Chiang Mai Flower Festival, first weekend Feb, a three-day carnival that attracts huge crowds, who come to see the procession of giant floats modelled into animals and chedis, decorated with flowers. There are also folk music and cultural performances. Festivities are centred on Buak Hat Park in the southwest corner of the city
Poy Sang Long, early Apr, is an ordination ritual for young Shan men, who dress extravagantly to be paraded through town on the shoulders of relatives before symbolically throwing off their floral headdresses to don more sober saffron robes, Wat Pa Pao and around
Songkhran (Thai New Year), 13-15 Apr, Chiang Mai is considered one of the best places in Thailand to see in the Thai New Year. Giant communal, chaotic water fights take place along each side of the moat and act as extended rain dances during the driest part of the year
Inthakin, late May or early Jun, this festival is designed to prolong the life of the city and is focused around the city's foundation pillar, where locals make offerings to ensure the arrival of the monsoon, Wat Chedi Luang
Loi Krathong (Yipeng), over full moon in Nov, fireworks are launched from the bank of the River Ping whilst thousands of candles are floated downstream on lotus-leaf boats and paper hot-air balloons are set free above it as people try to float away sins or bad luck they may have incurred