Phi Ta Kon Museum ~ Dan Sai

Dan Sai’s ubiquitous Phi Ta Kon mask and costume (outside the Phi Ta Kon Museum)

The main tourist draw for the city of Dan Sai, in Loei province, is the annual Phi Ta Kon festival. And although the festival only takes place in early summer (June or July usually), it’s hard to escape the year-round “Phi Ta Kon” branding exercise that this city exhibits. The ubiquitous Phi Ta Kon masks and costumes are everywhere! It verges on overkill to be truthful, but I guess you have to run with what you’ve got when trying to attract the tourist dollar.

Phi Nam Kon Festival ~ Chiang Khan, Loei

Phi Nam Kon Festival – music, masks, and mirth

Don’t confuse Phi Nam Kon with Phi Ta Kon, which is Loei’s other, more famous ghost festival. The name of this festival — Phi Nam Kon — means something like “spirit who carries water” or some such (it’s meant to bring good rains for the growing season). But what’s most important is that, in true Thai fashion, it’s a loud, noisy, colourful festival which everyone can get involved in (young, old, male, female, or other). The costumes are all homemade, the masks are elaborately painted and bedecked with ribbons, and the drums are made from old vinyl packaging stretched over I don’t know what.