Note: many of these annual festivals fall on slightly different dates each year, based on the lunar calendar, so check for the specific date for the year you are planning to visit. 
 

Festival of Floral Offerings

Wat Phra Phutthabat Ratchaworamahaviharn, Phra Phutthabat District, Saraburi Province

Photo: iStock

Happening from July to October this year, the enchanting Buddhist Lent Festival at Wat Phra Phuttabat. Witness locals offering food to monks and gathering the rare Dok Khao-Phansa flowers, unique to Saraburi province. Immerse in rich history as the ceremony is believed to date back to Buddha's time, fostering unity among people. Enjoy traditional dances, music, and art exhibitions, and join the mesmerizing parade of the Lent Candle with long drums. 

Arts and Crafts Festival in Phet City

Wat Yai Suwannaram Worawihan and King Rama IV Phra Nakhon Khiri Park, Muang Phetchaburi District

Explore the vibrant Arts and Crafts Festival in Phetchaburi, held annually in August. Witness skilled craftsmen demonstrate traditional Thai crafts, a rare art form in modern times. The festival is set on the picturesque hill of Phra Nakhon Khiri (Khao Wang) in the heart of Phetchaburi City, also known as Phet City. You can ascend to the hilltop via a scenic cobblestone path or take a cable car for convenience. Don't miss the chance to experience this unique cultural event and admire the historic palace built during King Rama IV's reign.

Por Tor Hungry Ghost Festival

Phuket Province

Photo: Shutterstock 

The Por Tor Festival, also known as The Hungry Ghost Festival, is a significant month-long event for Phuket's Hokkien Chinese community in September. Held during the seventh lunar month, it features ceremonies across Chinese shrines where Thai-Chinese pay respects to ancestors. The festival signifies the return of hungry ghosts to enjoy feasts, honoring suffering spirits. At Por Tor Gong shrine in Phuket Town, ornate decorations depict the king of hell. Red turtle-shaped cakes symbolizing luck and longevity are offered, alongside traditional foods.

Naga Fireball Festival

Nong Khai Province

Photo: Wikimedia

The Naga Fireball festival in October is a captivating event where people gather along the Mekong River to witness the mysterious emergence of strange red 'fireballs' from the water. Scientists still aren’t sure what causes the phenomenon—many theorize it is the result of natural or industrial gases escaping from parts of the river, but this is disputed. In lore, it is attributed to the mythical serpent 'Phaya Nak', illuminates the night sky. Celebrated over a week in Phon Phisai and Nong Khai, the festival sees thousands of visitors launch their own fireworks, rockets and lanterns into the sky in preparation for the phenomenon to occur. 
 

Buffalo Racing Festival

Chonburi Province

Photo: Tyler Roney / BK Magazine

The Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival, held annually in October for over a century, features buffalo races and traditional events. Amidst parades, dances, and a greasy pole climbing game, riders compete on massive beasts of burden. Despite a century-long tradition, the festival maintains its vibrancy, attracting crowds and celebrating local culture. The culmination includes a lively parade and buffalo races categorized by age, typically occurring near the end of Buddhist Lent.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival

Chiang Mai Province

Photo: iStock 

Yi Peng, a unique November festival in northern Thailand with roots in the Lanna kingdom, combines Brahmin traditions and now coincides with Loy Krathong. Centered in Chiang Mai, the celebration marks the end of the rainy season and start of winter. Vibrant lantern displays, parades, and decorations adorn the city, symbolizing merit-making and the transition from darkness to light in Buddhist culture. As Yi Peng and Loy Krathong converge, illuminated lanterns and candles illuminate entrances, temples, homes, and shops, creating a luminous spectacle.

Star Parade & Christmas Festival 

Sakon Nakhon Province

Photo: iStock 

Experience the captivating Tha Rae Star Festival in Ban Tha Rae, at the end of the year in December. Witness a stunning procession of 22 star-themed floats parading through the streets, accompanied by enchanting star-dancing performances. Enjoy the vibrant opening ceremony at Nong Han, a dazzling water star parade, and historical reenactments of Ban Tha Rae. Delight in stage events, a mobile phone light parade around Wat Tha Rae, and a heartwarming Christmas Mass.

The Worship of Lim Ko Niao

Lim Ko Niao Shrine, Pattani, Pattani Province

Photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand

If you are visiting in February 2024, you should check this out. Lim Ko Niao is a deity worshiped by groups of people in the southern province of Pattani. She is celebrated each year by ethnically Chinese Thais in the region for her supposed sense of filial piety (essentially respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors) and nostalgic patriotism for China. Each year, there is a colorful procession, fire-walking displays, and swimming activities to celebrate the legend of Lim Ko Niao. 
 

