*New Year's Day (1 Jan)

In January 1 Thailand celebrates New Year's Day the same as the rest of the world. It is a day of relaxation after the festivities of the night before.

Ngan Chao Pho Phraya Lae (Jan 12 - 20)

Local residents celebrate a week-long festival in honour of the founder of modern Chaiyaphum, Chao Pho Phraya Lae. Feted with parades, music and dance.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival (1st weekend of Feb)

Usually held at the first weekend of Feb, this 3-day festival is held to promote the growing of flowers and decorative plants in Chiang Mai, featuring a parade of colourful petalled floats and beauty contests.

*Maha Pucha Day (late-Feb or early-Mar)

Held on the full-moon day of the 3rd Thai lunar month (usually in late February or early Mar), this is one of the holiest Buddhist holy days.

Maha Pucha Day marks the occasion when 1,250 saint-disciples of the Buddha spontaneously gathered to hear the Buddha preaching his doctrine, and culminates with a candlelit procession around the local temple's bot, particularly Wat Benjamabophit in Bangkok and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, celebrate a day of merit-making.

In the evening, Thais gather at temples to hear a sermon by the chief monk of the wat. Then, when the moon is rising, they pray and, clasping candles, incense and flowers, follow the chanting monks around the bot of the wat three times before placing their candles and incense in trays at the front of the bot.

Related:

Hae Pha Khun That Festival

Coinciding with Maha Pucha and Visakha Pucha, southerners gather to pay homage to the Buddha relics at Wat Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat twice a year, including a procession of long saffron cloth around the chedi.

Ngan Phra That Phanom (Feb)

Thousands come to pay homage at the holiest shrine in Isaan's That Phanom town, which houses relics of the Buddha.

Ngan Phra Buddha Chinnarat (Mid Feb)

This fair honours Thailand's second most important Buddha images in Phitsanulok. Festive as well as religious, the fair features assorted kinds of entertainment, including music, dance such as folk theatre and ram-wong dancing, likay performaces etc.

Ngan Phra Phutthabat (early Feb and early Mar)

Pilgrimages to the Holy Footprint in Wat Phra Phutthabat of Saraburi attract food- and handicraft-vendors and travelling players. Related Topic: Temple Fair.

Phra Nakhon Khiri Fair (Mid Feb)

Son et lumiere at Khao Wang palace in Phetchaburi.

Chao Mae Lim Ko Nieo Fair (Feb or Mar)

Held in the middle of third lunar month in Pattani, local goddess inspires devotees to walk through fire and perform other endurance tests in public.

ASEAN Barred Ground Dove Festival (1st weekend of Mar)

Dove lovers from all over Asia come to Yala for this event. The highlight is a dove-cooing contests invloving over 1,400 compepitors.

Ngan Thao Suranari (late Mar or early Apr)

19th-century local heroins is honoured with a week of parades and exhibitions in Khorat.

Poi Sang Long Festival (late Mar or early Apr)

Young Thai Yai (Shan) boys precede their ordination into monkhood by parading the streets in floral headdresses and festive garb in Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai.

*Chakri Day (6 Apr)

The day to commemorate the founding of the present Chakri Dynasty in 1782. It is celebrated in the palace but there are no public ceremonies. An official holiday, most Thais celebrate it as a day off from work.

The Phra Chedi Klang Nam Fair (April)

One of the larger temple fairs, it is celebrated at the wat on the river's edge at Prapadaeng in Paknam, 15km south of Bangkok, on the Thonburi side of the Mae Nam Chao Phraya.

*National Labour Day (1 May)

To celebrate the Labour Day, a great number of Thai labourers gather at Sanam Luang to join the festivities held by the government which include pop concerts, cultural shows, dances and a variety of fun activities and entertainment.

*Coronation Day (5 May)

The day when the reigning HM King Bhumibol was crowned as the 9th king of the Chakri Dynasty in 1950. It is a private affair.

*Ploughing Ceremony (early-May)

Called Raek Nak in Thai and presided over by the King, this ancient Brahmanic ceremony is held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok to mark the beginning of the planting season and to bless the farmers with bumper harvests in the year.

