Events and Festivals in Nong Khai • Nong Khai Information.com ...a resource for tourists and residents

Nong Khai Calendar of Events 2010

Below is a list of events and festivals during 2009 in Nong Khai. You can click on an event for more information, or use the menu on the left.

If you are organising, or know of, a major event in Nong Khai which is not currently listed, please contact us.

Date	Event

28th February 2010	Maka Bucha Day An important Buddhist holiday in which Thai Buddhists pay respect to the "Tripple Gem" of Buddhism: The Buddha himself, his teachings and doctrines, and the monkhood he founded.
5th - 15th March 2010	Anou Savari Festival The largest street fair in the Nong Khai Calendar, held to celebrate the defeat of the "Hau" rebellion in 1886.
26th - 28th March 2010	2010 Mekong River International Multisport ITU Asian Cup A three day Duathalon event, organised by the Triathalon Association of Thailand.
6th April	Chakri Memorial Day A Thai Public Holiday that commemorates the founding of the Chakri Dynasty in 1782 by King Rama 1. The present King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth King in this royal Lineage).
12th - 15th April	Song Kran - "The Water Festival" The most important holiday in the Thai Calendar which celebrates the Traditional Thai New Year. Nowadays, most notably, this celebration manifests itself in the form of 3 day long nationwide water fight - Expect to get very wet!
1st May	Labor Day International Labor Day is also celebrated as a national holiday in Thailand.
5th May	Coronation Day This national holiday celebrates the coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, 9th King of the Chakri dynasty, on 5th May 1950.
28th May	Wisakha Bucha Day (The Buddha's Birthday) This is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of the Lord Buddha. IT is celebrated on the full moon of the sixth lunar month.
May - June	Rocket Festivals Festivals to welcome the rainy season, in which hundreds of huge, home made rockets are launched competing on who can fly the highest. This is a truely awesome spectacle, accompanied by a lively party atmosphere.
27th July 2010	The Candle Festival - Khao Phansa Day Another important date in the Buddhist Calendar, Khao Phansa day is the beginning of the Buddhist period of Lent. It is celebrated by a parade around the town of floats carrying huge, decoratively carved candles, accompanied by dancers in traditional ceremonial dress.
12th August	Queen Sirikit's Birthday, also Mothers' Day in Thailand.
1st - 7th Ocober 2010	Nong Khai Rowing Festival There are actually many rowing festivals between late August and early October, though the one between 1st and 7th October has the highest turnout coinciding as it does with the Mekong Fireball Festival. During therowing festivals, teams of up to forty race long dragon boats on the Mekong.
23rd October 2010	The Mekong Fireballs "Bang Fai Phaya Naga" Bang Fai Pahaya Naga is a very peculiar phenomenon that has lasted for centuries, whereby glowing balls appear to mysteriously rise up from the depths of the river through the water and then on up high into the night sky. The allure of the event is partly the huge mystery that surrounds it as the exact cause is unkown. Maybe it is caused by the Phraya Naga - the giant serpent that Buddhists beleive live in the Mekong. Maybe it is more scientific, gas escaping from fermenting sediment on the river bed. Maybe it is just a hoax. Judge for yourself.
November 2010	The Chinese Dragon Festival The Chinese Dragon Festival takes place in late October and lasts for about ten days. During the festival, the huge ceremonial dragons, so iconic of Chinese culture are Paraded around the streets each supported by up to forty people. As well as the dragons, there are also many other Chinese cultural events held throughout the festival, including traditional Chinese dance and opera shows.
21st November 2010	Loy Kratong One of the most popular of Thailand's festivals, Loy Kratong is held to pay respect to the goddess of rivers and waterways, "Mae Nam". During the evening people launch Kratongs, floating vessels made of banana leaves that carry candles. As the Kratongs are launched onto the river, they make a wish, beleiving that the Kratongs carry avay bad luck. As more people release their Kratongs, the Mekong river fills with beautiful lights gently drifting past town.
5th December	King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Birthday A national holiday to celebrate the life of his Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, born on 5th December 1927. The day is also observed as Fathers' day in Thailand.
10th December	Constitution Day Constitution is a public holiday in Thailand that commemorates the historic event in 1932 on December 10th when King Prajadhipok (7th King of the current ruling Chakri Dynasty) presented the first ever constitution to the people of Thailand.