Chinese New Year 2027 lands on Saturday 6 February, and in Chiang Mai the celebrations gather around Warorot Market, the old trading heart of the city's Chinatown. This guide covers when to go, what you will see, how to manage the crowds with children, and how to fill the calmer daytime hours.
When is Chinese New Year in Chiang Mai in 2027?
Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February, which puts the start of the Year of the Goat on a weekend. Chiang Mai's official festival around Warorot Market usually runs over two days close to the new year itself. The exact programme is released nearer the time, so check local event listings in late January before you fix your plans.
The date moves each year because it follows the lunar calendar. In 2025, for example, the Warorot festival ran over two days, 29 and 30 January. A Saturday start in 2027 is good news for school-age families, since the busiest evening may fall on a weekend.
February also brings other events to the city. If you are staying for a week or more, our guide to the Chiang Mai Flower Festival helps you see whether the two overlap.
Where do the Chinese New Year celebrations happen in Chiang Mai?
The main celebrations take place at Warorot Market, known locally as Kad Luang, and the Chinatown streets around it. In recent years the opening parade has set off from Thapae Gate and moved towards the market, with officials, dancers and performers. Shops in the area hang red lanterns and gold decorations, and food stalls fill the surrounding lanes through the festival.
For the 2025 festival, the parade started at Thapae Gate and the opening was presided over by the city's mayor. Thapae Gate is easy to find and makes a sensible meeting point if your group splits up later in the evening.
If you would like to fold the market into a longer walk, our Old City half-day plan covers the temples and lanes on the way.
What happens at the Warorot festival?
Expect lion and golden dragon dances, light and sound shows and a Chinese cooking contest, based on recent programmes. Stalls sell festive food, red envelopes and decorations. The atmosphere peaks in the evening, when the lanterns are lit and the dancers weave through the crowd to the beat of drums.
Children tend to love the lion dances most. The performers snap the lion's jaws, climb on each other's shoulders and play to the audience, and the drumming carries through the whole market. The 2025 programme listed lion and golden dragon dances, light and sound shows and a cooking contest among its highlights.
The food is half the fun. Look for roast duck, sesame sweets and dried fruit sold in festive packaging, and let older children pick a snack each.
How do families handle the crowds at Warorot?
Arrive early, before the evening rush, and stand near the edges of the crowd so you have room to step away. Agree a meeting point such as Thapae Gate, write your phone number on young children's wrists, and pack ear protection for little ones who dislike loud drums or fireworks. Leaving before the busiest hour is often the happiest choice.
Pushchairs are hard work in the busiest lanes, so a baby carrier makes life easier with toddlers. Our guide to Chiang Mai with toddlers has more on pacing a day around naps and meals.
What can families do during the quieter daytime hours?
Daytime over Chinese New Year is calmer than the evenings, which makes it a good window for slower outings. A morning market walk, a long lunch and a shaded afternoon outdoors keep energy in reserve for the evening. A round of garden mini golf fits well here, as it takes about 1 to 2 hours and needs no booking.
A simple holiday day might look like this: a morning stroll through Warorot to see the decorations, lunch and a rest, then a relaxed afternoon somewhere green before heading back to Chinatown for the evening dances.
Mini Golf CNX works as that afternoon stop. The 18-hole course sits in a garden with shaded seating, and the lawn games give younger children something to do between holes. There are cold drinks, snacks and ice cream on site, so nobody needs to pack a picnic.
Mini Golf CNX at a glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Course | 18-hole garden mini golf in Chiang Mai |
| Opening hours | Every day, 09:00 to 18:00 |
| Booking | None needed, walk in |
| Time for a round | About 1 to 2 hours |
| Food and drink | Cold drinks, snacks and ice cream |
| Seating | Shaded garden seating |
| Lawn games | Cornhole, board games, frisbee |
| Groups and events | Welcome, message ahead so space is set aside |
If you are bringing extended family over the holiday, message ahead so space is set aside for your group.