Experience the best of Lanna culture at the Chiang Mai Ethnic Market

If you want to understand what Songkran actually means beyond the water guns and parties, this is the weekend event to attend. The fourth edition of the Chiang Mai Ethnic Market runs April 4-5 at LAN DIN in Rampoeng, exploring the shared traditions of the Thai and Myanmar New Year water festival through delicious food, culture, workshops and traditional ceremonies.

Over the course of two days expect a bustling market of independents and workshops making traditional snacks and crafts – including khanom tom, khanom tien and the traditional Lanna flag, tung. For a more in-depth dive into what the water festival is really about, stick around for the second day where cultural speakers from the Rak Lanna Group, the Myanmar Culture Association and Chiang Mai University take the stage, followed by a water pouring ceremony and traditional music and performances. This event will remind you that Songkran is so much more than just a water fight and a perfectly spiritual way to get into things a little ahead of schedule.

April 4-5. Free entry. LAN DIN. From 11am daily