Chiang Mai Flower Festival

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival takes place on the first weekend of February. The flower beds in public spaces all around the town are especially beautiful at this time of the year. Everywhere there can be found gorgeous displays of yellow and white chrysanthemums, and the Damask rose—a variety found only in Chiang Mai. Also, the pink and purplish Dendrobium orchids and the yellow Daoruang. The real focus of this Chiang Mai festival, however, is the public garden of Suan Buak Haad on the south-western corner of the moat. In some ways, the best part of the festival is the flower parade. The gaily decorated floats, pretty girls, and hill tribe people in their colourful costumes move very slowly down the streets and stop frequently. Dancers in traditional costumes perform Thai dances, and those taking part in the flower parade hand out roses to spectators.