Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade goes global stage

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is elevating the Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade to international prominence under its Signature Event Thailand initiative. The five-day illuminated heritage festival will take place from 20–24 December 2025 in Tha Rae Municipality, Sakon Nakhon, featuring enhanced creative programming, immersive lighting installations, and cultural storytelling designed to engage international audiences while delivering sustainable economic benefits to local communities.

With a history spanning more than a century, the Christmas Star Parade is one of Thailand’s most distinctive Christian cultural traditions. Inspired by the Star of Bethlehem, the procession reflects the spiritual heritage, craftsmanship, and collective identity of Tha Rae’s historic Christian community and has become a defining cultural landmark of Northeastern Thailand.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of TAT, said the festival represents a powerful example of community-based cultural tourism. The enhanced programme aims to present the parade’s unique heritage to global audiences while ensuring meaningful participation and benefits for local residents.

For the 2025 edition, TAT has integrated contemporary creative elements that complement the festival’s spiritual foundations. These include illuminated installations at key heritage sites such as the Cathedral of St Michael the Archangel, drone light shows, AI-powered photo experiences, sustainability-focused workshops, and hands-on creative activities for visitors of all ages. The programme also features walking streets, cultural performances, local cuisine, indigo textile showcases, and community-led heritage experiences.

The central highlight takes place on 23 December, with the grand illuminated star procession, followed by Christmas performances, cultural ceremonies, and a special drone light show. On 24 December, the festival concludes with a traditional Christmas Eve observance, including a sacred handheld star procession and Christmas Mass.

Through this initiative, TAT aims to strengthen global awareness of Thailand’s cultural diversity and position the Sakon Nakhon Christmas Star Parade alongside the country’s most internationally recognised cultural festivals, reinforcing Thailand’s role as a destination for meaningful, community-rooted cultural experiences.