's birthday also coincides with
Mother's Day celebrations in Thailand.
Langsat Fair
This event will be held at northern province of Uttaradit. The fair is
held displaying and selling the langsat fruit together with local handicrafts.
Phichit Boat Races (September)
This annual event takes place on the Nan River in front of Wat Tha Luang,
Phichit. It will features boats competing against each other with great
fervour and excitement of the cheers of the spectators.
Phitsanulok Boat Races (September)
This event will take place on the Nan River too but in front of Wat
Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat Maha Worawihan, Phitsanulok. This event will
also includes decorative boat and cheer squad competitions. Everyone
is welcome to participate various other activities.
Korlae Boat Racing & Narathiwat Produce Festival(Sept)
Centered on the Bang Nara River, Narathiwat, this event highlights the
boat racing and dove cooing contests.
Um Phra Dam Nam Festival (September)
The people of Phetchabun conduct this festival as part of the Sart Thai
Festival. The Governor of the province officiates at a holy ritual whereby
he dives into the river with the Buddha image in his arms, which people
believe will result in happiness and fertility. After that, the Phra
Buddha Maha Thammaracha is taken to the provincial hall to be bathed
in lustral water by the public. The highlight of this event will be
a procession bearing the sacred Phra Buddha Maha Thammaracha image around
the city.
Trang Vegetarian Festival (September -October)
This annual event originated in the 19th century, is conducted by the
local Chinese who engage in a ten-day vegetarian diet. There are ceremonies
at local Chinese temples as well as procession of ascetics performing
extraordinary feats. This event will be held at Kio Ong La and Chao
Pho Muen Ram CHinese Shrines, Trang.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival (September)
This event is conducted by the locals of Chinese ancestry during the
9th Chinese calendar month where they indertake a ten-day vegetarian
diet. There are processions of ascetic devotees performing remarkable
feats such as fire-walking and climbing ladderswith knife-edged rungs.
Wax Castle & Boat Racing (October)
This event is held to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent (Ok Phansa).
People in the northeast mould beeswax into miniature Buddhist temples
and shrines in order to gain merit, which will determine their future
rebirth. Sakon Nakhon is the best place to witness these crafted models.
. There is an annual festival with a grand wax castle procession, competitive
boat racing as well as traditional northeastern cultural performances.
Chak Phra & Thot Phapa Festival (October)
These two events occur on the same day at the end of Buddhist Lent.
Thot Phapa is where Buddha images on elaborately decorated carriages
are pulled by the locals in land and water-borne processions. Chak Phra
takes place after this whereby saffron robes are offered to monks and
money is conated to temples. You can witness these events at Tapi River
Bank, Surat Thani.
5000 Year Ban Chiang Civilisation Celebrations (October)
Ban Chiang World Heritage Site in Udon Thani is considered by UNESCO
as one of the oldest archaeological site in Thailand. Major celebration
that includes exotic art and cultural processions and performances,
local handicraft demonstrations and displays, international and local
sport events, and dazzling light and sound presentations will be held
here.
Lanna Boat Races (October)
These long-boat races held on the Nan river are distinctively enhanced
by the brightly fancy coloured Nan boats. This event also accompanies
the annual Kathin season, when devotees wishing to gain merit present
new robes to monks of local temples.
River Kwae Bridge Week Fair (November)
During World War II, the black iron bridge was brought from Java by the
Japanese Army and reassembled under Japanese supervision by Allied prisoners
of war as part of the "Death Railway" that linked Thailand with
Myanmar. Also made famous by the movie of the same name, the bridge on
the River Kwae (or Kwai) is the setting for this week-long series of events
that also possesses attractions, including archaeological and historical
exhibitions, and rides on vintage trains.
Thai Beer Festival
The German's celebrate Oktoberfest while the Thai's have their own,
the Thai Beer Fest. The festival is arranged at the World Trade Centre
Plaza to enable everyone to come along and have a jolly good time. It
also features sales of barbecued food, seafood and Thai culinary specialties
along with music and cultural performances.
Trooping of the Colours (December)
Held in the Royal Plaze near the equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn,
their Majesties and King and Queen preside over this impressive annual
event. Members of the elite Royal Guards dressed in colourful uniforms,
swear allegiance to the King and march past members of the Royal Family.
H.M. The King's Birthday Celebrations (December)
H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is well beloved and deeply respected by
all Thai. The celebrations of his royal birthday provides his loyal
subjects the opportunity to express their reverence for him. Buildings
and homes all over the country are elaborately decorated and the area
around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.
The 14th Phuket King's Cup Regatta (December)
This internationally popular regatta is held at the Andaman Sea off
Phuket. Competitors come from all over the world to compete for trophies
that are awarded in several different categories.
Ayutthaya World Heritage Site Celebration (December)
Ayutthaya, an ancient Siamese capital, celebrates its glorious past
with displays of traditional culture and lifestyles, numerous forms
of entertainment, as well as spectacular light and sund presentations
amid the ruins of this ancient city.
