Thailand Festivals and Events 2012

The celebration of the Chinese New Year remains the most important of annual festivals on the Chinese lunar calendar observed in the various regions of Thailand. Chinese New Year is on 23rd January 2012.

The Royal Flora Ratchaphruek Fair is aimed to mark and celebrate the three auspicious occasions - HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th birthday anniversary in 2011, Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday anniversary and Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 60 birthday anniversary in 2012. Activities are divided into three parts, which are exhibitions about agriculture and the royal agricultural projects, national and international agricultural conferences, and the plant contests.

The lantern festival in Hat Yai is divided into 7 categories: Amazing Small World, Amazing Floating Lantern, Amazing Animal Planet, Amazing Lantern of the East, Amazing Chinese Lantern, Amazing Bird Paradise and Amazing Sculpture Lantern.

The Nakhon Pathom Food, Fruit and Best Products Fair is a food-lover's dream. In a single stop, visitors will be able to conveniently 'sample', or indulge in a vast selection of delicious dishes prepared by 50 of the province's famous restaurants and food stalls.

On 28 January 2012, "Wimaya Nattakan," a dance drama and light-and-sound presentation will take place at Phimai Historical Park. The cultural presentation depicts the past glory of ancient Phimai and the Khmer empire.

The hills and valleys of Chiang Mai are ideal natural habitats for a vast variety of tropical as well as temperate flowers. Most bloom early in the year from January to February. This is the best time to enjoy the spectacular floral tapestry that blankets the land with colourful flowers such as the African Marigold, Globe Amaranth, orchids, Ban Chun, chrysanthemum, Celosia, and assorted roses such as the Fa Mui and thin Uang Dok Lek are at their best.

Enjoy viewing the contests of straw birds of various categories, straw bird procession, Miss Bird Park Contest, and sales of OTOP products.

The 8th World Thai Martial Arts Festival and Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony 2011 will take place between 15-17 March 2012, at Nai Khanom Tom Monument, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Stadium.

The Hae Pha Kuen That ritual is unique to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Holy cloth, known as Phra bot, is draped around the stupa in a merit-making ritual.

King Rama II, the second king of the Rattanakosin period, was known as "Ek Akkharakhattiyasinlapin," or the Great Artist. Hailed as a ruler who contributed much to his country through his outstanding work in culture, in 1968, King Rama II was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Person. Organised by Samut Songkhram Province, the King Rama II Memorial Park Foundation and TAT every year, the King Rama II Memorial Fair is held in his honour.

Traditional merit-making ceremonies and ancient rituals to commemorate the birthday anniversary will be performed in honour of King Narai the Great as part of the opening ceremony, accompanied by cultural processions.

This national celebration of the traditional Thai New Year captures the imagination of travellers for both its cultural and fun attributes; the latter being enthusiastic bouts of water splashing between friends and relatives.