Five very unusual Thai festivals worth attending

[webfact]

It gets a bit tedious to keep going to local music festivals which are mainly featuring young Thai bands, or food festivals.

However, Thailand features several unique and weird events during the year which are definitely worth adding to the list.

Here we feature a few of the quirkier events, which you can add to your diaries.

Traditional Buffalo Racing in Chonburi

Sunday, October 9th, 2022

 

Farmers in Chonburi province have been racing their water buffaloes since the 1800s at a muddy annual race on Sunday to mark the beginning of the new rice growing season.

It is also timed at the start of the monsoon weather, allowing for a very muddy festival.

Thousands of visitors can watch the racing on a 200-metre-long dirt track in this seaside province, just 80km southeast of Bangkok.

Most Thai farmers no longer use water buffalo for farming, but many are still keen to keep the animals.
The great mammals are dressed in colored clothes and are decorated with bouquets of flowers. In addition to the riding contests, other events like contests of the most beautiful buffalo wear, parades and various culture events take place.

Burapha Bike Week

Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th February 2023

 

 

It is actually a Motorbike show in aid of children’s charities, but there is a lot more to enjoy than just bikes at what has become Pattaya’s biggest public event. 

 

More than 50,000 people come from all around the world to join in the entertainment which includes several rock stages with local and international stars performing over the 3 days extravaganza.

 

Masses of stalls selling Indian headdresses to jewelry and a vast number of food stalls and branded drink villages.

 

Now Thailand has legalized Cannabis, expect to get high and enjoy the vibes. 

 

 

Pattaya’s own version of Glastonbury and Woodstock all rolled into one.

 

It takes place over three days at the Soi Chaiapreuk Stadium.

 

The Wat Bang Phra Tattoo Festival

March 2023

 

 

The expertise of the monks of Wat Bang Phra shrine in creating tattoos is well known and revered all over Thailand. 

 

The actual shrine is located in Nakhon Chai Si region, around 50 km west of Bangkok. 

 

The shrine holds, every year in March an incredibly unique tattoo festival.

 

During the festival days, thousands of believers – men only, reach the shrine to worship and conduct the special Thai ritual.

 

In the festival, you can see groups of believers and monks tattoo the arms and backs of the visitors with long needles. 

 

The tattoos are mostly beasts of prey and dragons which according to the belief are sign of economic strength and protection against injuries from knives and bullets.

 

So, if you are into your tattoos then this festival is for you.

 

If you know of any unusual local events or festivals do share the information here.

 

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[JimmyJ]

I only see 3 Festivals listed, not 5.

[KhunLA]

And get arrested ... should this actually be posted:

"Now Thailand has legalized Cannabis, expect to get high and enjoy the vibes."

 

Kind of implies we can stroll around smoking doobies without consequences ... ????

[proton]

'It gets a bit tedious to keep going to local music festivals which are mainly featuring young Thai bands'

 

Try morlam bands then playing Thai/Lao music instead of kids re hashing western material, better still see some young luktung/morlam singers like Lamyai - at Mungtonthani today. 

Edited August 14, 2022 by proton