Public holidays in Thailand and Local Festivals

Thai celebrations and holidays year round

A list of Thai national festivals and public holidays follows.

Of these, the most raucous Thai holiday is the  Songkran festival (Thai New Year), where water and talc is thrown in abundance on each and every passing person, and vast amounts of alcohol are consumed over consecutive days. Be ready to get wet if you intend to be in Thailand at this time of year. Do not try to stay dry: just smile and enjoy!

In the villages around Gecko Villa, you will often witness local ceremonies and traditional rites that do not feature on any calendar, but can be fascinating to attend or in which to participate. You may witness a novice monk's  initiation ceremony, where a young man makes merit and enters the monkhood for a period of time (this generally involves a colourful procession on foot with the novice held aloft and paraded through the village with much dancing); morlam or morlam sing performances - music concerts varying from small affairs on makeshift stages to major performances by larger groups with dancers; merit-making festivals at the local temples; or funerals, weddings etc. A large part is usually played by alcohol in the majority of these occasions, with rice whisky and other indigenous brews flowing freely.

Public holidays in Thailand 2013

New Year’s Day
Tuesday, 1 January 2013

Chinese New Year
This is not an official holiday, but many businesses will be closed.
Sunday, 10 February 2013

Makha Bucha
Monday, 11 March 2013

Chakri Memorial Day
Monday, 8 April 2013

Songkran Festival
The traditional Thai New Year.
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Monday, 15 April 2013
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Labour Day
Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Coronation Day.
Monday, 6 May 2013

Visakha Bucha
Friday, 24 May 2013

Asanha Bucha / Asalha Puja Day.
Tuesday, 30 July 2013

HM The Queen’s Birthday
Monday, 12 August 2013

Chulalongkorn Memorial Day
Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Loy Kratong
This is not an official holiday, but the festival is celebrated nationwide.
Monday, 18 November 2013

HM The King’s Birthday
Thursday, 5 December 2013

Thai Constitution Day
Tuesday, 10 December 2013

New Year’s Eve
Tuesday, 31 December 2013