Sichon District in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province offers a rich calendar of cultural celebrations that showcase the authentic southern Thai way of life. Throughout the year, this coastal community hosts traditional festivals and modern events that bring together locals and visitors in joyful celebration. Whether you’re staying at Banyan Tree Residences Sichon or exploring the area, these vibrant gatherings provide genuine insights into local customs, seafood culture, and Buddhist traditions.
Famous events in Sichon that you should attend:
• Sichon Seafood Festival Event
• Hin Ngam Community Tourism Activity
• Sichon Beach Festival Event
• Merit-Making Festival and Community Temple Fair
• Annual Buddhist Merit-Making Festival
• Traditional Tenth Month Festival
• Traditional Sea and Land Procession Festival
• Year-End Festival and New Celebration
Sichon Seafood Festival Event | January-February
The Sichon Seafood Festival celebrates the district’s fishing heritage and culinary excellence during peak tourist season from January through February. Local restaurants and seafood vendors set up stalls along Sichon Beach, creating a gastronomic paradise showcasing fresh catches and regional specialties. This waterfront event combines outstanding cuisine with cultural performances and community spirit.
Visitors can sample signature dishes prepared by local chefs while learning about traditional cooking methods. The festival emphasises sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation, making it both educational and delicious. Live entertainment and beachside atmosphere make this Sichon Event a highlight of the tourism calendar, drawing food enthusiasts from across the region.
Hin Ngam Community Tourism Activity | March
March brings special focus to community-based tourism through the ‘Hin Ngam Experience’ program at Sichon Beach. This initiative invites visitors to explore local lifestyle, traditional crafts, and authentic village culture. Participants can join guided activities that showcase the genuine character of coastal communities while supporting local artisans through OTOP product purchases.
Walking tours lead through fishing villages where visitors observe daily routines, learn about boat-building traditions, and understand the relationship between communities and the sea. This Sichon Event creates meaningful connections between travellers and locals, offering experiences that go beyond typical sightseeing to reveal the heart of southern Thai coastal life.
Sichon Beach Festival Event | April (Songkran / Thai New Year Period)
The Sichon Beach Festival transforms Hin Ngam Beach and Sichon Nai Beach into a vibrant celebration ground around April, coinciding with Thailand’s traditional New Year. This large-scale event features beauty pageants, beach sports competitions, folk art performances, and evening concerts that keep the festive energy flowing from morning until late night.
Cultural demonstrations showcase traditional southern Thai arts while food vendors offer regional delicacies and fresh seafood. The festival also includes the Songkran water blessing ceremony where younger generations pour scented water over elders’ hands as a sign of respect. This blend of ancient customs and modern entertainment makes it one of the most popular Sichon Event celebrations, attracting visitors from neighbouring provinces.
Merit-Making Festival and Community Temple Fair | April (Songkran / Thai New Year Period)
During the three-day Songkran holiday from April 13-15, communities throughout Sichon organise merit-making ceremonies and temple fairs. Every temple becomes a centre of activity where people make offerings, receive blessings, and participate in traditional water blessing rituals. The sacred Nang Dan procession adds cultural richness to the celebrations.
These temple gatherings strengthen community bonds through shared religious practice and festive activities. Vendors sell traditional foods and local products while families reunite to honour their heritage. This Sichon Event emphasises the spiritual foundation of Thai culture and welcomes respectful visitors to observe authentic Buddhist traditions.
Annual Buddhist Merit-Making Festival | June-July
From June through July, temples across Sichon District host significant Buddhist ceremonies marking important dates in the religious calendar. Communities prepare elaborate offerings and participate in candlelit processions that create magical evening atmospheres. These observances include Visakha Bucha Day and the beginning of Buddhist Lent, when monks enter their three-month rainy season retreat.
Devotees bring flowers, incense, and candles as they walk in meditation around temple ordination halls. The flickering lights and chanting voices create deeply moving experiences that reflect centuries of unbroken tradition. This extended period of religious observance offers multiple opportunities to witness authentic Buddhist practice in this Sichon Event season.
Traditional Tenth Month Festival | September
September hosts the Sart Duan Sip ceremony at Hin Ngam Beach and Sichon Nai Beach, one of southern Thailand’s most significant Buddhist traditions. This tenth lunar month festival involves preparing elaborate traditional sweets like khnom pong, khnom la, khnom kong, and khnom ba to honour deceased relatives and make merit.
Markets overflow with festival ingredients as grandmothers teach younger generations time-honoured recipes. The ceremonial ‘receiving and sending of ancestors’ creates emotional moments as families symbolically welcome and bid farewell to ancestral spirits. This Sichon Event provides deep cultural immersion through participation in religious customs and traditional food preparation.
Traditional Sea and Land Procession Festival | October (After Buddhist Lent)
October brings one of Sichon’s most spectacular traditions following the end of Buddhist Lent. The Lak Phra ceremony unfolds in two versions: coastal communities pull ornately decorated boats carrying Buddha images from temples to the sea, while inland areas organise Chak Phra processions that pull ceremonial floats through village streets using human power alone.
These parallel celebrations at temples including Wat Sao Thong Thong and Wat Sichon feature colourful boats adorned with flowers and fabrics, accompanied by traditional long drum rhythms. Shadow puppet theatre (Nang Talung) and Manora dance performances add entertainment to the spiritual proceedings. The sight of entire communities working together to pull sacred vessels demonstrates the unity and devotion that defines this major Sichon Event.
Year-End Festival and New Year Celebration | December
December brings the year-end festival celebrating community achievements and welcoming the approaching New Year. Sichon Beach comes alive with entertainment, local performances, and community gatherings that reflect on the past year while looking forward with optimism. Families stroll along the illuminated beachfront enjoying food vendors and musical performances.
This festive atmosphere combines modern celebration with traditional values as communities come together in appreciation and hope. The Sichon Event creates joyful closure to the annual festival calendar while building anticipation for the new cycle of celebrations beginning with the Seafood Festival in January.
Planning Your Visit Around Sichon Events
Understanding the festival calendar helps maximize your Sichon experience throughout 2025. Peak tourist season from December through February offers the best weather and coincides with the famous Seafood Festival. However, visiting during traditional ceremonies like the October boat processions or September ancestor worship provides deeper cultural insights into authentic southern Thai traditions.
Booking accommodation well in advance becomes essential during major festivals when properties fill quickly. Banyan Tree Residences Sichon provides comfortable accommodations perfectly positioned for festival participation. The beachfront location offers convenient access to most celebrations while providing peaceful retreat space between events.
Respectful participation enhances your festival experience. Dress modestly when visiting temples by covering shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering sacred spaces, and maintain quiet during ceremonies. Most communities warmly welcome visitors who show genuine interest in their traditions. Consider bringing small offerings when attending temple events as a gesture of respect and cultural sensitivity.
The year-round diversity of celebrations means Sichon always offers engaging experiences. From grand beach festivals to intimate temple ceremonies, from traditional boat processions to modern food celebrations, these events paint a complete picture of southern Thai coastal culture. Many festivals also incorporate contemporary elements like the Thailand Beach Teqball competition, showing how Sichon successfully blends tradition with innovation to create memorable experiences for all visitors.