Ceremonially clad Bramin leaders parade sacred oxen and the royal plough, and interpret omens to forecast the year's rice yield.

14th is Royal Ploughing Day, the first day of the rice-planting cycle, which is celebrated with a traditional Brahman parade.

Rocket Festival (2nd weekend of May)

Called "ngan bun bang fai" in Thai and usually held in second weekend of May, it is a unique festival of the Northeast, most elaborately and lively celebrated in Yasothon province. Beautifully crafted bamboo or wooden rockets are paraded and fired as a plea to gods for plenty of rainfall in the rainy season.

*Visakha Pucha Day (May)

Held on the full-moon day of the 6th Thai lunar month, usually in May.

It is one of the most important Buddhist holy days, marking the birth, enlightenment, and death (entered Nirvana) of the Buddha. The three things are all said to have happened on the same day. Visakha Pucha is celebrated like Maha Pucha, with a triple circumambulation around the temple as the moon is rising.

Related: Hae Pha Khun That Festival in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Inthakin Festival (late-May or early-Jun)

A life-prolonging ceremony for the city of Chiang Mai.

Sunthorn Phu Day (26 June)

Held at the Sunthorn Phu Memorial Park at Ban Kram village, Amphoe Klaeng of Rayong, the celebration 's activities include dramatic performances and puppet shows depicting Sunthorn Phu's literary works etc.

Phi Ta Khon (end Jun or early Jul)

Masked re-enactment of the Buddha's penultimate incarnation (end Jun or early Jul), originate in Dan Sai, it is nowadays also celebtrated in Loei town.

*Asalha Pucha Day

Held on the full-moon day of the 8th Thai lunar month, usually in Jul, on this day the Buddha gave his First Sermon to his first five disciples after his Enlightenment.

*Khao Phansa Day (the day after Asalha Pucha day)

Or called Buddhist Lent and held on the 1st day of 8th waning moon immediately following Asalha Bucha Day, it marks the first day of the three-month period of Rains Retreat when all Buddhist monks meditate and study the Buddha's doctrine and laymen renew their commitment to follow the precepts of Buddhism. Monks are required to stay at their resident temples throughout the Rains Retreat period.

Related:

Tak Bat Dok Mai

Held around full-moon day in July and another merit-making festival at the Holy Footprint in Wat Phra Phutthabat of Saraburi, this time on the occasion of the start of Khao Phansa.

Candle Festival

Held at the begining of Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent), usually in Jul,

People in many provinces in the Northeast celebrate Khao Phansa Day by arranging processions of folk dances and floats to the monasteries, carrying huge, intricately carved candles to be lit continuously throughout the Rains Retreat period. Grand celebrations take place in Ubon Ratchathani province.

*HM the Queen's Birthday (12 Aug)

August 12 honors the birthday of HM Queen Sirikit and also Mother's Day.

To celebrate the Queen's birthday and the Mother's Day, a grand celebration is held at Sanam Luang in front of the Grand Palace. There are free concerts and performances given by many popular Thai artists and a variety of entertainment.

Buildings along Thanon Ratchadamnoen and other main roads are decorated with thousands of colourful lights, flags and portraits of the Queen.

King's Cup Elephant Polo (5 - 11 Sep 05)

King's Cup Elephant Polo annually takes place in Hua Hin. Besides the exciting tournament, you will be fascinated by the elephants' intelligence in a variety of performances.

Vegetarian Festival (late-Sep or early-Oct)

Held from the 1st to the 9th day of the 9th moon according to the Chinese lunar calendar (usually late September or early-October; because the festival originated from immigrant miners from China in the 19th century).

During this 9-day event, people of Chinese origin in Phuket, Trang and Bangkok's Chinatown provinces make merit by abstaining from food and oil from animals, holding processions of god statues along the streets through town, and performing acts of self-mortification such as pushing skewers through their cheeks (as observing traditional magical rites as a sacrifice to their gods), despite its seemingly unattractive title!

Ok Phansa & Krathin (Oct)

Held three lunar months after Asalha Pucha (usually at full moon day of October), it marks the end of Buddhist Lent and the beginning of the Kathin season. Kathin itself is celebrated over 2 days. It marks the end of the monks' retreat and the re-entry of novices into secular society.

