Bo Sang Umbrella Festival, 3rd week in January

Bo Sang is a small town in Thailand, known for the Umbrellas it makes.  They hold a festival every year during the third week (I think I probably did not get the right dates but this is close to the right time).

The umbrellas are made of paper or silk and range in size from the little ones you find in drinks to very large.  I found a very good write up on the festival by Shannon at A Little Adrift.  She was able to find a little more about the history and is a good read.

There is a parade and beauty pageant as well as souvenirs to buy. The umbrellas are apparently very high quality as well as being very pretty. It is very interesting that a town in Thailand would specialize in a product like this and has done so for at least 100 years.

Links: http://www.bangkok101.com/2013/01/14/bor-sang-umbrella-festival/

http://www.thailand.com/travel/festival/festivals_chiangmai_umbrella.htm