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The Phi Ta Khon festival is the biggest attraction to the otherwise sleepy farming village of Dan Sai, nestled in the mountains of Loei province of northeastern Thailand. The event is peculiar to Dan Sai, but does combine elements of other Isaan festivals, such as the rocket festivals to bring rain. Although pinning down the dates of Phi Ta Khon was once an issue, with the village elders only naming the dates a few weeks beforehand, the festival is now fixed at the first weekend after the sixth full moon.

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Saturday 16th June 2018
(Phra Upakut Invocation and Cultural Ceremony)

4:00 a.m.– Invocation of Pra Upakut: Procession from Phon-Chai Temple to Mun and Sork River.
6:00 a.m.– Food Offerings to Monks at Phon-Chai Temple.
8:30 a.m.– Ba- Si (Summoning of Spirits) Ceremony at Chao Pho Kuan’s House.
10:00 a.m.– Cultural Ceremony at Phon-Chai Temple by Dan Sai Sheriff. Gathering for Phi Ta Khon procession and competitions among groups marching along Keaw Asa Road.
11:00 a.m.– Performances on the stage in front of Dan Sai District Office.

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Sunday 17th June 2018
(Official Opening Ceremony and the Grand Phi Ta Khon Parade)

10:00 a.m.– Grand opening ceremony by Loei Governor in front of Dan Sai District Office.
– All parades move from Dan Sai District Office to Phon-Chai Temple.
1.00 p.m. – Performances on the stage in front of Dan Sai District Office.
– Phi Ta Khon competition (Final round).
3:00 p.m.– Ba- Si (Summoning of Spirits) Phra Wet at Chao Pho Kuan’s House.
3:30 p.m.– Phra Wet parade led by Chao Pho Kuan and Chao-Mae Nang Tiem to Phon- Chai Temple to make merit and firing of the Bamboo rockets.
– Phi Ta Khon mask discarding ceremony at Wang-wern pier, Phon-Chai Temple
7:00 p.m. – Buddhist sermons at Phon-Chai Temple.

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Monday 18th June 2018
( Buddhist sermons– No Phi Ta Khon Dancing )

4:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. – 13 consecutive Buddhist sermons at Phon-Chai Temple
Parading of consecutive Buddhist sermons of all villages in Dan Sai District