Chinese new year
The Thai Chinese celebrate the Chinese New Year all over Bangkok and especially in Chinatown with colorful processions, lanterns, food stands, fireworks, lanterns and dancers.
Date: January 25, 2020 – January 25, 2020
Location: Bangkok and especially Chinatown
Makha puja
Buddhist festival, during which various ceremonies are celebrated with candles during the day and at night.
Date: February 10, 2020 – February 10, 2020
Place: Temples in and around town
Songkran
Thai New Year with religious celebrations and folk festivals in which water plays a major role.
Date: April 13, 2020 – April 15, 2020
Place: Bangkok
Vesakh festival
The most important Buddhist holiday is the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha. The streets are decorated with Buddha’s lights and images. Believers gather for meditation, processions through the streets, and people all over the country gather to sing prayer. Perfumed water is poured over the Buddha figures, there are lectures by monks and birds are released from cages in Bangkok’s streets to freedom.
Date: May 06, 2020 – May 06, 2020
Location: Bangkok
Asalha Puja Day / Khao Phansa Day
Remembrance day on the occasion of Buddha’s first sermon, which marks the beginning of Buddhist Lent. Rituals are held in the temples and believers bring candles.
Date: July 04, 2020 – October 01, 2020
Place: Bangkok
Queen’s birthday celebrations
Queen Sirikit’s birthday is a public holiday, when public buildings are adorned with lights and magnificent flower garlands.
Date: August 12, 2020 – August 12, 2020
Location: Nationwide and especially Bangkok, especially Ratchadamnoen Avenue
International music and dance festival
The international music and dance festival is Bangkok’s largest annual art festival, which brings first- and second-class operas, dance performances, ballet pieces and jazz concerts as well as classical music concerts on stage.
Date: September 11, 2020 – October 23, 2020
(not yet determined)
Place: Thailand Cultural Center
Website: http://www.bangkokfestivals.com
Admission: With admission fee.
Chulalongkorn Day
Every year on October 23, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) is honored as a great king and modernizer of the then Siam, across the country. His son, Rama VI, declared the day of death as a national holiday. In honor of the former king, flower wreaths are laid on the equestrian statue in Bangkok and ceremonies are held around the statue.
Date: October 23, 2020 – October 23, 2020
Place: Bangkok
Loi Krathong
In honor of the water spirits, rafts made from banana leaves, adorned with flowers, incense sticks and countless candles, swim on all waters and rivers.
Date: November 01, 2020 – November 01, 2020
Location: Bangkok
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
Bangkok’s countdown events take place all over the city, the most impressive being the celebration in Central Square. Artists and bands perform on stages, there are light shows and stands that sell lots and delicacies. The midnight fireworks are often watched on one of the many public roof terraces. New Year’s morning celebrations traditionally begin with Buddhists bringing flowers, incense, and offerings to the temples. Afterwards there are further celebrations and entertainment all day long.
Date: December 31, 2020 – January 01, 2021
Location: CentralWorld Square, Sanam Luang District
Bangkok countdown
With the modern New Year celebrations “Bangkok Countdown” the end of the year is celebrated with concerts, stage performances and fireworks in Bangkok, among others. The Central World Square in Bangkok’s city center awaits thousands of visitors every year who can admire laser shows and other performances days in advance.
Date: December 31, 2020 – December 31, 2020
Location: Central World Square, Ploen Chit, Esplanade Sanam Luang, Ratchaprasong and Pathumwan Intersections
