Lampang
Famous for its horse-drawn carriages and with a rooster as its provincial emblem, Lampang boasts a long history of human settlements on the Wang River basin, some of which dating back to more than 1,000 years. It is rich in archaeological evidence reflecting ancient civilisations of Hariphunchai, Lanna and Burma.
Lampang is administratively divided into the following districts: Mueang, Thoen, Mae Phrik, Ngao, Ko Kha, Wang Nuea, Mae Tha, Chae Hom, Sop Prap, Seom Ngam, Hang Chat, Mae Mo and Mueang Pan.
Festivals & Events
Khantok Chang Fair
When: February
Where: Thai Elephant conservation Centre
Khantok Chang Fair (Chang = Elephant), is held annually on the first Friday and Saturday of February. The festival is divided into 2 parts. The first is the spectacular unmissable shows of these lovely massive creatures and Khantok Chang, where the pachyderms will be having a feast on Tok, a traditional food tray of the Lanna people. The latter is a human’s banquet with Lang Khantok Rice which of course everyone is welcome to join!
City Pillar Worship Ceremony
When: Febuary
Where: Lampang Provincial Hall, Amphoe Mueang
“City Pillar Worship Ceremory and Making Merits to the City” is the local tradition held every year by Lampang inhabitants. The festival features Buddhist rituals as well as Brahmin’s ones including extraordinary “Fon pee mod pee meng”, a local dance performance, believed to be a ritual to revere ancestor spirits in order to bring good luck to the city.
Lanna Style Wedding on Elephant-Back
When: March
Where: Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Amphoe Hang Chat
If you’re looking for an extraordinary way to tell the world that you and your loved one would be tying the knot, then how about a wedding on elephant’s back? Right here in Lampang province, Lanna Style Wedding on Elephant-back offers you once in a lifetime experience where on the special day, bride and groom, instead of getting to the venue for the wedding ceremony by car or foot, would then be mounting an elegantly decorated tusker, Thailand’s most auspicious animal, and slowly wandering down Lampang’s historical streets to be witnessed and envied by those spectators who are fortunate enough to get a glimpse of the lucky couples. This Lanna Style wedding ceremony is held with an aim to boost tourism of Lampang, to conserve, and disseminate Lanna culture and tradition as well as creating a strong bond between humans and elephants. This is also considered a great way to preserve these increasingly rare creatures and help prevent them from becoming extinct.
Dok Siew Blossom Festival
When: February
Where: Saew Ban yard, Pa Miang Village, Tambon Jae Son, Amphoe Mueang Pan
The festival features shows and performances reflecting local traditional lifestyle, folk music, traditional games, fair showcasing OTOP products and other interesting activities aiming to promote nature conservation tourism. Tour guides are also provided by locals who will be educating the visitors about ecotourism. Unmissable programmes are food sample event where you can have a taste of Yum Bai-Miang (type of plant), Yum Dok Siew (or type of flower called Orchid Tree/Purple Bauhinia), Mushroom Northern Sausage, to name a few, including the tour to explore the origin of Miang and mushroom processing as well as the art of weaving within Pa Miang Village.
Fish Eating Fair
When: March
Where: Park at Clock Tower 5 Aces
This annual fish festival boasts fish exhibition, beauty fish contest, beautiful fish box competition as well as a chance to sample a broad selection of food made of a various kinds of fish.
Lampang Trains and Horse Carriages Day
When: Beginning of April
Where: Lampang Main Railway Station, Amphoe Mueang
The festival is held every year to promote the tourism of Lampang and to commemorate the long-standing history of trains and horse carriages in the province as well as the arrival of first royal train to Nakhon Lampang Railway Station on 1 April 1916 in the reign of King Rama VI. For nearly a century, trains and horse carriages have played a vital role as main means of transportation in Lampang both for business and pleasure. The festival showcases Royal procession, historical exhibition about trains and horse carriages, Male and Female Cowboy Contest, Kat Mua Market where participants will be dressing up in the traditional style of costume from over 80 years ago, local cultural performance, OTOP products fair, travel and tour services including a variety of delicious local food such as Kao Lang Am-ma-ra and Sa-thok Kam. The carriage service is also provided in the event.
