7 must-see festivals in Thailand you don’t want to miss

Songkran, Loi Krathong, Yi Peng, Loy Krathong Yipeng, Chak Phra and Rocket Festivals are some of the most popular traditional festivals celebrated in Thailand. Each festival has its own unique history and meaning and is celebrated with much enthusiasm and joy by both locals and tourists. From the water fights of Songkran to the magical sight of sky lanterns during Yi Peng, each festival offers something special and memorable. At the Rocket Festival, the launching of handmade rockets is a symbol of asking the gods for bountiful rains and a good harvest. Celebrate the culture of Thailand and join in the festivities of these traditional festivals.

Songkran Festival

The Songkran Festival is an important event in Thailand and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by locals and tourists alike. The festival marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is celebrated with a variety of activities. The Songkran festival is celebrated from April 13th to April 15th.

At the start of the festival, locals dress in their traditional clothing and join in parades and street processions, which often feature elaborate floats and decorations. During the processions, people sprinkle scented water on each other and offer blessings for health and prosperity.

The highlight of the festival is the water fights, which take place in streets and public parks throughout Thailand. Participants use buckets and water guns to drench each other with water, symbolizing the washing away of bad luck and the renewal of good fortune.

In addition to the water fights, there are also beauty pageants, traditional dancing, and the release of birds and fish into rivers. This is a symbolic gesture of wishing good fortune, peace, and prosperity for the coming year.

At the end of the festival, people exchange gifts and share a meal with their family and friends. The Songkran Festival is a time when families come together, celebrate, and enjoy each other’s compan

Loi Krathong Festival

The Loi Krathong Festival is an annual event held in November to celebrate the water goddess. In 2023, Loy Krathong will take place on November 28th. It is a time of joy and appreciation, as people gather to make and release krathongs into rivers and ponds. Krathongs are baskets made of banana leaves that are intricately decorated with flowers, candles, incense, and coins. They are lit up with a candle and set afloat in the water, as a sign of respect to the goddess. People also light up candles and incense sticks, and make offerings of food and flowers.

The festival is a great opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends, and appreciate the natural beauty of the country. As the krathongs are set afloat on the rivers and ponds, the sight of the flickering lights is a magical experience. It is a time of joy and gratitude, and a reminder of how powerful and generous the water goddess is.

Yi Peng Festival

Yi Peng Festival is an annual festival celebrated in November in Thailand which will take place on November 27 and 28, 2023. It is celebrated mainly in Chiang Mai and is a beautiful sight to behold. During this festival, thousands of paper lanterns are lit up and released into the night sky. People make a wish as they set off the lanterns, believing that it will bring them good luck and fortune.

On the night of the festival, the sky is filled with the sight of hundreds of paper lanterns twinkling in the dark. It is a truly magical sight and many tourists come to Thailand to witness it. In some areas, the festival is also accompanied by parades, markets, and other forms of entertainment.

The festival also has religious significance. According to Thai Buddhist tradition, people light paper lanterns in honour of Buddha as a symbol of their faith. Buddhists believe that lighting the lanterns will bring peace and harmony to the world. This belief is also shared by other religions and cultures, making Yi Peng an important event for many people.

Yi Peng Festival is a unique event that should not be missed. It is a great way to experience Thai culture and to witness the beauty of thousands of paper lanterns lighting up the night sky.

Chak Phra Festival

The Chak Phra Festival is an annual event that takes place in October in Thailand. It is a celebration of the return of Buddha to earth from his visit to heaven. The festival features a spectacular parade with dazzling floats, vibrant traditional Thai costumes, and lively music.

The parade starts from the temple of Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi province and makes its way to the city of Bangkok. There, worshippers pay homage to the Buddha and make offerings of flowers, incense, and candles. During the parade, participants carry a large wooden pole with a cloth umbrella attached to it, symbolizing the return of the Lord Buddha.

The festival is also a time of reflection and celebration of the teachings of Buddha. People come together to pray, chant, and celebrate the life of the Lord Buddha. In the evening, traditional music and dancing are performed throughout the streets.

The Chak Phra Festival is a vibrant and colourful celebration of Buddhism, and is a great time to experience the culture and traditions of Thailand.

Phi Ta Khon Festival

The Phi Ta Khon Festival is a vibrant and joyous celebration held in the northeastern region of Thailand in June. This year, the festival will most likely be on 23 June. It is a unique event that honours the spirits of the dead and is filled with colour, music, and dance. The festival begins with a procession of locals dressed in elaborate masks, costumes, and body paint. The traditional masks are made of bamboo, decorated with feathers and brightly coloured fabrics. The procession is accompanied by loud music and dancing, as the revellers march through the village.

The festival culminates in a large celebration with traditional northern Thai food, games, and performances. The party continues late into the night and the next day, participants make merit by offering food to monks and local temples. People of all ages enjoy the festival and it is a popular tourist attraction in the region. The Phi Ta Khon Festival is an important part of the local culture and is a treasured tradition that will continue to be celebrated for many years to come.

Rocket Festival

The Rocket Festival, or Bun Bang Fai, is a traditional festival celebrated in the Isan region of Thailand in May. The festival is held to ask the gods for bountiful rains and a good harvest. The festival is marked by the launching of homemade rockets, which are built from bamboo and gunpowder.

The festival is celebrated by the local people with much enthusiasm, music, dancing, and feasting. People from all walks of life gather together to witness the spectacular sight of dozens of rockets being launched into the sky. The rockets are launched in contests, with the one that goes the highest being declared the winner. The winner is honored with prizes, and it is believed that the higher the rocket goes, the more rain will come down that year.

The Rocket Festival is an important part of Isan culture and is celebrated with great festivity and excitement. It is a great way to bring the community together and enjoy a vibrant celebration.

Khao Phansa Festival

Khao Phansa Festival is celebrated each year to mark the beginning of the Buddhist lent. This period is a three-month period of fasting and prayer that has been observed by Buddhists for centuries. The festival is typically celebrated in July or August and includes a variety of traditional activities and parades. Khao Phansa in 2023 will be on Monday, the 3rd of July.

On the day of the festival, people gather in temples to make merit and give offerings to the monks. Families will also often bring food, such as fruits and desserts, to be shared among the community. After the offerings, the monks will give a special sermon to the congregation. The sermon is usually focused on self-reflection and the importance of following the teachings of the Buddha.

In addition to the temple activities, people also take part in parades in which they dress up in traditional costumes and carry flags and banners. The parades are usually accompanied by music and dancing. There are also floats and other displays to celebrate the festival.

At the end of the day, people usually enjoy feasts with friends and family. This is a time to reflect on the teachings of the Buddha and the importance of this period of fasting and prayer. Khao Phansa Festival is a special time that is celebrated with joy and reverence each year.

The festivals of Thailand are a great way to experience the country’s vibrant culture and traditions. From the Songkran Festival to the Rocket Festival, each event offers something unique and special. Whether it is the water fights of Songkran, the sky lanterns of Yi Peng, or the rockets of the Rocket Festival, each festival is a great opportunity to experience the true beauty and spirit of Thailand. These festivals are a celebration of the country’s culture, its people, and its traditions, and should not be missed.

You may also check out our article on the Most interesting museums to visit in Bangkok or our Thailand Festivals guide page.