The Famous Flower Festival Chiang Mai In 2024
The Flower Festival of Chiang Mai is celebrating 47 years and makes for a nice family day out to explore Chiang Mai.
With morning, afternoon, and evening events, you can be flexible in when you decide to check it out. The festival showcases ancient and modern floral art along with demonstrating the traditions of the ancient Lanna Kingdom.
The Flower Festival Chiang Mai runs annually taking place during the first full weekend in February. Check out the full schedule at the end of this article.
In 2024, the official Flower Festival will run from February 2nd to 4th
Don’t miss it! The Flower Festival in Chiang Mai has even been featured as one of the best festivals in the world!
Flowers, Oh My! What To Expect At The Flower Festival Chiang Mai, 2024?
This year for the first time ever, you’ll be able to enjoy the Chiang Mai Flower Festival during the day and night time! At night the flowers will be lit up. Literally, there are lights inside many of the flowers.
During the day time, you’ll be able to experience a flower wonderland and fantastic smells and scenery.
How long is the Flower Festival?
The festival lasts for 3 days with activities beginning in the early morning and going well into the evening. It takes place in the old city (within the moat) from Friday to Sunday, with Saturday being the busiest time to visit. Each day offers something different.
Where are the best places in Chiang Mai to see the Flower Festival?
The most popular places in Chiang Mai to experience the Flower Festival are Thapae Gate, which is usually decorated beautifully, Nong Haad Buak Public Park, and the area around the south west corner of the Chiang Mai moat.
What Are The Must-See Events Of The Chiang Mai Flower Festival?
The Flower Festival opening ceremony
The soft-opening ceremony of the Chiang Mai Flower Festival happen at 7 am on Friday morning with an exhibition of flower arrangements, ornamental plants and flowers in Nong Buak Haad Park. The real kick off happens at 7 pm followed by the annual beauty contest for the Flower Festival Queen. The competition runs from 8 pm – 11 pm on Friday.
Nong Haad Buak Public Park is located on the south west corner of the moat and is wonderful to visit any time during the Flower Festival. The park is beautifully decorated for the Flower Festival. You’ll get some great family photos here!
What’s great is the park also has a big children’s playground to keep kids happy, and that could be the deal maker in convincing your child that the Flower Festival will be a great time, as kids might not find a bazillion flowers as interesting as you do!
Choose the best place to stay in Chiang Mai for the Flower Festival
We have lots of of recommendations for your stay in Chiang Mai.
The famous Flower Festival parade
Saturday is the most popular day to visit the Flower Festival in Chiang Mai – expect crowds of people!
Starting at 8am there will be a parade where you can see floats that have been intricately decorated with beautiful flowers. Each float is truly a sight to see and the winner of the best float will be announced in the evening.
This year the parade will start south of Narawat Bridge and run counter-clockwise around the moat to end at Nong Buak Haad Park. The roads will be shut to all traffic during the parade.
There will also be flower markets where you can buy rare or exotic flowers for your garden. In the evening there will be performances around the city at Three King’s Monument, Thapae Gate, and the park.
Photo ops and the closing ceremonies
Following the parade on Saturday and all day Sunday, the floats from the parade will be set up along the south west corner of the moat. You’ll be able to see the intricate flower art used to decorate the floats up close and take fabulous photos!
There will also be flower stalls set up with rare flowers for purchase as well for the duration of the festival, but with less crowds on Sunday, you’ll find it easier to stop and have a look.
Sunday evening will performances to close out the festival at the Three King’s Monument, Thapae Gate, and Nong Haad Buak Park. This year from 9 am – 8 pm Sunday, there will be a Thai Lanna performance and cultural exhibition at Nong Buak Haad Park.
We hope you find Chiang Mai’s Flower Festival as beautiful as we do every year!
Check Out The Schedule Of Events For The Flower Festival 2024
Flower Festival with kids? To go or not to go?
Go! I recommend going on Sunday morning when the road along the inside of the moat in the southwest corner will be closed to traffic. You can easily walk around and the crowds at this time are minimal.
All the Flower Festival parade floats will be displayed so you can skip the busy parade itself.
Stalls will sell cold drinks and snacks and the park and playground will be decorated spectacularly.
I also recommend visiting Nong Haad Buak Park at night as it will be all lit up and kids love that.
Things to consider
Wear hats and bring sun screen it gets really hot out there!
Consider going early in the morning on Sunday if crowds aren’t your thing. Your family can roam freely and take as many photos as you like beside the incredible flower parade floats. Also, the kids can enjoy a play in Nong Haad Buak Park’s playground and park in the cooler morning air.
Bring water and snacks! There are some shops inside Nong Haad Buak Park, but besides that there aren’t any food or drink stalls.
Roads will be closed, so expect heavy traffic.