Buddhists visit local wats to present monks with a new set of cotton robes (particularly venerated monks are sometimes given silk robes as a sign of respect and esteem) and other necessities (such as food, money, pillows and bed linen). Groups sometimes will rent boats or buses and travel long distance to spend a day giving gifts to monks of a particular wat.

Processions and fairs are held all over the country; villagers wear their best clothes.

Boat Races (Oct)

Normally after the end of Rains Retreat on the full-moon day of the 11th Thai lunar month, usually in October, the traditional boat races are held to celebrate the Buddha's return to earth after spending one season preaching in heaven.

Taking place in Nakhon Sawan on 1-2 Oct, Nakhon Phanom on 13-19 Oct, Sakon Nakhon on 15-18 Oct, Surat Thani on 14-22 Oct, Chumphon on 18-22 Oct, Nan on 29-30 Oct and Phimai.

* Chulalongkorn Day (23 Oct)

Held to commemorate the death of King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama V) who passed away in 1910.

On this day, students lay wreaths before Chulalongkorn statue in the plaza at the old National Assembly building during an afternoon ceremony.

Golden Mount Fair (1st week of Nov)

Or called Ngan Wat Saket and held the first week of November in Bangkok, is one of the noisiest of temple fairs.

Loi Krathong (early Nov)

Held on the full-moon day of the 12th Thai lunar month, usually in early November, Loi Krathong is the most romantic and charming of all festivals in this country and celebrate the end of the rainy season. It also called Lantern Festival or Festival of Light.

It is said to have started in Sukhothai in the 13th century when a young queen, Nang Nopamat, floated a small boat laden with candles and incense downstream past the pavilion where her husband was talking with his friends.

Whatever its origins, on this night Thais everywhere gather at the waterside (such as ponds, rivers, lakes, canals and seashores) to float krathongs, small lotus-shaped vessels lovely decorated with flowers and lit candles, as a thanksgiving and worship to the Goddess of Water and serving as a day to wash away Mai. Magnificent celebrations are held in Sukhothai and Chiang Mai (also called Lantern Festival there ).

Surin Elephant Round-up (3rd weekend of Nov)

A northeastern province, Surin is famous for its world-famous elephant round-up. The show features elephant football, elephant race and hunt and elephants parade in ancient battle dress.

Vajiravudh Day (25 Nov)

Held to commemorate the death of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI)

The River Kwai Bridge Week (24 Nov - 7 Dec)

It is held in Kanchanaburi province to commemorate the horrible ordeal suffered in the construction of the Death Railway to be used by the Japanese army as a route of supply from Thailand to Burma in World War II. The festival features a historical exhibition, fun fair, bazaar and exciting light & sound presentation.

*HM the King's Birthday (5 Dec)

December 5 marks HM King Bhumibol's birthday and Father's Day.

Huge crowds gather at Sanam Luang and on Thanon Ratchadamnoen in Bangkok on the evenings of the 4th and 5th to celebrate jubilantly. The king celebrates with a ceremony at Wat Phra Kaeo only for invited officials and guests and with a private party.

Trooping of the Colours (3 Dec)

Held on the plaza before the old National Assembly building, the royal regiments, dressed in brilliantly coloured costumes, pass in review before the king.

*Constitution Day (10 Dec)

It is to commemorate the day on which Thailand's first Constitution was promulgated by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) in 1932.

December 10, Constitution sins committed during the previous year. The most spectacular celebrations are in Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, and Chiang Day, recognizes Thailand's first constitution in 1932.

Silk Festival (Nov29-Dec10)

Weavers from around the Khon Kaen province come to town to sell their lengths of silk.

World Heritage Site Festival (Mid Dec)

Weeklong celebration in Ayutthaya, to commemorate the town's UNESCO designation.

* New Year's Eve (31 Dec)

Thai people celebrate New Year nationwide. However, grand-scale celebrations take place in many areas in Bangkok and major provinces like Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket. In Bangkok, you can enjoy the exhilarating countdown events on the night of December 31 at Ratchaprasong area (Central World Plaza), Rama VIII Bridge, the National Stadium, Silom and Sanam Luang.