EVENTS
January
Bo Sang Umbrella Fair & San Kamphaeng Handicrafts Festival, Bo Sang, near Chiang Mai has become renowned for its exquisitely painted paper umbrellas, which are sought after by visitors from all over the world. An annual fair, held on the main street, celebrates the traditional art of umbrella making and painting, as well as features contests, exhibitions, sales of handicrafts, and a Miss Bo Sang beauty pageant.
FEBRUARY
Flower Festival Chiang Mai, The North is noted for its abundance of flowering plants, especially temperate zone species, which burst into full bloom towards the end of the cool season. Spectacular beautiful florals are the memorable feature of this three-day festival in Chiang Mai also known as the “Rose of the North.” There are floral displays, local handicrafts sales, and enchanting beauty pageants.
Lampang’s Annual Elephant Satok Fair, Thai Elephants Conservation Centre, Lampang
Every year, an Elephant Fair is conducted and the Centre organizes a khantoke, a northern style meal, as part of the festivities. The fair also features a spectacular northern style procession as well as typical northern cultural shows and music.
MARCH
ASEAN Barred Ground Dove Festival. Yala Dove-lovers from all over Thailand, as well as from other neighbouring countries come to this southern city for this event. The major highlight is a dove-cooing competition involving more than 1,400 participants.
APRIL
Songkran Festival, Nationwide, The traditional Thai New year is an occasion for celebration throughout the country. This occasion is marked with religious ceremonies as well as public festivities. Water throwing among the people in a spirit of fun and goodwill is the main activity of this festival.
Pattaya Festival, Pattaya, This seaside city enjoys the summer by holding an annual festival. Food and floral floats, beauty pageants, stalls selling delicious cuisine, and a spectacular display of fireworks on the beach are some of the activities that attract those who want to participate in the fun.
Poi sang Long, Mae Hong Son, One of Thailand’s most naturally scenic areas, this province is home to a number of hill tribe groups. Poi Sang Long, the ordination of novices, is a religious ceremony of the Thai Yai. A spectacular colourful procession displaying the offerings for monks is paraded through the town.
MAY
Fruit Fairs, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, The eastern provinces of Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat are known for their abundance of tropical fruits. When the fruits are at the peak of luscious ripeness, a fair is held in which the locals sell fruits from the surrounding orchards together with other local products. Spectacular colourful floats decorated with fruit and flowers are paraded through the streets of these provincial capitals.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Bangkok, This is an ancient Brahman ritual, conducted at Sanam Luang, which farmers believe is able to forecast the abundance of the next rice crop. The event is a result of a series of ceremonies that are conducted by Phraya Raek Na, portrayed by a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative who wears colourful traditional costumes.
Yasothon Bun Bangfai Rocket Festival, Yasothon . Traditionally, northeastern villages have created and launched rockets of all kinds and sizes as a belief that this will ensure that the gods will send plenty of rain for the rice-planting season. As part of this two-day festival, there are beauty pageants and various forms of folk and cultural entertainment full of merriment.
JUNE
Phi Ta Khon Festival, Loei, With origins from a well-known Buddhist tale, the colourful and vibrant Phi Ta Khon procession feature young men who dress up as spirits to accompany a scared Buddha image and taunt villagers. Included are competitions of masked dances and processions. Everyone is welcome to participate.
JULY
Candle Festival, Ubon Ratchathani, Khao Phansa, or the Buddhist Lent, is the time when all Buddhist monks must stay in their temples. In Ubon Ratchathani, a unique festival that highlights the talented skills of local artisans as well as display of religious devotion is held each year. Elaborately carved beeswax candles of various sizes and shapes are exhibited in high-spirited processions around the city before being presentation to local temples.
AUGUST
Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Celebration August 12, To display their loyalty and to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the occasion of her royal birthday, the Thai people decorate their houses and public buildings. Around Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the area around the Grand Palace and other well-known locations are bedecked with coloured lights and magnificent adornments.
SEPTEMBER
Boat Races, Phichit, Phisanulok, Narathiwat, Boat racing has been a part of Thai culture for centuries and regattas are held in various parts of the country. This annual event takes place on the various rivers throughout Thailand. The events feature boats competing against each other with great excitement and cheering from the spectators.
OCTOBER
Wax Cast & Boat Racing Festival, Sakon Nakhon, To celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent (Phansa), people in the northeast (I-san) mould beeswax into miniature Buddhist temple and shrines (wax castles) in order to gain merit, which will determine their future rebirth. These crafted models can be witnessed especially in Sakon Nakhon where there is an annual festival with a grand wax procession, competitive boat racing as well as traditional northeastern cultural performances among many other joyous activities.
NOVEMBER
Loi Krathong, Sukhothai and Chiang Mai, It is believed that the Loi Krathong Festival originated in Sukhothai, the first Thai capital. It is therefore appropriate that this captivating event is held on the month amid the breathtaking ruins of the glorious ancient city. Activities include krathong floating a fireworks display, cultural performances and an amazing light and sound show. In Chiang Mai there is an unusual ritual associated with the Loi Krathong Festival. This is the launching of Lanna-style hot air balloons, which are considered by local art and cultural performances, various fun-filled competitions, and local products sales and exhibitions.
Traditional Boat Races, Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Phanom, These annual festivals held for more than a century, the traditional longboat races draw thousands of visions from all over. These events are further enhanced by local art and cultural performances, various fun-filled competitions, and local products sales and exhibitions.
Surin Elephant Round-Up Show, Surin, Introduced in 1960, this internationally famous yearly event attracts people from all over the world to Surin to see more than one hundred elephants participate in spectacular shows that include colourful processions, tug-of-war between elephants and demonstrations of log-pulling skills along with various other extraordinary acts set in a carnival atmosphere.
Rever Kwai Bridge Week Fair, Kanchanaburi, Each year in late November to early December, the world famous River Kwai Bridge, which was built by allied prisoners-Bridge, which was War II, becomes the focal point of celebrations. Highlights include historical and archaeological exhibitions, a carnival, folk and cultural performance, rides on World War II vintage trains, and a spectacular light and sound presentation re-enacting the bridge’s World War II history.
DECEMBER
His Majesty The King’s Birthday Celebrations, December 5, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch, is well beloved and deeply respected by all Thais old and young. The occasion of his royal birthday provides his loyal subjects the opportunity to express their reverence for him. All over the country, buildings and homes are elaborately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.
Ayutthaya World Heritage Site Celebration Ayutthaya, Designated a UNESCO World heritage site in 1991, 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 sound presentations amid the ruins of this ancient city.
The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, Phuket, Designated a UNESCO World heritage Site in 1991, 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 sound presentations amid the ruins of this ancient city.


PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN INDONESIA
- January 1
New Year’s Day
- February 14
Magha Puja
- April 6
Chakri Memorial Day
- April 7
Chakri Day – Observed
- April 13 – 16
Songkran
- May 1
Labor Day
- May 5
Coronation Day
- May 13
Vesak Day
- July 11
Asalha Puja
- August 12
The Queen’s Birthday
- October 23
Chulalongkorn Day
- December 5
The King’s Birthday
- December 10
Constitution Day
- December 31
New Year’s Eve