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Many of Thailand's annual events are determined by the lunar
calendar, so dates change from year to year, this is particularly
true of religious holidays. However, most larger shops no
longer close for public holidays, although some smaller retail
outlets and family shops close for Chinese New Year and Songkran.
Provinces have their own festivals in celebration of local
harvests of the seasonal crops.
January
 Chiang
Mai Winter Fair - Beauty pageants boxing competitions,
stalls selling a range of locally made goods and very loud
music make this an exciting, if unsophisticated, event.
February
Chiang
Mai Flower Festival - More beauty contests, handicraft
sales, flower displays and a parade of beautifully decorated
floats take to the streets as Chiang Mai residents celebrate
the blooming of nature.
Phra
Buddhabat Festival - The Shrine of the Holy Footprint
near Saraburi draws Buddhists from all over the country to
make merit.
March
Asean
Barred Ground Dove Festival - Dove-lovers from across
Thailand, and neighboring countries congregate at Khwan Muang
Park, in Yala Province, to display their prize doves and take
part in the dove-cooing competition, which usually involves
more than 1,400 participants.
April
Songkran
Festival - This is the traditional Thai New Year and usually
falls around the middle of the month. It is a time for local
people to pay homage to Buddha images, clean their homes,
and sprinkle water on their elders in a show of respect. This
has developed in recent years into open water warfare, with
everything from hoses to ten gallon tubs used to guarantee
a thorough soaking of the target. This is particularly popular
in the tourist areas of Khao San Road, Bangkok, and Chiang
Mai. The latter also holds colourful parades and religious
ceremonies.
Pattaya
Festival - Usually a week after the Songkran festivities
in Bangkok, this is a riotous celebration with parades, floats,
beauty contests, food festivals, and a spectacular fireworks
display.
May
Royal
Ploughing Ceremony - Presided over by the King and Queen
at Sanam Luang in Bangkok, this ancient Brahmin festival marks
the beginning of the rice-planting season. Predictions are
made about weather and harvests for the coming year on the
basis of which of the selected foods the sacred cows choose.
Visakha
Bucha - Marked by night-time processions of worshippers around
almost every temple in the kingdom, this festival celebrates
the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha.
Yasothon
Rocket Festival - Villagers from the poor northeastern
province of Yasothon compete with each other to make the biggest,
most explosive bamboo rockets during this annual rainmaking
festival. Prizes are awarded for the rocket that reaches the
highest trajectory.
June
Phi
Ta Khon Festival - Another rainmaking festival, this one
for the northeastern province of Loei, though not quite so
explosive. Local people parade in the streets in highly decorated
ghost masks and costumes.
July
Asalaha
Bucha Day - Commemorating the Buddha's first sermon, this
also marks the beginning of Khao Pansa, a period of three
months during which monks must remain in their temples and
strictly observe their religious duties. This is also a popular
time for young Thai men to enter the monkhood for a short
peiod.
Candle
Festival - Coinciding with Asalaha Bucha, this festival
sees the streets of Ubon Ratchathani filled with processions
of huge, beautifully carved beeswax candles, some of them
several metres tall, that are to be presented to local temples.
August
Birthday
of Her Majesty the Queen - Also marking Mother's Day in
Thailand, the 12th of August see the towns and villages of
the country festively decorated with lights and portraits
of the Queen.
September
Phichit
Boat Races - Though boat races take place in several towns
along the Mekong River in September, the spectacular annual
rowing regatta in Phichit takes place on the Nan River, which
runs through the provincial capital. Low-slung wooden boats
rowed with great gusto to the hearty cheers of spectators
make this an exciting day at the races.
October
Chulalongkorn
Day - Commemorating the death of King Rama V on the 23rd
of October. The memory of this much beloved king is honoured
with thousands of wreaths laid at his Equestrian Statue at
the Royal Plaza.
Awk
Pansa - To mark the end of the Buddhist Rains Retreat
(Khao Pansa), monks at temples throughout the country are
presented with robes and other utility items by merit-makers.
Vegetarian
Festival - This ten day Chinese festival in Phuket has
become world-famous for the gory pictures of people impaling
their faces and bodies with everything from swords, spears
and even fish. Apparently unable to feel pain and in a trance-like
state, these people of Chinese ancestry parade in the streets
with the various arrays of sharp objects still protruding
from their flesh. A little less gory are the beauty pageants,
fairs and food stalls that line the streets of Phuket town.
Wax
Castle Festival - The end of Buddhist Lent is marked by
the people in the northeast of Thailand with the creation
of miniature beeswax Buddhist temples and shrines. These "wax
castles" help them to gain merit, which will determine their
future rebirth. Sakon Nakhon has one of the most spectacular
festivals with a grand wax procession, boat races and traditional
northeastern cultural performances.
Chon
Buri Buffalo Races - A chance for buffalos to do more
than just plough fields as they compete in races and contests
pitting the strength of man against that of his faithful farm
animal.
November
Loy
Krathong - River spirits are placated for another year
with gifts of Krathongs floated on rivers, canals and lakes
on the night of the full moon. Made of banana leaves, and
decorated with incense and candles, thousands of these beautiful
boats light up the night. The most beautiful sights are at
the Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Centre near Ayutthaya, and in the
ruins of Sukhothai, the first Thai capital, where the festival
is supposed to have originated.
Surin
Elephant Roundup - With tug-o-wars, demonstrations of
logging skills, ancient warfare parades, and even games of
football, the elephants of Surin entertain the crowds of visitors
to this north eastern town.
River
Kwai Bridge Week - The River Kwai bridge, in Kanchanaburi,
is the setting for this week-long festival, from November
21 to December 2, featuring spectacular sound and light performances
on the bridge, archaeological and historical exhibitions,
and vintage train rides.
Golden
Mount Festival - A major Bangkok festival with colourful
sideshows, food stalls, music and entertainment. The Golden
Mount comes alive with flickering lights after dark, as a
candle-lit procession winds its way to the top.
Illuminated
Boat Procession - Elaborately adorned boats containing
merit-making offerings are set adrift at nightfall along the
banks of the Mekong at Nakhon Phanom. This dazzling event
marks the end of the Buddhist Lent.
December
Birthday
of His Majesty the King - Flags, lights and portraits
of His Majesty the King adorn the streets and building of
every town and village on the 5th and the occasion is marked
by a huge and spectacular fireworks display near the Grand
Palace.
Trooping
of the Colours - This colourful parade of the armed forces
in full dress uniform at the Royal Plaza is to confirm their
allegiance to the King and country.
Phuket
King's Cup Regatta - Southeast Asia's leading regatta,
held in the waters off the island of Phuket and starting on
the first Saturday of the month. Competitors come from around
the world to take part in this annual event.
Ayutthaya
Festival - Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
in 1991, this former capital city celebrates its glorious
past with historical exhibitions, traditional cultural processions
and performances, light & sound presentations around city
ruins, and many other forms of entertainment.
Chiang
Mai Food Festival - Celebrating the northern capital's
great cuisine, with local specialities, fruit carving demonstrations,
and cultural shows.
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