Festivals by month

The festivals worth planning a trip around, with a lot of Isan ones the big guides skip. Many follow the lunar calendar, so the dates move each year.

January

• Bo Sang Umbrella Festival

  Bo Sang, near Chiang Mai · Usually the third weekend of January

February

• Chinese New Year in Bangkok

  Yaowarat (Chinatown), Bangkok · Late January or February (lunar calendar)

• Chiang Mai Flower Festival

  Chiang Mai, around Suan Buak Haad park · Usually the first weekend of February

March

• Poy Sang Long

  Mae Hong Son and Shan communities in the North · Late March or early April

April

• Songkran (Thai New Year)

  Nationwide · 13 to 15 April

• Phanom Rung Festival

  Phanom Rung Historical Park, Buriram · Early April

May

• Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)

  Yasothon and villages across Isan · Mid-May, usually a weekend

June

• Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)

  Dan Sai, Loei · June or July; dates are set each year by local mediums

July

• Ubon Candle Festival

  Ubon Ratchathani · July, at the start of Buddhist Lent (lunar calendar)

October

• Phuket Vegetarian Festival

  Phuket Town and Chinese shrines across the South · Nine days in late September or October (lunar calendar)

• Chonburi Buffalo Racing

  Chonburi town · October, around the end of Buddhist Lent (lunar calendar)

• Naga Fireballs (Bang Fai Phaya Nak)

  Along the Mekong, Nong Khai · End of Buddhist Lent, usually October (lunar calendar)

November

• Loy Krathong and Yi Peng

  Nationwide; sky lanterns in Chiang Mai · Full moon of the twelfth lunar month, usually November

• Surin Elephant Round-up

  Surin · Usually the third weekend of November

• Lopburi Monkey Banquet

  Phra Prang Sam Yot, Lopburi · Usually the last Sunday of November

December

• Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Festival

  Tha Rae, Sakon Nakhon · In the days before Christmas