Chiang Mai Flower Festival

What the Chiang Mai Flower Festival is

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival takes place on the first weekend of February each year - in 2027 that is 6–8 February. It coincides with the coolest point in the northern Thai calendar, when the region’s parks and gardens are in bloom with winter flowers and the air remains pleasantly temperate.

The festival was established in 1977 to showcase the region’s flower industry, which supplies much of Thailand with tropical blooms, ornamental plants, and orchids. Over four decades it has become one of Chiang Mai’s signature events, drawing visitors from across Thailand and internationally.

What happens

The flower parade is the centrepiece of the festival. Held on the Saturday morning, it moves along the streets of the old city featuring enormous floats covered entirely in fresh flowers. Each float is built around a different theme and can take weeks to construct. The parade also includes marching bands, traditionally dressed northern Thai dancers, and floats carrying the Flower Festival Queen contestants.

The parade typically begins around 8–9am at the Ping River area and moves through the old city, finishing in the early afternoon. Spectator spots along Tha Phae Road and the moat road fill quickly - arrive early to secure a viewing position.

Nong Buak Haad Park, in the southwest corner of the old city, hosts the main flower exhibition for all three days of the festival. Landscape displays, flower arrangements, and orchid collections are set up throughout the park, and a stage hosts cultural performances each evening. Entry to the park exhibition is free.

The beauty competition - selecting the Chiang Mai Flower Festival Queen - runs across the festival period with the final held on the Saturday evening.

Craft stalls, food markets, and gardening product vendors operate around the park and along the inner moat road throughout the festival.

Practical advice

Best viewing spots for the parade. The section of the route along the moat road on the south and west sides of the old city offers good views with room to stand. The Nong Buak Haad Park entrance area draws large crowds as the parade passes by. The junction at Tha Phae Gate tends to be extremely packed.

February weather. February is one of the best months to visit Chiang Mai. Temperatures in the morning are cool - around 16–20°C - rising to a comfortable 28–30°C by midday. No rain is expected. It is one of the clearest and cleanest-air months of the year in northern Thailand, before the agricultural burning season begins in March.

Accommodation. The Flower Festival is a popular event and the old city fills up. Booking a month or two in advance is advisable for accommodation within easy walking distance of the moat. If the old city is full, the Riverside area (east of the Ping River) offers good alternatives with easy songthaew access.

Getting around. The old city is compact and walkable. A hired bicycle or scooter works well for getting between the park, parade route, and old city. Songthaews run regularly along the main roads for 20–30 THB.

Getting to Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is served by direct flights from Bangkok (approximately 1 hour 20 minutes on AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, or Thai Airways) and from international hubs including Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The overnight sleeper train from Bangkok is a comfortable option - see our Bangkok to Chiang Mai travel guide for details on tickets and timing.

February is peak season in Chiang Mai more broadly, so booking accommodation and transport at least six weeks ahead is worthwhile regardless of the festival.