While Chiang Mai deservedly boasts a reputation as a city full of tranquility and calmness, there are plenty of festivals and celebrations dotted throughout the year where the locals really come out to play.

The city comes alive during a huge variety of religious and cultural events each year and 2018 is no exception. So let these exciting festivals inspire you to visit Chiang Mai for an unforgettable experience.

Bo Sang Umbrella Festival

The Bo Sang Umbrella Festival (19^th – 21^st January) is one of the largest celebrations in the north of Thailand. It is a three day extravaganza that celebrates the workmanship of the local artisans. Bo Sang umbrellas are some of the region’s most celebrated products with handicraftsman passing down their expertise through generations. The umbrellas are so popular that they are now regarded as one of the city’s unofficial symbols.

The festival itself is an explosion of colour that takes over the whole community in the small town of Bo Sang. Throughout the celebration, there are parades, shows, and displays all dedicated to these vibrant and iconic umbrellas.

Flower Festival

One of the festivals in Chiang Mai that certainly draws the crowds is the city’s annual Flower Festival (3^rd – 5^th February). The festival is dominated by the stunning parade that crawls through the heart of Chiang Mai’s old city. This is surely heaven for those with green fingers as displays are dotted everywhere you look, especially at Buak Hat Park, where the gardens round the lake boast stunningly elaborate displays. The park in the southwest corner of the old city showcases the very best floral displays in town.

If you have the time then you should combine the festival with a visit to the Royal Park Rajapruek just outside the old city, as this is the time of year when the park is at its finest and promises to be a great day trip for those who have not had their fill of the gorgeous flower displays.

Songkran

Songkran (13^th – 15^th April) is one of the most popular times to visit Thailand and Chiang Mai celebrates the Thai New Year better than anywhere else. The city is widely regarded as the place to spend New Year as the whole city descends into mass celebration.

Previously, the festival was only observed in northern Thailand before spreading across the rest of the country and the festival is certainly at its best and most exciting here. To many, Songkran in Chiang Mai is best known as a giant, city-wide water fight that lasts for three days. As temperatures usually soar during April, regularly topping 35 degrees Celsius, it is easy to see why so many locals and visitors get tempted to join in with the fun.

No doubt you will be wondering what the water is all about? Traditionally, this is the time of year when images of Buddha were cleansed with fragranced water which was then poured onto elders and family member as a sign of respect and to ensure good luck and prosperity during the upcoming year. It has since become incredibly popular with the younger generation and is one of the most eagerly anticipated festivals in the calendar.

Loi Krathong

The city’s most iconic festival has to be Loi Krathong (23^rd November, although there are events spread out in the days before and after this). If you have scoured the internet for images of Chiang Mai, then chances are you would have seen photos of the hundreds of fire lanterns floating above the city. Loi Krathong is a traditional festival that celebrates the goddess of water and the River Ping that flows through the heart of the city. You can join the locals in floating offering along the river before releasing your lantern to join the hundreds of others high in the sky for that picture postcard sight. It is always spectacular, especially if you are positioned along the river, and it is easy to understand why this is one of the busiest and most popular times of the year among tourists eager to capture that stunning image.

The city has a real celebratory atmosphere in the build-up to and during the festival making Chiang Mai an even more exciting place to be than usual! In the evenings major roads are closed and replaced with markets where you can browse for souvenirs or purchase snacks to keep you going. With everyone in such good spirits it is likely that you will fall in love with the city and its charms.

This is just a taste of some of the unique and exciting events that take place in this fascinating city each year. Of course, there are plenty of other celebrations throughout the year so there is bound to be something that takes your fancy. If you are planning a trip to Chiang Mai then make sure that it coincides with one of these celebrations to ensure that you get the very best out of your stay!