Bo Sang Umbrella & San Kamphaeng handicraft Festival (Chiang Mai) - Thailand

This annual Thai festival celebrates Bo Sang, a village not far from Chiang Mai that has made its reputation thanks to the community that makes Thailand's most famous traditional umbrellas, made of Saa paper.

The Bo Sang and San Kamphaeng festival lasts three days. It is usually held on the 3rd weekend of January, from Friday to Sunday. With an opening ceremony on Friday around 6pm followed by traditional dances and festivities on Saturday and Sunday, the most interesting days in my opinion, including bicycle parades which are the highlight of these days (at 11am and 2pm if that hasn't changed), painting and umbrella-making workshops, food stalls, live performances and a Walking Street, a large night market, in the evening (at least on Saturday) as well as school shows. The streets are lit by lanterns, while hundreds of umbrellas are hung from the rafters and beams of houses and shops to decorate. You will also attend concerts, a cooking competition and a beauty contest... In short, a traditional Thai festival!

Bo Sang is located about fifteen kilometers from the city of Chiang Mai, you will find practical information to go there on the visit sheet of the Bo Sang Umbrella Village in the province of Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand.