Festivals & holidays
Culture & traditions
In person
Chak Phra Festival 2026
A traditional nine-day festival in Surat Thani marking the end of Buddhist Lent, featuring land processions of Buddha images and ornate river barges.
The Chak Phra Festival, or 'pulling the Buddha', is a significant cultural event in Surat Thani held to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent (Ok Phansa). The 2026 programme runs from 23 to 31 October, with the main land and river processions taking place on 27 October. The event features decorated floats hauled through the streets and ornate wooden barges carrying Buddha images and monks along the Tapi River. The festival also includes traditional long-boat races on the river. The event is free to attend and open to the public.
