Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival), Yasothon

The Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival in Yasothon launches over 1,000 homemade rockets into the sky each May, a raucous plea for rain that dates back centuries. Teams compete with bamboo-and-gunpowder missiles reaching heights of 10 kilometers, and the best rockets earn cash prizes of up to 100,000 baht. This event is 40% louder than the average Thai festival, thanks to nonstop drumming and firecrackers, and its sheer absurdity rivals the Elephants Round-Up in Surin for crowd engagement. The three-day party includes parades, beauty pageants, and a rain-making dance performed by villagers in exaggerated costumes.