Thailand Grand Festivals

Makabucha Day
3 March - Nation Wide
This day is a religious public holiday. It came from the day when 1250 disciples from the Lord Buddha gathered to listen for the Dharma speech after Buddha's enlightment. Merit making ceremonies take place at temples, while at night candlelit processions walk three times around the temple
Elephant's Day
13 March - Lampang Elephant Concervation - Northern Thailand
Join an traditional northern banquet (Kantoke) with the elephants. Organised by the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre with process going towards elephant conservation it's the biggest Kantoke dinner and procession

Poi Sang Long
Around First of April - Mae Hong Son - Northern Thailand
Gain insight into tribal rituals, as the Thai Yai tribal group celebrate the ordination of novices. Set in one of Thailand's most scenic areas the procession of monks and offerings through the town is unrivalled in beauty.
SongKran Festival
13-15 April - Nation Wide
This festival celebrate for Thai New Year. Religious ceremonies and public festivities abound as do buckets of water and warm blessings. The splashes of water are a welcome refreshment during the peak of the hot season. Particularly lively in Chiang Mai.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony
9 May Bangkok
The official beginning of the rice-planting season is held at Sanam Luang opposite the Grand Palace, where an ancient Brahmin ritual is re-enacted with various rites to forecast the abundance of the next rice crop.
Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival
11-13 May - Yasothon - North East Thailand
Born of the traditional beliefs of the Isan people, the sprightly "Bun Bang Fai" Rocket Festival, the most celebrated of Isan's merit-making rituals, has been strictly observed by the residents of Isan for generations and is essentially an annual ritual to ensure that the seasonal rains fall at the appropriate time in the planting cycle.
Thai Fruits Fair and Festival
(May - June 2007:Chanthaburi and Rayong)
Exotic fruits such as rambutan, durian, magosteen and zalacca are ripe and the eastern provinces are celebrating. Sample the produce of local orchards, watch fruit and flower processions, fruit contests, cultural shows and handicraft and agricultural exhibitions.
Visakha Puja Day
Around last Week of May - Nation Wide
The holiest of all Buddhist religious days marks the birth, enlightenment of the Lord Buddha. It is honoured in temples throughout the land with sermons by revered monks and solemnly beautiful candle lit processions.

Phi Ta Khon Festival
Around 14 - 15 June - Loei - North East Thailand
Prince Vessandorn's (the Buddha's penultimate incarnation) welcome home procession was grand enough to inspire the spirits to join the celebrations. Today men dressed as spirits parade a Buddha image and tease villages and visitors while monks recite this ancient Buddhist tale.
5,000 Years Ban Chiang Civilization Celebrations
14 - 16 June - Udon Thani - North East Thailand
The renowned Bronze age civilization of Ban Chiang is commemorated on-site with academic seminars, art & cultural processions, handicraft shows, exhibitions, international and local sporting events, light and sound shows as well as Traditional Thai dancing.

Candle Festival
18 - 22 July - Ubon Ratchathani - North East Thailand
During the rainy season monks enter the Buddhist Rains Retreat (Khao Phansa). In Ubon Ratchathani this is celebrated with a display of artistic skill and piety as intricately carved beeswax candles up to several metres tall are parades to the local temples.
River Canoe Races
July (during khao Pansa) Nakorn Nayok - Central Thailand
Cheer racing canoes through the provincial capital of Nakhon Nayok. The thunder of oars begins at Wangtakrai Canal Bridge in Sarika and travels an exhilarating five kilometres along the Nakhon Nayok River.
Asalabucha Day
29 July - Nation Wide
This day, which is a Buddhist public holiday, happens one day just before the Buddhist Lent day. This day commemorates the first sermon of Buddha to his five first disciples. One of them asked for being a monk. So this day is sacred because it deals with Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. There are also candlelit processions.
Buddhist Lent day
30 July - Nation Wide
This day is a Buddhist public holiday. It is the beginning of the buddhist rain retreat which last three months. During this period monks are not allowed to sleep outside their temple. Thai people buy big candles and offer them to temples.

