Sak Lek District – Festivals and Local Traditions

Sak Lek District is shaped by festivals and traditions held throughout the year. Songkran, Loy Krathong and other events each bring their own highlights—from traditional games and processions to competitions. If a particular occasion is guiding your travel plans, the dates of the events can help you choose a suitable time to visit.

Festivals Throughout the Year

The annual Songkran festival in Sak Lek takes place from 13 to 16 April. The program includes blessing older people with water and traditional folk games. The event thus combines a custom dedicated to older people with communal games. The fixed date range gives you a specific point of reference for planning an April visit.

The annual Loy Krathong festival follows the lunar calendar: it is celebrated on the 15th day of the twelfth lunar month, usually around November. The event includes a Krathong procession, a Krathong competition and entertainment programs. Since its date is tied to the lunar calendar, November is a guide, not a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar. Check the exact date for your intended travel year if Loy Krathong is important to your stay.

The Chinese shrine festival “งานงิ้วเจ้าพ่อสากเหล็ก เจ้าแม่ทับทิม” is held annually in December. A procession and a food fair are among the listed program highlights. In March, the annual festival “วันมะม่วงดัง มะปรางเด่น ของดีอำเภอสากเหล็ก” follows. It includes cooking competitions and traditional Muay Thai bouts. The two events therefore differ both in the time of year and in their described program highlights.

A Buddhist candle procession in Sak Lek is organized by government agencies, communities and schools. Another recurring annual event is the boat race on Khlong Noen Sai, held at the end of Buddhist Lent. Boats carrying five rowers each compete on behalf of eight communities. The location, timing and boat format give this competition its own character within the festival calendar.

A local origin story also shapes the image of Sak Lek: it traces the place name to a cargo boat carrying pestles that sank in Khlong Sarika. Alongside the recurring events, this story offers a different way to get to know the place—through a tale connecting Sak Lek with a boat, its cargo and the canal. For choosing when to travel, there are several options: Songkran in April, Loy Krathong, which takes place around November, and the festivals in March and December.

More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Phichit

The wider destination of Phichit offers more cultural and scenic attractions. The site of the old city, with its city walls, moats, ancient pagodas and Kanchanakuman Arboretum, has been preserved in Pichit Old City Park. The park is also home to the Phichit City Pillar Shrine and a statue of Phraya Khotabong, known locally as Pho Pu. Wat Mahathat also stands in the old city area. It is a registered ancient monument built of bricks, with a Ceylon-style stupa.

Bueng Si Fai is a destination for scenic attractions. The Princess Srinagarindra Garden covers 170 rai and is a lakeside recreational park; visitors often go there to feed the fish and watch the sunset. South of Bueng Si Fai lies Lotus Park, a place for visitors to learn about different lotus varieties. A bridge extends into the lake, offering a close-up view of red lotus flowers.

Phichit's food culture can also be explored at specific locations. At the nostalgic DongKlang Riverside community market, visitors can buy local produce and dishes, including grilled fish, chili paste with boiled vegetables, traditional sweets and herbal drinks. These regional cultural, natural and culinary destinations complement the festivals of Sak Lek District with other interests to explore in the wider destination of Phichit.

Discover more destinations: Sak Lek, Mueang Phichit District.

View the wider travel guide: Phichit.