Chiang Mai Flower Festival (Thai: มหกรรม ไม้ ดอกไม้ ประดับ จังหวัด เชียงใหม่) is an annual event celebrating flowers and ornamental plants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The festival lasts three days and begins on the first weekend of February to mark the end of the cool season.^[1] Yellow and white chrysanthemums, and damask roses, a variety of flowers found only in Chiang Mai, are displayed.^[2]

Flower Festival parade

The Flower Festival Parade typically begins early Saturday morning and can continue into the afternoon or evening. The flower parade lines up along Charoen Muang Road from the Nawarat Bridge to the train station. At 16:00, the parade starts and moves up Tha Phae Road to Tha Phae Gate. It then turns left and follows the moat around to Suan Buak Hat. Typically, the flower parade moves very slowly and stops frequently. Western-style marching bands from local schools and local drumming groups are interspersed among the floats. Dancers in traditional costumes perform Thai dances, and those taking part in the flower parade hand out flowers to the spectators.

Miss Chiang Mai Flower Festival

Many of the girls atop the decorated floats and carriages seen in the flower parade are candidates for the Miss Chiang Mai Flower Festival competition. By late afternoon the process of choosing the Chiang Mai Flower Festival Queen from these candidates begins, during which a party takes place where loud rock music is played, and liquid refreshments are served. This continues until the evening when the Flower Festival Queen is chosen.