10 Must-See Festivals in Thailand 2024

What's your initial impression of Thailand? Buddhist temples scattered in the urban area The tame elephants and their whisperer? Thailand is endowed with imposing natural beauty, which is a magnet for nature lovers around the world. Thailand, however, is regarded as the "pearl of Southeast Asia," with diverse cultures and traditions dating back to antiquity. Traveling around the cities and villages of Thailand, you will surprisingly find gleaming temples and golden Buddhas everywhere as a dramatic backdrop to local people's lives. Thailand is thus full of religious festivals and events. Here are the ten best festivals celebrated in Thailand. If you come across any one of them during your trip to Thailand, just take an active part in such festivals. You'll have a lot of fun.

Songkran (Water Festival)

Literally, Songkran, also referred to as the "Water Festival," is the most vibrant festival in Thailand. Songkran originates from Sanskrit and means "crossing and moving forward." Songkran is the Thai New Year that falls from April 13 to 15. Its official date is 3 days, but it actually lasts 6 days. Songkran is the grandest public celebration throughout the country and a symbol of the beginning of the Thai New Year. Water splashing is an essential part of Songkran. Between April 13 and 16, in the afternoon, after Buddha statues and monks are bathed, local people and foreign participants of all ages get into wild water fights. They wield water guns, buckets, and balloons and delight in getting participants wet. It is a good way to cool down and let loose on such a scorching day in April. In addition to water splashing, local people clean their houses and Buddha statues. It is a tradition about purification, expressing the hope of washing away bad things and bringing good luck in the coming year. If you are interested in the festival, go to Chiang Mai, where the Water Festival is the most impressive sight and attracts the most tourists from all over the world. Songkran is Thailand's most significant religious celebration, so there are some unspoken rules you may observe: Don't splash water after sunset; don't splash water at monks, babies, or pregnant women; and don't remove your shirt or dress improperly.

Songkran (Water Festival) in Thailand

Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)

Phi Ta Khon, known as "Ghost Festival," is one of the major celebrations in Thailand. It takes place in Dan Sai town of the Loei Province of northeastern Thailand in mid-June. Loei people observe Phi Ta Khon in memory of Prince Vessandorn, who was a former Buddha. It is said that Prince Vessandorn went on such a long journey that his followers believed he had died. But the prince was still alive. His return delighted followers, and they held a celebration that surprisingly brought the dead back to life. Following that, the celebration evolved into what it is now known as the Ghost Festival. It has become an elaborate festival for the artists and expresses a hope that the local people are blessed with a good harvest. During the three-day festival, participants wear intricately handcrafted ghost masks and march in a large parade. The mask features an unusually long nose and a white color, along with terrifying teeth and evil eyes. Tourists have the chance to make their own mask with their children. Or you can buy one during the parade, when locals will sell them in the street. The celebration is also full of other stunning activities, like traditional local dancing and entertaining games. Some local female dancers, wearing beautiful makeup and brown skirts, give a graceful performance to visitors. It's nice that Loei people will be happy to share details of the celebration with you. So, take your camera and keep a record of this moment.

Chinese New Year

14 percent of Thailand's population is Thai Chinese. As a result, the Chinese New Year serves as a major festival throughout Thailand. But Thai people celebrate Chinese New Year as a public holiday only in Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and Satun provinces, which designate the first day of the Chinese lunar New Year as an official holiday. The recent Chinese New Year fell on Febuary 10, 2024. Chinese New Year is also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival in Thailand. Chinese New Year is observed by mainly Chinese descendants living in Thailand, especially in Bangkok's Chinatown. During the festival, people wear red festive Tang costumes and cheongsams, all the members of the family gather to enjoy a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, and they go to temples on the first day of the New Year to perform rituals in hope for fitness and prosperity in the coming year. Unlike China, stores in Thailand stay open even during the Spring Festival, when the local Thai Chinese go shopping for snacks and clothes. In Thailand, Chinese New Year celebrations include lion and dragon dances, lantern displays, float parades, and firecracker playing. The streets are lined with red lanterns and Chinese knots. If you are planning to visit Bangkok, don't forget to experience Chinese New Year with Thai characteristics.

Loy Krathong (the Lantern Festival)

Loy Krathong, also known as the Lantern Festival, is a public festival in Thailand, and Chiang Mai is the best place to observe it. Loy Krathong can be traced back to the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom, around 800 years ago. It is celebrated to pay respect to the Goddess of Water (Pra Mae Khongkha) and the Buddha for good weather for crops in the coming year. Loy Krathong falls on the evening of the 12th full moon of the Thai lunar calendar, so it usually takes place in November of the Western calendar but has no fixed date. Loy Krathong means floating banana trunk because the lantern is made from banana leaves with flower decorations. It resembles a small lotus-shaped boat. In the center of the lantern are three sticks of incense, a lit candle, and other small items like flowers and coins. During the festival, most temples are decorated with lanterns, and there are beautifully styled floats in a parade and shows held from downtown to the Mae Ping River. People flock to the riverside and release floating lanterns while saying prayers. It is remarkable that Yi Peng, a regional festival celebrated by the Lanna people in northern Thailand, takes place in conjunction with the Loy Krathong Festival. The Yi Peng Lantern Festival is famous for its thousands of floating lanterns that are released into the night sky. The floating lanterns on the river and in the sky create a breathtakingly magnificent sight for tourists. The celebration in Chiang Mai attracts tourists from across the globe. Since this is a religious celebration, visitors need to be careful not to wear shorts and flip-flops, and no alcohol or beverages containing alcohol are allowed on site or in the vicinity.

