Ghost Festival (Phi Ta Khon)
Combining religious traditions, local handicrafts and fun-loving party atmosphere, Phi Ta Khon is a 3-day festival that’s renowned for the colourful masks worn by thousands of locals. The masks are ghastly, stretched faces decorated in bright, gaudy colours. The origin of the festival is a mixture of animist and Buddhist beliefs. It's supposed to recreate the legend of when a party that was so fun, everyone wanted to attend – living or dead. The Ghost Festival is held on the weekend of the 6th full moon of the lunar calendar. It usually has the main parade on the Friday (dressing up as a ghost optional), with pageants and music on the Saturday and Buddhist ceremonies on the Sunday.
Located in Dan Sai Town in Loei Province, the Ghost Festival is quite hard to get to. It’s easiest from Udon Thani (a 3-hour bus journey) or Chiang Mai (5-hour bus journey). From Bangkok, buses leave from Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal about 5 times a day. It’s around a 7-hour journey. As Dan Sai is a small town, accommodation gets booked up quickly, so make sure you book your hotel or guesthouse early.
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