Major Events dates and Festivals

All year round :

Thai Boxing in Bangkok: Head to Rajadamnern Stadium (Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays typically from 6-630pm onwardsand end around 10pm).

Or Lumpinee Stadium (on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays).

My recommendation though is a smaller boxing event called MX Muay Xtreme, now in Lat Phrao, where you can see incredible fights being very close to the ring.

You'll find boxing stadiums in every major city. Kalare Stadium or Thapae Stadium in Chiang Mai, Patong Boxing Stadium or Bangla Boxing Stadium in Phuket, MAX Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya.

February

Chinese New Year: It brings one of the most exhilarating celebrations, especially to Yaowarat, which is officially the Chinatown of Bangkok. The entire length of the street comes to life with crowds of worshippers, exploding firecrackers, dragon dancers, and families of Chinese descent who gather to partake in the street fanfare as well as to enjoy sumptuous Chinese banquets. There are also celebrations in Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan and Phuket.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival: first week of February, Chiang Mai explodes infloral wonder. To see parades of floral floats, horticultural contests and stunning botanical displays, head to the public garden of Suan Buak Haad.

March

King's Cup Elephant Polo tournament / Dragon Boat competition:

King's Cup Elephant Polo is an elephant polo event played in Bangkok, it has been replaced by a dragon boat competition from 2019, due to mistreatment of elepants.

April

Songkran festival: Songkran is the biggest - and arguably the best - festival in Thailand, a huge celebration for Thai New Year which takes the form of massive, country-wide water fight!. It's held from 13th to 15th april every year. Songkran is celebrated all over Thailand, but you'll find the biggest events and parties in Bangkok (Khao san Road), Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Samui, or Phuket.

May

Boon Bang Fai - Rocket Festival: It's celebrated by the farming communities of Isaan. Villages come together and celebrations take the form of music, dance, pageants, float processions, rockets launch competition and plenty of rice wine.

July

Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival: It consists of an elaborate parade of carved candles placed on huge floats, carved to depict scenes from Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

October

Vegetarian Festival: The Vegetarian Festival is popular amonq vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Some people parade self mutilated with swords in their mouth during this festival, but it's mostly famous in Phuket.

November

Loy Krathong: Every year, Loy Krathong falls on the full-moon night of the 12th lunar month.

Thais gather along the river banks with their lit 'krathongs' (vessels made of banana trunks), then release them down the river.

For Yee Peng Lantern festival which is happening in the same time, head to Chiang Mai.

Awakening: Aglorious spectacle that will light up Bangkok Chinatown, illuminating the district's most iconic attractions with state-of-the-art lighting installations.

Monkey Banquet Festival, Lopburi: There's a huge banquet laid out for the approximately 3,000 monkeys and they are allowed to feast on 4 tonnes of fruits, vegetables and treats.

December

Christmas festivities: Christmas in Thailand, and especially Bangkok, means big business.

The real showstoppers, however, are the Christmas lights. Buildings, trees, bridges, lamp poles and sometimes even tuk-tuks are adorned with colourful, twinkling lights.

Not much happening outside major cities.

New Year's Countdown: The biggest countdown events are usually in Bangkok (Central World or IconSiam for the best fireworks) and in koh Phangan for the new year's party on the beach. Partying continues into the early hours and, as soon as the sun comes up, many Thai people head to temples for merit-making to ensure that a happy and prosperous year follows.