Thailand’s vibrant festival calendar is one of the reasons the country is a top destination for tourists. With a unique blend of spirituality, folklore, color, and community, Thai festivals are not just celebrations. They are immersion in the Thai lifestyle.
Are you planning a trip in the second half of 2025? You are in luck! There are still several unforgettable festivals you can experience, even if you have missed out on Songkran. You can easily travel within the country thanks to platforms like Siam Tickets. Booking tickets for trains, intercity buses, and ferries has never been easier.
So, let’s quickly inform you of the major Thai festivals that you can be part of.
Khao Phansa Festival: July 11 to October 7, 2025
Khao Phansa is the beginning of Buddhist Lent, during which time monks return to their temples to study and meditate for three months. It’s not merely a subdued religious period, particularly in northeast Thailand. In Ubon Ratchathani, it becomes the world-famous Candle Festival, where intricately designed wax statues are paraded through the streets on floats. The skill is remarkable and shows both religious piety and creative genius.
Tourists can participate with the locals in presenting alms to monks in the morning ceremony, a serene and deferential manner of engaging with Thai culture. While other areas celebrate the day with minor ceremonies, Ubon is where the pageantry comes alive.
While the Buddhist Retreat will last from July 11 to October 7, you can take part in the Candle Festival (July 7 to 13th). On July 10th and 11th, the Candle Float Parade will take place.
Vegetarian Festival: October 21 to 29, 2025
This nine-day Taoist festival is both visually intense and spiritually deep. The followers, who are predominantly Chinese-Thai, are strictly vegetarian or vegan during this time. In Phuket, the festival intensifies with processions in which the followers indulge in acts of self-mortification to cleanse themselves as well as bring blessings to the people.
From fire-walking to piercing ceremonies, this is not a trivial festival. It’s religion-based and must be respected. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of the streets cannot be denied, and even tourists who prefer to quietly witness the rituals will be stirred.
Several temples in Bangkok’s Chinatown also feature ceremonies and vegetarian food stalls during the festival. If you can’t attend Phuket, Bangkok provides a toned-down version but is still filled with cultural specifics.
Loi Krathong: Nov 5 and 6, 2025
Thailand’s most romantic and picture-perfect festival, some say, Loi Krathong, is the moment when rivers, lakes, and ponds are lit by a million candles that float across the water. A “krathong” is a miniature lotus-shaped raft, traditionally constructed from banana leaves and covered with flowers, incense sticks, and candles. They are sent floating onto the water as a symbolic release of anger, grudges, or old errors.
Chiang Mai also hosts Yi Peng at the same time, when the sky is filled with drifting lanterns. Although technically a distinct Lanna festival, it’s usually celebrated alongside Loi Krathong, which means northern Thailand is the destination in early November.
It’s a poignant and lovely experience for most travelers. There’s nothing quite so wonderful as seeing hundreds of floating rafts lit up and glowing down a river in the light of a full moon.
Surin Elephant Round-Up: November 21, 2025
A quirky and very regional festival, the Surin Elephant Round-Up is a testament to Thailand’s cultural heritage with elephants, as well as a dazzling display of coordination and tradition. There are choreographed demonstrations of elephant power, a selection of old battles, and parades by mahouts dressed in traditional attire.
For history buffs and those interested in Thai identity and rural customs, Surin provides an eye into the country that its larger cities tend not to see.
Word of caution: While the festival honors elephants, it has come under criticism in the past for animal welfare. In recent years, attempts have been made to rework the event to prioritize ethical exhibits and educational initiatives. Visiting responsibly involves staying informed and supporting activities that treat these animals with respect.
A Word on Etiquette and Timing
If you are visiting any of these festivals, some planning helps. Here are a few hints:
- Dress modestly, especially for religious celebrations. Cross your shoulders and knees when entering temples or participating in religious rituals.
- Observe first. Many festivals include sacred rituals. It’s fine to observe, but do it from afar unless locals explicitly invite you in.
- Plan. Certain festivals influence traffic and the availability of accommodation in the host city. It is advisable to book your transport or accommodation well in advance.
- Watch out for the calendar. Thai festivals follow the lunar calendar, and therefore, dates might fluctuate slightly. For confirmation, cross-check local event calendars or community tourism boards.
So, time your Thailand visit accordingly so you can be part of these amazing festivals.
