A Little Craftsmanship… How to Visit Bo Sang, Town of a Thousand Umbrellas

Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon

Hot mid-day sunshine baked the streets and cast a white glare over everything. With the sun high overhead, the umbrellas popped in full color. A riot of rich reds and lush purples spilled into the streets.

Unlike some Thai festivals, where the crush of bodies becomes unbearable, Bo Sang’s annual Umbrella Festival is an intimate, gorgeous, and quaint occasion. Located just a bit outside of Chiang Mai—a tourist hotspot and my temporary home—Bo Sang is unexpectedly cute.

The town is small enough that I paused when leaving the songthaew, a local form of transportation. At first glance, I wasn’t sure the driver had dropped me in the right spot! Although it was surprisingly quiet, the extensive parasol decorations brightly lit my way into town, which develops a bit as you walk further from the highway and into the center of Bo Sang.

Once I looked closely, it was silly to have missed that this is clearly the home to northern Thailand’s annual umbrella festival. The parasols covering the entrance indicate that hand-crafted parasols are a deep part of this town’s identity. They serve as both a resume and testament to the skill of these artisans. Within seconds of passing under the gates, it’s glaringly apparent that handcrafted parasols and umbrellas have put this town on the map.

The art of umbrella-making in Bo Sang is believed to have originated over a century ago, and has been honed to perfection. You can visit specifically for the festival, or easily visit on a half-day trip outside of Chiang Mai.

History of Bo Sang as an Umbrella Village

These gorgeous umbrellas pose an intriguing question for the curious. In a land of rice paddies and a culture long emphasizing agriculture for survival, how did Bo Sang develop into this anomaly?

There is a beautiful craftsmanship and artistic flare in the umbrellas, showing a range of skills and creativity that indicate that this entire town has embraced the art form. What’s more, from my research this is the only town like it in Thailand.

There are certainly other towns where the locals retain a specific craft. But if you want a handcrafted parasol with delicately painted floral patterns and landscapes, you go to Bo Sang, Thailand.

The town is dwarfed in size by nearby Chiang Mai. Bo Sang’s big brother is perched a mere six miles away, but Bo Sang Village holds a very different personality. None of the wares are marked with a “made in China” sticker.

Instead, I walked up to an umbrella artisan and could ask their story, learn their history. As I walked through the town’s main street, I saw dozens and dozens of artisans concentrating on the delicate work it takes to create these beautiful designs.

These traditional umbrellas are made from Saa paper, which is processed from mulberry bark. Beyond that, historical information is scarce.

According to local lore, a revered monk named Phra Inthaa introduced the craft to the village after encountering beautifully crafted umbrellas during a pilgrimage near the Burmese border. Recognizing the potential, he taught the villagers the art, leading to Bo Sang’s renown in umbrella craftsmanship.

Villagers focus on umbrella-making every autumn after the harvest festival was celebrated at the Loy Krathong Lantern Festival.

When is the Bo Sang Umbrella Festival?

While Bo Sang Village is open to travelers year-round, the highlight is the annual Bo Sang Umbrella and San Kamphaeng Handicrafts Festival, traditionally held on the third weekend of January.

In 2026, the Umbrella Festival is not yet confirmed but should take place Jan 16-18.

Umbrella Festival Schedule

During the festival, arrive in the afternoon to appreciate the umbrellas in daylight and stay into the evening for the illuminated displays. The village comes alive with a myriad of activities:​

• Opening Ceremony & Parades: The festivities kick off with a grand opening ceremony, featuring cultural parades where women in traditional Lanna attire cycle down Bo Sang-Doi Saket Road, elegantly holding the iconic parasols.
• Miss Bo Sang Beauty Pageant: A highlight of the event is the beauty contest, where contestants showcase traditional costumes and the exquisite umbrellas, culminating in the crowning of Miss Bo Sang. ​
• Artisan Demonstrations & Workshops: Visitors can witness firsthand the meticulous process of umbrella-making, from crafting the bamboo frames to painting intricate designs on saa paper. Workshops offer a hands-on experience for those interested in trying their hand at this traditional craft. ​
• Cultural Performances & Night Bazaar: Evenings are filled with traditional music, dance performances, and a vibrant night market where local handicrafts and delicacies are available.

The Bo Sang Beauty Pageant Bike Parade gave me a real giggle to see these beautiful Thai women ride through the streets with their stop-light red parasols, their bikes so new the wrapping was still on them! Each woman smiled big as she passed through the streets. There is also festival food, dancing and performances, and a host of other activities that make for an entertaining day.

Visiting Bo Sang on a Day Trip

If you’re visiting Bo Sang as a day trip throughout the year, start your wander at the Umbrella Making Centre, which was founded in 1977 . There you can watch the entire fascinating process unfold in real time.

Travelers most often purchase an umbrella as a souvenir, but locals use them as parasols in the sun, or even as traditional umbrellas in light rain since the delicate paper is coated with special water-repellant oils.

The Bo Sang Umbrella village is quaint and cute and a surprising slice of sunshine, color, and craftsmanship. If you’re in town, it’s an easy way to pass a couple of hours and to escape the noisiness of Chiang Mai!

How to Get to Bo Sang from Chiang Mai

Bo Sang is located a solid 25 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand by white songthaew or motorbike. You can view it on the map here.

If you don’t know how to use the songthaew system, I have a thorough guide to using transportation in Thailand here.

Get to Bo Sang by Songthaew

From Chiang Mai’s Warorot Market (Kad Luang), board a white songthaew heading towards Bo Sang. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and costs around 20-30 baht. Some songthaew won’t be traveling in that direction, so you might have ask a few!

The white songthaew will drop you at the intersection of roads 106 and 1014, and you will then need to walk a small bit to get into the heart of town. To leave, wait on the opposite side of the road and flag down a passing white songthaew—they are all heading to Chiang Mai.

Get to Bo Sang by Tuk-Tuk or Scooter

For a more direct route, consider hiring a tuk-tuk or renting a scooter. The village is about 10 kilometers southeast of Chiang Mai’s Old City, making for a short and scenic ride.

Tips for Enjoying the Festival

You can buy very small umbrellas, which make beautiful souvenirs. Kitty-corner to the festival street is an array of food stalls with cheap, fresh local food (35-60 baht a meal).

Bring sunscreen and a water-bottle as it’s hot and there is not a lot of shade in Bo Sang (of course, you can also easily buy a parasol while there).