Top 3 Festivals in Thailand You Can’t Miss During Your TEFL Adventure

At MyTEFL, we know that teaching abroad is about more than just the classroom, it’s about truly immersing yourself in the vibrant culture of your new home. And if you’re heading to Thailand for your TEFL job placement, you’re in for an incredible cultural ride! Thailand is famous for its stunning festivals, where ancient traditions, lively street parties, and heartwarming community spirit come together in unforgettable ways.

Here are the top 3 festivals in Thailand you absolutely can’t miss while teaching there:

1. Songkran Festival: Thai New Year (April)

Image from The Atlantic

If there’s one festival that embodies Thailand’s joyous spirit, it’s Songkran. Celebrated every April, Songkran marks the traditional Thai New Year, and it’s one of the biggest and most famous festivals in the country.

What to Expect:

Songkran is essentially the world’s largest water fight. Streets are packed with people armed with water guns, buckets, and hoses, ready to soak anyone in sight. Locals and tourists alike join in the fun, and the mood is infectious. Traditionally, the water symbolizes purification and the washing away of bad luck, but today it’s mostly an excuse for a massive, three-day street party.

You’ll also witness more traditional aspects of the celebration, like visiting temples, making merit, and gently pouring water over Buddha statues and the hands of elders as a blessing for the new year.

Where to Celebrate:

• Chiang Mai is widely regarded as the ultimate Songkran destination. The whole city transforms into one giant water battleground.
• Bangkok’s Khao San Road is another iconic spot for wild Songkran celebrations.
• Smaller towns across Thailand often feature more traditional and family-oriented versions of the festival.

Pro Tip: Protect your electronics with waterproof bags because once you’re outside, there’s no staying dry!

2. Loy Krathong: The Festival of Lights (November)

In stark contrast to the playful chaos of Songkran, Loy Krathong is serene, beautiful, and deeply spiritual. Taking place during the full moon of the twelfth lunar month (usually November), Loy Krathong is a time to give thanks to the river goddess and to let go of negativity and misfortunes.

What to Expect:

During Loy Krathong, people gather by rivers, lakes, and canals to release krathongs, small, elaborately decorated floats made from banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense. As your krathong drifts away on the water, it’s said to carry away your worries and bring you good luck.

In northern Thailand, especially around Chiang Mai, Loy Krathong coincides with the Yi Peng Festival, where thousands of glowing paper lanterns are released into the night sky, creating a breathtakingly magical scene.

Where to Celebrate:

• Chiang Mai is again a top spot, thanks to its combined Loy Krathong and Yi Peng celebrations.
• Sukhothai, the ancient capital of Thailand, offers a more traditional and historical atmosphere.
• Bangkok has stunning events along the Chao Phraya River and at various parks.

Pro Tip: Participate respectfully! Use eco-friendly krathongs made from natural materials to help protect Thailand’s waterways.

3. Phi Ta Khon: The Ghost Festival (June/July)

For something truly unique and unlike anything you’ve ever seen, make sure to check out the colorful and slightly spooky Phi Ta Khon Festival in the Isaan region of northern Thailand.

What to Expect:

Phi Ta Khon is a wild mix of religion, fun, and local folklore. Locals dress up in elaborate costumes, wearing eerie yet brightly painted masks with long noses, resembling playful spirits. The festival is rooted in Buddhist beliefs and tells the story of how spirits celebrated so loudly when the Buddha-to-be awoke from death that they were called back to life.

There’s a fun, raucous parade, lively music, dancing, and even a rocket-launching competition. It’s a unique cultural experience that showcases Thailand’s rich local traditions away from the typical tourist trail.

Where to Celebrate:

• Dan Sai district in Loei Province is the heart and soul of the Phi Ta Khon festivities.

Pro Tip: Since Phi Ta Khon’s dates vary each year based on the lunar calendar, check ahead if you’re planning to attend!

Final Thoughts

Teaching English in Thailand with MyTEFL isn’t just a job, it’s a passport to a whole new world. Attending these festivals will deepen your connection to Thai culture, help you make new friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Whether you’re getting soaked during Songkran, making a wish as your lantern floats into the sky at Loy Krathong, or dancing alongside “ghosts” at Phi Ta Khon, these experiences will be a highlight of your TEFL journey.

So pack your water gun, your adventurous spirit, and your open heart because Thailand’s festivals are waiting for you!