Klong Bu Ja Festival
When: April
Where: Ke-lang-nakorn Park, Amphoe Mueang
Not-to-be-missed programmes are spectacular “Klong-Bu-Ja” Drum Beating Contest, a “Klong-Bu-Ja” Drum Procession, cultural shows and performances including ones featuring Lanna (Northern style) local string musical instruments like Sa-law, Saw and Sueng.
Songkran and Royal Salung Procession
When: 12-14 April
Where: Amphoe Mueang
This annual legendary festival begins on 12 April with an elaborately decorated Royal Salung Procession (Salung means water bowl) along with its participants dressed in ancient Lanna style costume marching around the town whilst collecting from onlookers ‘Nam Ka-min Som-poi” (holy water used in Lanna/Northern religious ceremonies). The water received is then used to sprinkle onto, Pra-kaew-doi-tao, one of the most sacred Buddha images of Lampang enshired in Wat Pra That Lampang. Then on the 13th-14th, people enjoy other pleasurable activities like making merits at the temples, building sand pagoda as well as well-known water splashing fiesta (also with respected elders to ask for blessing). Other highlights include traditional show and entertainment and fair of local products.
Pineapple Fair
When: June
Where: Amphoe Mueang
The festival boasts Giant Pineapple Competition and annual Pineapple Beauty Queen Contest. Other highlights are also a fair selling a vast selection of processed products from Pineapple at attractive price as well as a contest for these products.
Mae Moh Walking Rally and Mini Half Marathon
When: August
Where: Lignite mine, Amphoe Mae Mo
This marathon is held every year at Mae Moh Lignite coal mine, the major coal resources of Lampang and Thailand. Take part in this event, get healthy and the visitors can also enjoy the stunning scenery in the area nearby the mine and a massive Mae Moh power station which boast spectacular landscape.
Luang Wiang Lakhon Fair
When: November
Where: Wat Pra Kaew Don Tao, Amphoe Mueang and Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, Amphe Ko Kha
Held annually before Loy Krathong festival, this festival put an emphasis on showcasing history and traditions of Lampang’s residents. Another highlight is also a famous marvelously decorated parade furnished with kitchen utensils like spoons, bowls, etc. This procession will also bring along food and home essentials for alms offering to the temples.
Long Sa Bao Jao Wiang La Korn Festival
When: November
Where: Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, Amphoe Ko Kha
The festival is held every year prior to Loy Krathong Festival at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the most sacred places of worship in Lampang. The festival features “Hae Borg Fai” event (same as “Boon-Bang-Fai” or “Rocket Festival” in Northeastern Thailand), drum beating contest (klong-bu-ja) and tons of light and sound entertainment at nightfall including Lanna style Khantok dinner (Khantok is Lanna traditional food tray).
Lampang Ceramic Fair
When: Every first Friday of December
Where: 4th Municipal Market, Amphoe Mueang
The 10-day event, Lampang Ceramic Fair, is held annually to bring together a wide selection of ceramics produced by over 300 factories that form the basis of the province’s impressive three-billion baht ceramics industry. The fair also serves as a one-stop shop for special priced diverse range of export quality ceramics as well as tableware, souvenirs and gift items of different grades. Included is also a vast variety of 4-star and 5-star community products from various sub-districts (Tambon) of Northern Thailand promoted under the “One Tambon, One Product” campaign (OTOP). Aside from a cultural procession on the first day of the event and a ceramic exhibition, other unmissable highlights are also Miss Ceramic Beauty Contest, a folk song contest, a traditional Northern Thai or Lanna-style musical ensemble featuring stringed musical instruments and a vast assortment of popular local dishes in a food garden.
Winter and Red Cross Fair
When: December
Where: Lampang Provincial Stadium, Amphoe Mueang
This annual festival showcases a wide variety of products from both government and public sectors at bargain rates, Miss Lampang Contest including various shows and performances which will keep you entertained throughout the event.