Thailand is gearing up for this year’s highly anticipated Songkran, the grandest and most important Buddhist holiday. Happy Thai New Year!
The Thai New Year, known as Songkran, will take over life in the Kingdom of Thailand from April 13-15.
It’s the best time to visit Amazing Thailand every year, and this year after COVID-19 restrictions lifted is special.
Visitors and locals alike will soon be participating in parades, carnivals, spiritual performances, and water fights throughout the Kingdom in celebration of the Lunar New Year, marking the beginning of the Thai calendar.
With a blend of natural settings and cityscapes to explore, distinct cuisine, friendly people, and an oasis for wellness and meditation, Thailand is the perfect destination for culture-seeking travelers this spring.
For those who can’t make the trip, there are still plenty of local opportunities to engage in the Thai holiday.
Here are three great ways to celebrate Songkran in Thailand:
- Join the water fight party in Bangkok, where the streets become a massive water fight arena during Songkran.
- Expect to get wet and have fun while cooling off from the heat.
- Visitors looking to celebrate Thai New Year by the Chao Phraya River
- Experience Floating Markets and Candlelit Dinners on Koh Samui.
- Make a splash at this pool party in Chiang Mai to Celebrate Songkran. Some hotels will host a pool party on April 13 to mark Songkran
And for those who can’t make it to Thailand, here are three ways to celebrate Songkran in the US:
- Attend the Minnesota Songkran Festival, hosted by the Thai Cultural Council of Minnesota. This two-day event is held on the capitol grounds in Saint Paul and features authentic Thai food, cultural performances, Thai artisan goods, and interactive exhibits.
- Join the Songkran celebration in Thai Town, Los Angeles, where the community celebrates with a water festival, cultural performances, and traditional Thai cuisine. Each year the festival is held on Hollywood Blvd, between Western Ave & Normandie Ave.
- Build sand stupas in NYC at the Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram temple in Queens, which are symbolic of compensation for the dirt congregants have carried away from the temple, on the soles of their feet, during the past year. Visitors will also enjoy traditional Thai music, dance, and food.
