Festivals & Events
All year around ! Many different rituals and festivals that take place in Luang Prabang and Laos.​​
JANUARY - MARCH
Wat Phou Festival
Held annually on the grounds of the enchanting pre-Angkorian remains of Wat Phou in Champasack. People come for prayer ceremonies and to enjoy the festivities. There is elephant racing, buffalo fighting, cock fighting and performances of Lao traditional music and dances.
Folk Art Festival
Artisans come from all over the country to show and sell their handicrafts. Located at Ock Pop Tok’s Living Crafts Centre - its a great chance to see the diversity of handicrafts and meet people from all over Laos.
April - may
Boun Pi Mai
Laos New Year Beginning in mid-April and lasting for three days. Held before the on-set of the rainy season, it’s a time to clean one’s buddhist altars and spirit house, over the years this has evolved into a water festival. It’s one of the most fun festivals to attend! Get ready to get wet!
Boun Bang Fai
May is hot and dry, so it’s time to send rockets into the sky to call for rain. Known as the rocket festival - see local engineering, fireworks and partying combined.
September
Boat Racing Festival
In the middle of Buddhist Lent, during a new moon, a day of boat races takes place on the Nam Khan River, in the center of town. People come from all over to see which village will win the race.
The day before, a large morning street market is held from the post office to the governor’s office. Boats and oars are blessed at each temple the morning of the races. Each village, each temple has a long boat carved from a singular tree trunk. Let the fun begin!
October
Boun Lai Heua Fai | Awk Pansa
Celebrated at the end of the rainy season in Luang Prabang. A fabulous parade is held on the main street and parties along the Mekong River. This is one of the most beautiful festivals, filled with magic and lights!
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Luang Prabang ​Half-Marathon
Charity race, run for children trough the beautiful Unesco World Heritage city of Luang Prabang. The hospital provides free medical care and health education for all Lao children and treats over 20,000 children a year, which addresses a pressing need created by poor infrastructure, mountainous terrain and widespread poverty.
November
Tat Luang Festival
That Luang is held each year in Vientiane in two locations over three days: Wat Si Muang the first evening and Pha That Luang (Big Stupa) the next two days. Considered the most important Theravada Buddhist festival in Laos.
Lao Handicraft Festival
The Lao Handicraft Association hosts its annual festival in Vientiane to showcase both traditional and modern handmade products crafted by the association's members and artisans from around Laos. Featuring silk and cotton items, bamboo, rattan, silver jewellery, pottery, mulberry paper, and more.
December
Kin Chiang - Hmong New Year
The Hmong people, celebrate the past year’s harvest and new lunar year with a week-long festival featuring music, dance and special foods. This is an excellent time to see traditional dress, festive textiles, silver jewelry and traditional musical instruments.
Blue Chair Film Festival
Founded in 2010, it is a non-profit film festival and cultural organization, which aims to develop the Southeast Asian film industry. At the start of every December, the former royal capital of Laos transforms into a theater. A huge open air screen venue in the centre of town shows the films - it’s free for all.​​