Ban Chiang World Heritage Festival

Ban Chiang, Nong Han District, Udon Thani Province

Photo: iStock

Celebrate the discovery of the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, which became Thailand’s forth UNESCO Heritage in 1992. Enjoy a cultural parade, multimedia art installations and shows, and traditional diner parties among other activities in Udon Thani. 

Worship at Wat Phra That Chae Haeng

Wat Phra That Chae Haeng, Phra Aram Luang, Nan Province

Photo: iStock

Nan’s “Hok Peng Festival to Worship Phra That Chao Phu Phiang Chae Haeng” (yes, that is a mouthful if you don’t speak Thai) happens on the full moon of the sixth lunar month of the year according to the Northern Thai calendar, usually in March. The event happens at Wat Phra That Chae Haeng, believed to be Nan’s most sacred temple. During the week, you can take part in a bunch of traditional buddhist activities, like worship ceremonies and merit-making rituals. 
 

Isaan Garland Celebration of Makha Bucha Day in Yasothon

Mahachachai District Office, Yasothon Province

Photo: iStock

This  is a massive display for anyone traveling to Yasothon province (just north of Ubon Ratchathani) in March. The festival is part of the larger Makha Bucha celebration, but here focuses on the culture and civilization of Isaan. You can expect huge coordinated dance displays featuring hundreds of people, vehicles decorated with Khao Tok garlands (donated from agencies, schools and regular folks). 
 

The Parade of Royal Robes to Offer the Relics Nakhon Si Thammarat 

Wat Phra Mahathat Mueang Nakhon, Si Thammarat District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Photo: Shutterstock

This important celebration in Nakhon Si Thammarat is so old that many scholars can’t pinpoint the exact moment in history when it started. Today, the parade, which is held in March, celebrates important moments in the area’s religious folklore by draping the Great Holy Relics in pieces of cloth or Royal Robes. You can’t do this yourself, but you are free to watch and take in the holy ceremony. 

Sdok Kok Thom Festival

Sdok Kok Thom Historical Park, Khok Sung District, Sa Kaeo Province

Photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand

The province of Sa Kaeo sits directly on Thailand’s border with Cambodia, so it should come as no surprise that this region of Thailand is heavily intertwined with Khmer culture and traditions. The Sdok Kok Thom archeological site is one of the most important ancient buildings in the entire province. Each year in March, there is a celebration of this history and cultural identity at and around the site, showing a unique side of Thailand that few travelers are familiar with before arriving in the country. 

Kram & Craft Sakon Festival

Sra Phang Thong, Mueang Sakon Nakhon District, Sakon Nakhon Province

Next March, enjoy a leisurely day shopping for amazing krafts and handmade items at the Sakon Nakhon “Kram & Kraft” festival. If you fancy yourself one of Thailand’s famous indigo dyed clothing, this is the most famous spot in the country for such goods. You’ll also find plenty of other items to buy, like handmade baskets, traditional Isaan crafts, workshops, dance exhibitions, and more. 

Phuket Delicious Food Festival

Phuket City, Phuket Province

Photo: Tourism Authority of Thailand

Thailand’s most popular southern island, Phuket, is becoming quite the home of gastronomy in recent years. Each year in May, the region celebrates this history with a giant food festival that includes all kinds of local and regional dishes that visitors often don’t read about in their tour books. There are other bonuses, too, like vintage car shows and small business showcases. 

Learn about the Legend of Phanat City 

Phanat Nikhom, Chonburi Province

Photo: iStock

This district in Chonburi is home to one of the area’s most interesting cultural festivals each May: Boon Klang Baan. The event, which happens over three days, includes a merit-making ceremony in addition to markets, local music shows, cultural workshops and exposure to unique traditions. The surrounding area has an abundance of bamboo, leading to a long history of bamboo basketry and other forms of weaving—some of the best you will find in all of Thailand—that you can explore through markets or the city’s cultural center. 

Phaya Si Satta Nakharat Worship Ceremony

Phaya Si Sattanakarat courtyard on the banks of the Mekong River, Mueang Nakhon Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom Province

Photo: iStock

A sacred ritual dedicated to the revered Naga, believed to reside in the Mekong River, takes place in July at Phaya Si Sattanakarat multipurpose yard, nestled on the riverbanks. The event features ceremonial dances performed by various Nakhon Phanom tribes, along with the opportunity to purchase indigenous products from the area.

Tai Lue Festival 

Wat Phra That Sop Waen, Yuan Sub-district, Chiang Kham District, Phayao Province

Photo: iStock

Immerse yourself in the vibrant Thai Lue market next July, where the community showcases its unique way of life through captivating demonstrations of traditional attire, architecture, and medicinal practices. Witness an array of over 35 lively parades that beautifully depict the essence of the Thai Lue people's lifestyle, complemented by captivating folk dance performances that showcase the richness of Thai Lue culture.