Festivals & Events
Calendar events
JANUARY
NEW YEAR’S DAY 30 Dec-1 Jan
This is the first of Thailand’s three New Year’s celebrations
and features Western-style revelry.
FEBRUARY–MARCH
PHRA NAKHON KHIRI FAIR early Feb
Notable temple festival in Phetchaburi with classical dance and dramatic performances and a beauty contest for local widows.
CHINESE NEW YEAR Jan-Feb
On the first day of Chinese Lunar Year the Chinese
celebrate đrùđ jeen with lion dances and fireworks,
most spectacularly in Bangkok and Phuket.
MAGHA PUJA
(MAH·KÁ BOO·CHAH) Feb-Mar
The full moon of the third lunar month is celebrated
countrywide to commemorate the Buddha’s
spontaneous, unannounced preaching to 1250
enlightened monks. It culminates in a candle-lit
walk around the main chapel at every wát.
APRIL
CHAKRI DAY 6 Apr
Across the country, celebrations are held for the
founding of the Chakri royal dynasty.
SONGKRAN 13-15 Apr
Buddha images are ‘bathed’ and a lot of water is tossed about in a nationwide water fight to celebrate the Thai New Year. Tourists are not exempt, so dress to be soaked!
MAY–JUNE
SAILBOAT REGATTA early May
Hat Chao Mai , near Trang, holds an annual
regatta for traditional wooden sailboats, accompanied
by music and theatre.
VISAKHA PUJA
(WÍ·SĂH·KÀ BOO·CHAH) May-Jun
The full moon of the sixth lunar month commemorates
the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment
and parinibbana (passing away). Activities are
centred around the wát, with candle-lit processions,
chanting and sermons.
HUA HIN JAZZ FESTIVAL Jun
This is Thailand’s best jazz festival; see http://jazz
festivalhuahin.com.
JULY
ASALHA PUJA
(AH·SĂHN·HÀ BOO·CHAH) Jul-Aug
Full moon of the eighth lunar month commemorates
the sermon preached by the Buddha upon
attaining enlightenment.
KHAO PHANSA (KÔW PAN·SĂH) Jul-Aug
The day after Asalha Puja is the beginning of
Buddhist ‘lent’, when young men enter the
monkhood for the rainy season and monks station
themselves in a single monastery for three
months.
BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL
FILM FESTIVAL late Jul
One of two Bangkok film festivals. The dates vary.
AUGUST
PHUKET GAY PRIDE Aug-Sep
A multiday event that’s been running for years.
The dates change a lot.
SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER
VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL Sep-Oct
For nine days at the start of the ninth lunar month,
devout Chinese Buddhists give up meat and engage
in stomach-turning acts of self-mutilation.
Mainly celebrated in Phuket, though Krabi and
Phang-Nga celebrate on a smaller scale .
OK PHANSA Oct-Nov
The end of Buddhist lent on the full moon of
the 11th lunar month sets off a national party. It
cele brates the Buddha's three-month retreat to
heaven to talk to his mother.
NOVEMBER
LOI KRATHONG Nov-Dec
During the full moon, Thais launch hand-made
lotus-shaped baskets and boats bearing a candle
and flowers into rivers, lakes and canals to thank
the water goddess for life.
DECEMBER
KING’S BIRTHDAY 5 Dec
Across the country, formal processions and cultural
displays take place. Bangkok's festival centres
around the Grand Palace.
BANGKOK JAZZ FESTIVAL Dec
Three-nights of jazz are held in Dusit Park,
Bangkok featuring international and Thai performers.
CONCERT IN THE PARK Dec-Feb
The Bangkok symphony plays at Lumphini Park
every Sunday (5.30pm to 7.30pm) between mid-
December and mid-February.