Loy Krathong (the Lantern Festival)

Boon Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)

As one of the most attractive festivals in Thailand, Boon Bang Fai, literally "rocket festival," is observed in the Yasothorn province of northeastern Thailand. Although considered a region-specific event that is celebrated in farming communities, the Rocket Festival holds wide appeal for tourists all over the world. During the festival, villagers make rockets out of plastic tubes, bamboo, or wood and hold a competition to launch them. Before the competition, the rockets are first paraded around the village. The rockets, which are powered by sulphur and charcoal, are over ten meters long and mounted on a wooden launch pad. The winner who makes the rocket that soars up the highest into the air will be presented with THB 10,000, while those who fail to launch their rockets are punished by taking a mud bath. Small rockets of various shapes and sizes, which are launched continuously in open space, are enough to attract a large number of foreign tourists every year. The rocket festival is a Thai tradition to pray for rain, and the soaring rocket signifies a bumper crop. Traditional local music is also played during the festival, and you can watch the show while drinking local rice wine.

Wing Kwai (Buffalo Racing Festival)

The buffalo has always been a powerful helper in the cultivation of the Thai people and has played a significant role in the lives of Thai farmers. Chonburi is the distribution center for commodities in eastern Thailand, and the buffalo trade is particularly important, which led to the Buffalo Racing Festival, which has been lasting for over 100 years. The Buffalo Racing Festival, or "Wing Kwai" in Thai, which is held after the end of the rainy season, is the biggest festivity of the year in Chonburi as a show of gratitude to buffaloes for their hard work and in celebration of the rice harvest. Chonburi is not far from Bangkok, so the festival attracts many domestic and international visitors every year. It is full of excitement and entertainment. The racecourse is 100 meters long and lined with spectators, many of whom are photographers. There is nothing more exciting for visitors than to cheer on the jockeys and see how fast the beasts can actually run. In addition to buffalo racing, other interesting events are held during the festival, such as the buffalo beauty contest. Each of the participating buffaloes is decorated with elaborate decorations. You can take your children to a local fair with rides and play some fair games to win several hundred baht. It is a good chance for you to get close to a herd of buffaloes. Anyway, the fun during the festival never runs out!

Lopburi Monkey Banquet (Food Festival)

Lopburi is a time-honored city featuring splendid cultural sites in Thailand. The city is home to plenty of monkeys, and they create a distinctive sight in Lopburi. Most of the ruins were constructed by the Khmer Empire, which occupied Lopburi in the 11th century. Now many old buildings are inhabited by monkeys. The festival is celebrated at the old Khemer ruins. On that day, usually in November, local people and foreign tourists feed the monkeys fruits, vegetables, biscuits, and other treats gotten from a nearby market. The monkeys are prone to being enticed from the buildings. Instead, they usually gather for their feast early in the festival. It is incredible how intimate the monkeys are with the tourist feeders. But you should be careful not to get lost in such great excitement since the monkeys will climb on you and steal your food or valuables. Apart from the Monkey Banquet, you can also watch wonderful performances and dances that monkeys partake in. Local people believe the banquet for monkeys will bring them good luck, and that's why Lopburi people pay great respect to the monkeys.

Candle Festival

The Candle Festival is one of the major religious celebrations in Thailand. Buddhism is an important part of Thai people's lives, and the majority of the population adheres to it. The Candle Festival is held in Ubon Ratchatani, northeastern Thailand, at the end of July every year, when Buddhist Lent Day likewise takes place. During the five-day festival, locals carve giant candles out of wax in the shape of Buddha statues, animals, and other Buddhist-related objects painted golden and covered with colorful ornaments. The candle sculpture parade is considered the highlight of the celebration. During the day, cartloads of candle sculptures are paraded around the city, and there will be a candle-carving contest and a beauty pageant, as well as various musical performances, folk dances, and fun games. Tourists can see elaborate wax sculptures in various shapes, some of which have all the makings of works of art. All the candles will be lit at night and magically illuminate the city. The spectacular sight holds mass appeal for visitors. The activities are aimed at demonstrating to visitors from all over the world the traditions, beliefs, and lifestyles of the Ubon people. One of the most interesting things would be that local craftsmen would show visitors how candles are elaborately carved. If you're interested in the carving, you can visit the temple to make your own wax sculptures.

Wonderfruit Music and Arts Festival

Unlike the other traditional festivals mentioned above, the Wonderfruit Music and Arts Festival absolutely provides a totally different experience for you. The festival was first launched in December 2014 by the production company Scratch First. Despite its short history, the music festival has drawn a large number of music fans from the United Kingdom and the United States. The annual art and music event is held in December at The Fields of Siam Country Club in a suburb of Pattaya, Chonburi Province. The Fields is an ideal location to return to sophisticated nightlife after visits to traditional Thai religious festivals. This is a fascinating event, proud of musical performances, fashion shows, and luxury banquets by eminent chefs. It is a showcase for young musicians and artists and a paradise for sound enthusiasts. The festival venue is full of surreal elements and illuminated by dazzling lights. You just sit on the field, enjoying the delicate food and immersive sound. Or you can find peace through yoga and meditation.

Have you been drawn to the scene by these fascinating festivals? It is a golden experience to immerse yourself in Thailand's time-honored cultures and traditions following a visit to its picturesque nature. Each of the festivals mentioned above has a unique feature that has piqued the interest of tourists from all over the world. However, they are just a small part of Thailand's culture and traditions. If you're planning to take a visit to Thailand and want to have a unique experience, please don't hesitate to contact us, just simply tell us your interests and needs, and one of our travel experts will create a tailor-made itinerary for you within 24hrs.