Chiang Mai annual festivals and holidays.
The Lanna Thai kingdom of Thailand.

Chiang mai has festivals to keep even the most avid fun-seeker happy. There is something for everyone, whether its the hot-season water festivsl "Songkran" in April of the quieter moonlight festival "Loy Krathong"
Note that each province has its own distinctive festival when visiting please check section for event and dates.

January :

Chiang mai red cross and winter fair.
This fair is the premier event for much of the province's agricultural population. Farmers and locals from miles around come to swap stories and goods. End Dec- mid Jan.

Borsarng umbrella festival.
Borsarng village displays traditional village life, elephants and parades. Visitors are welcome to participate in handicrafts competition set up to promote Borsarng village handicrafts. Mid Jan.

Wood craving fair.
A fair held at the Baan Tawai village in Hang Dong. Features ceremonies, parades and exhibitions of this area's woodcarving expertise. End Jan.

February :

Cermonial veneration at king Gawila's statue.
Ceremonies take place at the statue of king Gawila, the last Lanna king, at the Gawil Army Base. Feb 1 to 7.

Flower carnival.
Over 20 flower covered floats parade through the city on Saturday morning. Beauty contests, flower exhibitions, cultural performances at Buag Haad City park and playground. Feb 1 to 3 (first weekend.)

Elephant stoke.
Khantoke Dinner with shows at the Lampang elephant camp. Feb 1 to 3.

Dteen jok festival.
Mae jaem district is well worth a visit for this annual event. See the weaving techniques demonstrated and prized fabrics on display. Buy unsual traditional Thai souvenirs at very reasonable price. Feb 2 to 4.

Chinese new year.
: Feb 12.

Strawberry Fair.
Don't miss this fair of everyone's favorited strawberry in Samerng district, 48 kms from Chiangmai early February.

Makha bucha.
This religious holiday commemorates the occasion of the Buddha's first sermon to 250 disciples. All are welcome to join the "Wien Tien" procession under the full moon. Worshippers carry lighted candles, joss sticks and small flower bouquets while walking three times around the temple Jedee. According to lunar calendar. Feb 26.

March :

International elephant day.
Ceremony blessing elephants at Mae sa elephant camp, Mae rim on 13th.

April :

Suebsan Lanna or Thai heritage week.
Honoring HRH Princess Sirindthorn's birthday with cultural activities at Social research Dept., Chiangmai university. April 1 to 9.

Chakri dynasty day.
Public holiday April 6.

Poy sanglong festival.
Mae hong son hosts this grand Shan style festival to welcome new initiates into monkshood. The festival runs from late March to early April.

5th annual Poy sanglong festival.
A local version of the festival above held by Chiangmai residents to preserve the Shan heritage for their children.

SongKran.
All are fair game in this contest of water throwing to celebrate the Thai new year from April 13 to 15. Be sure to wear your quickest drying clothes to all the parades, beauty contests and cultural show scheduled also.

May :

Public holidays. :
Labor day 1st; Coronation day 5th.

Mango fair.
This agricultural fair takes place in the Sanzai district of Chiang mai over the second weekends in May. Activites are beauty contest, parade and cultural show.

Lychee festival.
The Lychee is one of the most delicious tropical fruits. Farng district is a good place to celebrate this season. This festival takes place over the second and the third weekends in May and has plenty of events to see and do.

City pillar Inthakin festival.
This ceremony is held to invoke blessings of peace, happiness and prosperity for the city and its residents. Buddha images are paraded around th city. It is held at Wat Jedee Luang for 7 auspicious days and nights in the 7th lunar month. May 8 to 15.

Doi Suthep pilgrimage.
One the night of May 10, worshippers gather to light candles and walk the 7 kms., pilgrimage up to the temple on Doi Suthep.

Visaka bucha.
This is one of the year's purely religious holidays, in commemoration of the birth, enlightenment and deat of the Buddha. Residents walk up to Doi Suthep to make merit at the temple on the night of the full moon on May 26.

June :

Thamboon Muang.
This merit making ceremony is held to preserve the ancient Lanna traditions, culture and heritage, The various activities are at the four gates and corners of the ancient city walls on the date between May 26 and June 9.

July :

Asaraha bucha.
A buddhist holy day (July 24.) commemorates the Buddha's sermon to his first five disciples, and marks the starts of the three month Buddhist ent call "Khao Pahnsa", (July 25.) monks do not leave their temple unnecessarily for fear of harming any living things when walking during the rains retreat.

Lumyai fair.
This fruit fair takes place in both Chiang mai and in Lamphun province during early July.

August :

Her majesty's birthday.
Government buildings and streets throughout the kingdom are brightly lit in celebration of "Mothers Day" and in tribute to her majesty. August 12.

Northern floral and decorative plants show.
Horticultural extravaganza features orchids, flower arrangement and potted plants at Buag Haad City park and playground. August 11 to 13.

September :

Langsart fair.
his annual fruit fair is held in th Uttaradit province on the second or third weekend of the month. Parades and beauty contest are featured in this provincal fair.

October :

Tod Kathin.
The name of the celebration of the Buddhist holy day "Awk Phansa". It marks the end of both lent and the rainy season. Throughout the month there are colorful, noisy processions and donations of food and necessities to monks. Lunar calendar.

Dhevo rohana offering ceremony.
Celebrates the Buddha's sprit descended from heaven and returned to earth. Held on the first day of the waning moon in the 11th lunar month. Dried food are presented to monks at the temple on the Chiang Mai university campus.

November :

Lumphun winter fair. :
mid Nov.

Chiang rai 14th hilltribe festival.
Doi Hua Mae Come, mid Nov.

Loy krathong festival.
TMost charming of all Thai festivals; the custom of placing handmade floats decorated with flowers and candles on waterways goes back over 700 years to the Sukhothai period. In the North, "Yee Peng" is celebrated for two nights under the full moon, As the moon rised on the second night, a procession of beautiful maidens and floats parades through the city of Chiangmai to the Mae Ping river. Nov 19.

"Lohng sapao" jao wiang lakorn.
Lampang's loy krathong fair with hot air lanterns and fireworks Nov 19.

December :

11th Northern souvenir fair.
Sale and exhibitions of nationwide handicrafts held at Northern Industrial promotion center, Toong hotel road. Dec 1 to 10.

The king's birthday
His majesty's birthday. Celebrations are nationwide tributes with gaily lit buildings and streets. This is also "Father's day" in Thailand on Dec 5.

Constitution day. :
Public holiday, Dec 10.

Chiang mai food festivals.
Chiang mai's annual cuisine event. There are two eating events : one event at Robinson airport plaza no 29 to dec 5 and second location at Cherngdoi market, Cholpratarn rd. Dec 1-5.

Christmas and New year's eve.
These western holidays are as lively here in Chiang mai as they are anywhere else. Every street is alive with celebration.