H.M. The Queen's Birthday Celebrations
12 Aug - Nation Wide
Throughout the country buildings are bedecked in lights to honour H.M. Queen Sirikit on her birthday. The most spectacular lights can be found in the capital itself, along Ratchadamnern Avenue and around the Grand Palace and government offices.

Boat Races
6- 7 September - Phichit - Central Thailand
Amidst green valleys and wooded hills, this annual regatta speeds down the Nan river on low slung wooden boats raced with a gusto rivalled only by the cheering of the spectators.
Chinese Lunar Festival
20 September - SongKhla - Southern Thailand
The Moon, the Queen of the Heavens, is honoured with offerings for past and future fortune. Thais of Chinese ancestry organise lion and dragon dances, lantern processions, contests and colourful folk entertainment.

Vegetarian Festival
22 - 30 October - Phuket - Southern Thailand
Celebrated since the 19th century when residents of Chinese ancestry, a rigorous ten-day vegetarian diet, rituals at Chinese temples, parades and spiritual feats performed by ascetics are the highlights of this idyllic island's most exciting festival
The Naga Fireball at Nong Khai
7-8 oct - Nong Khai - North East Thailand
Making merit, participate in the rite of paying homage to the Naga, enjoy the illuminated boat contest. Then, the naga fireball will be happened after the sunset until late night, the fireball is the pink-orange in various sizes, non-smoke, sound and scent. It's suddenly appeared from the Mekhong River and shoots into the sky for 50-150 metres and suddenly disappears without falling down.
Buffalo Races
Around first week of Octobet - Chon Buri - East Thailand
Running buffalo competition in various classes, a great parade of Kwien Kan which is rarely seen from various communities, a contest of Nong Nang Ban Na, a contest of good breed and beautiful buffalo,  a local village sports competition.
Wax Castle & Boat Racing Festival
mid of October - Sakhon Nakhon - North East Thailand
A parade of exquisite beeswax carvings of miniature Buddhist temples and shrines accrue merit for the North-Easterners as they celebrate the end of the annual Buddhist Rains Retreat (OK Phansa). After the presentation of carvings at local temples comes the fast paces annual regatta.
End of buddhist Lent Day
Around last week of October - Nation Wide
his day is a religious event. The three months rain retreat is over for monks. Monks are allowed to go out of temples. Robes offering ceremonies ("THOT KATHIN") happen everywhere in Thailand. Thai people choose temples everywhere in Thailand and bring there clothes, food for the monks. "THOT KATHIN" ceremonies last one month.

River Kwai Bridge Week
21 Nov - 2 Dec - Kanchana Buri - Western Thailand
To commemorate the historical events of the Bridge over the River Kwai, light & sound shows over the bridge, archaeological and historical exhibitions and rides on the vintage trains are part of the week-long series of events.
Loi krathong Festival
(first full moon day of November) Nation Wide
This memorable festival originated in Thailand's first capital, Sukothai. Here, set amidst the atmospheric ruins of the ancient city, local gather to set extravagant banana-leaf craft afloat to the tune of fireworks, folk dancing and light & sound shows

H.M. The King's Birthday
5 Dec - Nation Wide
This public holiday is the day of all the fathers of Thailand. Especially the King Rama IX, the father of all Thai people. This day is the birthday of the current Thai King. All the buildings of Thailand are covered up with symbols of the monarchy and the King.
Trooping of the Colors
3 Dec - Bangkok
Thai Royal guards parade past the members of the royal family and pledge allegiance to H.M. the King. They are dressed in colorful uniforms, reminding the time when coloured flags served as rallying points during the battle.
World Heritage Site Celebrations
13 - 19 December
The ancient Siamese capital of Ayuttaya was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. The city celebrates its glorious past with historical exhibitions, traditional cultural processions and performances, and light & sound shows amidst the city ruins.