Mae Hong Son has a good line up of festivals and events throughout the year, many of which are on a national level. There are also a large number of unique events specific to Mae Hong Son and the province at large, such as the colourful Bua Tong Blossom Festival in November.

New Year’s Day: the coming of the new year is celebrated among family and friends with much eating and drinking. You are also likely to see small firework displays in Mae Hong Son at this time.

Chinese New Year: celebrated by all Chinese-Thais towards the end of the month with lots of firecrackers and lion dancers parading through the otherwise tame streets of Mae Hong Son. Chinese New Year is also a time for spring-cleaning, with locals sweeping out last year’s bad luck to make way for a prosperous new year.

Pai Sang Long Procession: held before the Buddhist rain retreat period, the Pai Sang Long Procession festival sees the Shan (Thai Yai) tribal people celebrate the ordination of novice monks with colourful processions through the streets of town.

Songkran Festival: marks the lunar new year and features lots of water throwing and frivolity from the 13^th to the 15^th of April. Songkran traditionally saw Buddha images, monks and elders being sprinkled with water as a sign of respect, although today the festival is similar to a giant water fight. Expect to get wet!

Buddha’s Birthday: all temples (wat) throughout town celebrate the Buddha’s birthday on the 15^th of the month with candlelit processions and lots of chanting. Tourists are welcome to join in with the parading, but should be appropriately dressed when in and around the wat.

Asanha Puja: also known as Buddhist Lent, this event sees Thai Buddhists celebrating the full moon festival towards the end of July. Young men are ordained as monks at this time of year while already ordained monks remain in their monastery for three months. Mae Hong Son turns into a sea of orange at this time with dozens of robed monks participating.

Queen’s Birthday: is celebrated all over Thailand on August 12^th, a date that also marks Mother’s Day. This public holiday is lots of fun in Mae Hong Son for all involved and culminates with a firework display.

Chulalongkorn Day: a public holiday on October 23^rd, this day is held in honour of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), thought to have brought Thailand into the modern age.

Loi Krathong: is perhaps the most special festival for all Thais. The festival is held every November during full moon and sees small boats made from banana leaves (krathong) being cast off into the water by all to bring good luck for the coming year. Along with lotus buds, incense and a candle, a bit of hair, a snip of nail and some coins are also generally featured on the rafts.

Bua Tong Blossom Festival: held from November to December around Khun Yuam and Mae Sariang, near Mae Hong Son, this colourful flower festival sees the golden Bua Tong bloom for 15 days.

King’s Birthday: all Thais have a deep love for their king, and his birthday on December 5^th is a special day for all. A public holiday, visitors can expect government buildings, shops and bars to be closed. Wearing a yellow t-shirt on this day shows respect for the king and will bring smiles from locals.