Known for its pristine tropical beaches, ancient ruins, ornate temples and incredible architecture, Thailand offers something to see and do at every turn. The vibrant culture and picturesque landscape provide a perfect backdrop to the country’s many world-renowned festivals.
Thailand’s Floating Lantern Festival
One festival sure to top many travelers’ bucket lists is Chiang Mai’s annual light festival celebrating Yee Peng and Loy Krathong. This spellbinding event occurs each year on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, when participants join in vibrant, costumed parades playing music and dancing. Let the kids take part in the pageantry and lantern-making contests by day and enjoy incredible firework displays. Guests indulge in heaping banquets of local fare while watching monks perform traditional chants during ceremonial performances. Festival-goers gather to release khom loy, or lit lanterns, into the night sky. The sacred tradition of the floating lights symbolizes new beginnings, longevity and releasing personal demons.
Participants also release krathong, small floating boats made from banana stalks, into bodies of water. Each vessel is decorated with incense, flowers, candles and personal offerings before floating into the river — mimicking the illuminated night sky. The Buddhist tradition encourages spiritual cleansing while honoring Buddha and the Hindu water goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha.
Photo: Chernetskiy | Dreamstime
Chiang Mai Flower Festival
Enjoy the magnificent colors and intricate botanical displays of the Chiang Mai Flower Festival, held each year in February and showcasing floral floats parading through the streets, accompanied by music, dancing and cultural displays. Visitors can check out various street markets and flower designs decorating the city.
Thailand’s vibrant culture and stunning landscape allow for an amazing lineup of events and celebrations. With several occurring every month, visitors will find an exciting festival to attend nearly any time of year.
Photo: © Manit Larpluechai | Dreamstime
Lopburi Monkey Festival
During the last weekend in November, the city of Lopburi hosts one of the most unique festivals in the world, the Lopburi Monkey Festival. This one-of-a-kind event brings visitors from all over the world to the Phra Prang Sam Yot (monkey temple), where the monkeys live amid the overgrown ruins of Khmer.
Showing respect and gratitude to the monkeys, believed to be descendants of the heroic monkey army of Hanuman, participants set up a lavish buffet banquet known as the monkey tea party. The tea party is set with great portions of fruits, eggs, cucumbers and various treats for the monkeys to enjoy — all donated by locals honoring the monkeys and hoping for personal good fortune.
Since the festival’s beginning in 1989, participants gather at the temple to play music and dance with the monkeys, say a few words of respect and invite the monkeys to dig into the feast — as the monkeys happily accommodate.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / Europe
Sep 13, 2024Germany Welcomes Families to Celebrate 35th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall
I may be dating myself here, but I remember the day the wall fell in Berlin like it was yesterday. It was a pretty big deal — sadly mitigated by “pieces of the wall” later being sold in our local department store as memorabilia — and while it signified the end of a divided Germany and the Cold War, its memory lives on as a reminder the human race can do so much better.
Sponsored Content
Sunflower Accessibility Program Featured at O’Hare and Midway Airports
Travelers with invisible disabilities passing through O’Hare and Midway International Airports can now discreetly signal they need assistance thanks to a new Chicago Department of Aviation partnership that helps create more accessible and inclusive spaces.
Hotels
Sep 13, 20244 of the Best Hotel Kids Clubs Around the World
These four hotels around the world offer family travelers excellent amenities and exciting activities for young guests through kids club programs.
Airlines
Sep 13, 2024Airline Offers Limited-Time $2 Kids Fares for Trip to Europe
Hurry! Low-cost Icelandic airline PLAY has a limited-time deal for family travelers: Book a round-trip adult fight and pay just $2 for a kid’s ticket. But you must book fast; this exclusive deal ends Sept. 17.
Sponsored Content
Share Miles with Family and Friends with United Airlines
As you look ahead to winter travel, United Airlines and its MileagePlus loyalty program introduced MileagePlus miles pooling, which allows members to contribute and combine miles into a joint account. Groups of up to five members can now share and redeem miles in one linked account. As the first and only major U.S. airline to offer this feature, United also allows any MileagePlus member, whether relatives or close friends, to be in a pool with other members.
Destinations / North America
Sep 12, 2024Pick-Your-Own Apples: Where to Do This Fall Tradition
Across the country, from Virginia to Oregon to throughout the Northeast, picking apples is a favorite family activity on a crisp fall day. In many regions, family travelers don’t need to travel far to find an orchard. In New England you’ll find orchards in every state.
ShareThis