Public holidays and festivals in Pattaya
Thailand's official public holidays and Pattaya's major festivals — Songkran, Loy Krathong and the rest — explained, and how they affect offices, banks, immigration and travel.
Two calendars running at once
Thailand's public holidays mix fixed-date civil holidays with lunar-calendar Buddhist observances that shift date each year, plus a handful of major festivals — like Songkran and Loy Krathong — that shape daily life in Pattaya far more than they're actually days off work.
The fixed-date holidays
- 1 January — New Year's Day;
- 6 April — Chakri Memorial Day;
- 13–15 April — Songkran, Thai New Year;
- 1 May — National Labour Day;
- 4 May — Coronation Day;
- 3 June — the Queen's Birthday;
- 28 July — the King's Birthday;
- 12 August — the Queen Mother's Birthday / Mother's Day;
- 23 October — Chulalongkorn Day;
- 5 December — Father's Day / King Bhumibol Memorial Day;
- 10 December — Constitution Day;
- 31 December — New Year's Eve.
The moving (lunar) holidays
Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, and Asalha Bucha/Buddhist Lent Day are set by the Buddhist lunar calendar and fall on different dates each year — roughly February/March, May, and July respectively. Government offices, banks and immigration are closed on these days like any other public holiday.
The festival that isn't a public holiday: Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong — the floating-lantern/krathong festival on the November full moon — is one of Thailand's most photographed events and a genuine highlight if your trip lines up with it, but it is a cultural festival, not an official day off. Businesses generally operate as normal around it.
What this means practically
- Government offices, banks and immigration close on official public holidays — if you have immigration business (a 90-day report, an extension appointment) or need a bank in person, plan around the calendar, not just the day of the week;
- Tourist-facing businesses mostly stay open through public holidays — restaurants, malls, hotels and attractions largely operate as normal, sometimes busier;
- Songkran changes the city for several days — nationwide water-throwing, especially concentrated on main roads and Beach Road; expect to get soaked if you're out, secure your phone, and see staying safe and getting around for how it affects roads and riding;
- Governments occasionally announce extra one-off or “bridge” holidays (linking a holiday to a weekend) — these aren't on any fixed annual list.