January 1-December 31, Bangkok
Mini-Light-and-Sound Performances: Spectacular light-and-sound shows have become big hits with tourists in recent years. But for the sake of balancing good visibility with economy, typical shows are now presented for relatively small groups of around 400 people and generally last from 25 to 45 minutes. There are currently seven permanent sites for mini-light-and-sound shows:

January 1-December 31
1. Ratri of Wat Arun January 26, February 23, March 30, April 27
2. Akha Mountain People , Chiang Rai
3. Sukhothai Night, Sukhothai
4. Ban Nong Khao, Kanchanaburi
5. Travelling Light-and-Sound Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya,Ayutthaya
6. Wimaya Nattakan, Nakhon Ratchasima
7. Siwa Ratri of Si Phruthesuan, Si Sa Ket

January 18-20, Chiang Mai
Bo Sang Umbrella and San Kamphaeng Handicrafts: A street fair with stores decorated in the Lanna Thai style, including the famous umbrellas and traditional lanterns. The fair also features contests, exhibitions, cultural performances, local entertainment and assorted shows.

January 19-20, Samut Songkhram
King Rama II Memorial Fair: This annual fair is held to honour King Rama II, the second king of the Rattanakosin period, who did a great deal of good for the country. In 1968, UNESCO proclaimed him a World Heritage Person for his outstanding contribution to culture.

February 1-3, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Flower Festival: Chiang Mai is famous for its flowers, most of which are in full bloom in the cool season from January to February, making this perhaps the most beautiful time of all to visit.

February 5-16, Nakhon Sawan
Chinese New Year Festival – Chao Pho Chao Mae Pak Nam Pho Procession: A grand celebration of the faith and unity of Thais of Chinese ancestry living in Nakhon Sawan Province. Activities include
an international lion dance competition, Chinese cultural performances and a market for local goods.

February 12-14, Bangkok
Bangkok Chinese New Year Festival: Thais of Chinese ancestry come together throughout Bangkok’s Chinatown to celebrate their New Year. Special attractions includelion dances, Chinese opera and other cultural performances and a myriad of seasonal products and food items.

February 14-28, Bangkok
The 3rd Chao Phraya River Festival and Musical Fountain: This year’s festival, held at Ratchaworadit Pier, marks the 220th birthday of Bangkok. The opening day features a musical fountain show with symphony orchestra and Thai orchestral performances. Entertainment on the other days includes a light-and-sound magic show entitled Lao Khan Maha Nakhon (Capital Tales).

February 16-19, Lop Buri
King Narai the Great Fair: Held in honour of King Narai the Great at Phra Narai Ratchaniwet Palace, the fair features a grand procession, folk dramas, other cultural performances, and light-and- sound shows, all surrounded by beautiful decorative lanterns.

February 26, Pattani
Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao Fair: Chao Mae Lim Ko Niao is a goddess widely worshipped among Chinese people. The fair features a colourful procession bearing a model of the goddess and a Buddha image. This is accompanied by lion dances, a flag procession and other local forms of entertainment, plus demonstrations of the spiritually uplifting practice of walking on hot coals.

March 2-3, Yala
ASEAN Zebra Dove Cooing Contest : The beautiful melodies of cooing doves provide the basis for this popular international contest held in Yala ’s Khwan Muang Park.

March 16-17, Nakhon Phanom
The 5th Nakhon Phanom Mekong Triathlon : Nakhon Phanom borders the Mekong River, the longest international waterway in Southeast Asia. The triathlon features swimming, bicycling and running.

March 23-24, Prachuap Khiri Khan
The 7th Thai and International Kites Festival : Held at Somdet Phra Si Suriyothai Camp, the festival features displays of kites and demonstrations of kite flying from around the world and all four regions of Thailand, including the perennially popular Chula and Pakpao kites.

May 10-12, Yasothon
Rocket Festival: Held at Phaya Thaen Park, this festival sees northeastern farmers launch huge home-made rockets in a plea to the gods to send plenty of rain for the rice planting season.

May 16, Bangkok
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony: This majestic Brahmanic ceremony, held at Sanam Luang in the presence of His Majesty the King, aims to ensure abundant crops for the nation’s farmers.

JUNE

June 1-July 31, Chaiyaphum
Dok Krachiao Blossom Tourism Festival: Held at Pa Hin Ngam National Park, activities include musical performances of pong lang, khaen and seng drums and local lifestyle demonstrations, plus krachiao flower and field painting and mountain biking competitions.

June 1-July 31, nationwide
Thailand Grand Sale: Several weeks of discounts on virtually everything – clothes, ornaments, handicrafts, silk, electrical goods, sporting goods, and countless brand-name items. The event covers scores ofshops, department stores and other retail outlets, all offering special discounts. Accompanying promotions are offered by hotels, restaurants, amusement parks, tour operators, car rental companies and other service businesses.

June-July, Loei
Phi Ta Khon Festival: Young Dan Sai villagers dress up as ghosts to re-enact the spirits’ welcome for Prince Vessandara, a reincarnation of Lord Buddha, on his return to the city.

April 1-9, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Arts and Culture Festival: Chiang Mai is famous for its unique Lanna arts and culture. The festival features a Lanna heritage fair, a Poi Sang Long ceremony at Wat PaPao, art displays, painting exhibitions, local puppet shows, musical performances, handicraft show and cultural tours.

April 6-15, Songkhla
Songkhla Songkran Festival: Activities at this event held at Hat Yai Municipal Public Park include a Miss Songkran pageant and procession, fire fountain shows, cultural performances and contests for chickens, roosters, birds, zebra doves and cows and other sporting events.

April 11-15, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai New Year Festival: Activities include merit-making and bathing of Buddha images, Lanna cultural shows and folk plays, a Miss Songkran pageant and procession and all the traditional water throwing fun.

April 12-15, Bangkok
Bangkok Songkran Festival: The Khao San Road festival is a world-renowned affair that attracts many foreign tourists. Features merit-making, a procession bearingthe PhraBuddha Sihingimage, cultural performances, Miss Songkran, traditional Thai sports and lots of fun-filled water throwing.

April 13-15, Ayutthaya
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Songkran Festival: Phra Mongkhon Bophit Hall and Khum Khun Phaen are the locations for merit-making, bathing of Buddha images, releasing birds and fish, paying respects to elders, a Miss Songkran pageant, floral float processions, cultural performances and water throwing.

April 13-15, Nong Khai
Nong Khai Maha Songkran Festival: An opportunity for Buddhists to bathe Luang Pho Phra Sai, a sacred Buddha image for Thais and Laotians, plus many other traditional Songkran activities.

April 13-15, Nakhon Si Thammarat
Muang Nakhon Maha Songkran Festival: The highlight is the bathing ceremony for Phra Buddha Sihing, the province’s revered Buddha image which is accompanied by numerous other activities and celebrations.

April 14-16, Songkhla
Samila Asian Tour Beach Volleyball:Some 13 countries and territories join this tournament, namely Japan,Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, the People’s Republic of China, Australia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, and Mexico.

April 19-21, Samut Prakan
Phra Pradaeng Songkran Festival: Originally called Songkran Pak Lat, this festival is an ancient tradition among Thais of Mon ancestry. Highlights include a procession of beautiful ladies dressed in Mon costumes, a saba folk play by Mons, processions of birds and fish, and the annual Miss Songkran and Mr Songkran pageants.

July 21, Chon Buri
2002 Pattaya Marathon: An international marathon featuring full, half and quarter marathons run over scenic routes around one of Thailand’s top beach resorts.

July 24-25, Saraburi
Tak Bat Dok Mai Festival: Held at Wat Phra Buddhabat Ratcha woramaha Wihan, the festival includes a unique merit-making with steamed rice and dok yung thong and dok hong thong (golden peacock and golden swan) flowers, plus processions of candles, Buddha images and long drums.

July 25, Ubon Ratchathani
Candle Festival: Elaborately carved beeswax candles are paraded around the city before being presented to local temples to mark the beginning of Buddhist Lent.

August 25, Songkhla
Songkhla International Marathon: An international marathon open to runners from all countries with five entry categories: marathon (42.195 kms), half marathon (21.1 kms), mini half marathon (10.5 kms), health run (3 kms), and wheelchair marathon (42.195 kms).

SEPTEMBER

September 19-23, Phetchabun
Um Phra Dam Nam Fair: A holy ritual requires the provincial governor to dive into the river in front of Wat Trai Phum holding a revered Buddha image in order to bring happiness and fertility to the province. September 21-25, Narathiwat n Korlae Boat Races and Narathiwat Products Fair: Exciting southern-style boat races on the Bang Nara River with the main prize being the much coveted His Majesty the King’s trophy, plus a festival of local produce and handicrafts.

September 21-25, Narathiwat
Korlae Boat Races and Narathiwat Products Fair: Exciting southern-style boat races on the Bang Nara River with the main prize being the much coveted His Majesty the King’s trophy, plus a festival of local produce and handicrafts.

October 5-14, Phuket
Vegetarian Festival: During the first nine days of the ninth lunar month, the Chinese community adopts a strict vegetarian diet to purify themselves for merit-making and various ascetic feats.

October 17-21, Nakhon Phanom
Illuminated Boat Procession: The end of Buddhist Lent is celebrated by launching elaborately-decorated boats on the Mekong River at nightfall.

October 18-21, Sakon Nakhon
Wax Castle Procession: Taking place at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum Woramaha Wihan, miniature temples and shrines (wax castles), carved out of beeswax are paraded to make merit at the end of Buddhist Lent.

October 18-22, Uthai Thani
Tak Bat Thewo Festival: Features over 300 monks coming down from Sakae Krang mountain to Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri to receive offerings from devout Buddhists. Other activities include folk plays, other entertainments and stores selling agricultural produce and local handicrafts.

October 19-20, Samut Prakan
Rap Bua Festival: Held in Bang Phli District, activities include waterborne merit-making and a procession of a replica Luang Pho To Buddha image, plus various competitions, folk plays, water sports, Thai cooking through the ages and the Life on Water Samrong Canal Bang Phli light-and sound show.

October 19-27, Surat Thani
vChak Phra-Thot Pha Pa Festival: The highlight is a waterborne Buddha image procession on the Tapi River and an on-land procession of images from some 50 temples in Surat Thani and nearby provinces. Much excitement surrounds a hotly contested long boat race to win the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn trophy.

October 20-26, Phatthalung
Phon Lak Phra Festival: An annual contest of exuberant drum beating with decorative boat competitions and the Tak Bat Devo religious procession.

October 21, Mae Hong Son
Poi Doen Sip Et Fair: Thai Yai Buddhists celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent in grand style at Wat Phra That Doi Kongmu. The highlight is the Chong Phara or Prasat Rap Sadet Phra Phutthachao (castle for receiving Lord Buddha) procession.

October 22, Chumphon
Buddha Image Procession and Boat Race Festival: Highlights of the festival include a long boat race in Lang Suan District, an on-land Buddha image boat procession, merit making and
a monk-robe presentation ceremony.