Songkran Festival
Loy Krathong Festival
King Meng Rai Festival (late Jan – early Feb)
This festival, consisting of spectacular parades, cultural performances and competition, is held annually to celebrate the establishment of Chiang Rai and the Lanna Kingdom.
There will also be a large number of stalls selling food and local handicrafts and products.
Songkran Festival The traditional Thai New Year
(13 - 15 Apr)
The Thais celebrate this joyous festival throughout the country, including Chiang Rai.
Apart from parade of Buddha image, beauty contests, cultural performances and water splashing, there are also boat races among 4 countries -- Thailand, Laos, China and Myanmar, on the Mekong River in Chiang Saen District.
Lychee Fair (mid May)
Chiang Rai is famous for its tasty lychees. Therefore, this fair is the ideal opportunity to enjoy this fruit. And certainly, you can buy as many as you want at very reasonable prices. The fair also features competitions of agricultural products and cooking, agriculture exhibition, Miss Lychee Orchard Contest. There are stalls selling food, fruits and local products too.
Loi Krathong Festival (Nov)
In this festival, small containers made from banana leaf with lit candles and joss sticks are floated on water as a thanksgiving and worship to the Goddess of Water. Thai people celebrate this festival boisterously and Chiang Rai is a place that holds this festival on a grand scale. There are a beauty contest, cultural performances, folk entertainment and stalls selling food, handicrafts, and many products.
Blooming Mexican Sunflower (November)
Mexican Sunflower fields on the mountain are in full bloom in November. It brings the magnificent picturesque to Doi Hua Mae Kham, Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai.
During the festival, there are also cultural performances and folk games of 7 hill tribes living in the area and sales of northern Thai style food (Khantoke).
For more details, please contact TAT Chiang Rai Office, Tel. 0 5371 7433, 5374 4674.