Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai: Best Guide

Last year, I had the pleasure of attending the Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, and boy, was it a magical and unique experience!

This guide covers everything you need to know for this year’s celebrations. The Lantern Festival is fast approaching again in 2024. This year, the festival will take place on November 15th and 16th, and I can’t wait to attend again this year!

You’ve seen the videos and images online, many illuminated lanterns lighting up the sky, making for a beautiful, unique visual one must experience in person, it’s definitely a bucket list item!

The traditional Thai name for the festival is Yi Peng Lantern Festival, but everyone else refers to it as the Lantern Festival.

The Lantern Festival is a special and significant two days for those practicing Buddhism and an exciting, fun, and spiritual experience for all, regardless of your personal beliefs!

What is the Lantern Festival?

The Lantern Festival is a traditional Buddhist festival celebrated in various parts of Thailand but is most celebrated in Chiang Mai.

Buddhists, particularly those who follow Mahayana Buddhism, typically celebrate Yi Peng as part of their religious practices.

The celebration is a form of spiritual offering, where paper lanterns are released into the sky. The lanterns symbolize enlightenment and represent a way for individuals to express their desire for blessings and devotion.

Releasing a lantern into the sky symbolizes letting go of negative elements, such as bad luck or misfortune in one’s life, and making wishes for good fortune, happiness, and prosperity.

As you stroll the streets of Chiang Mai on both days of the festival, you’ll spot vibrant parades, lanterns in the sky, people gathering at Tha Phae Gate, fireworks, and more. It is one of Thailand’s most visually stunning and culturally significant events.

Below I’ve shared the best places to celebrate the festival when visiting!

Doi Saket Lakes

Doi Saket Lakes is a spacious park located about 30 to 40 minutes outside of Chiang Mai and is one of the best spots to celebrate the festival, which has been held here for many years.

At this location, you’ll witness a vibrant atmosphere as locals and tourists release lanterns throughout the night, enjoy fireworks, and admire the festival decorations that adorn the expansive park.

Additionally, a lively night market offers a variety of food and drinks to enhance your experience.

If you plan to visit Doi Saket, it’s advisable to leave early, as traffic can be heavy on both festival nights, leading to quite a hectic journey.

Alternatively, you can join a Lantern Festival Doi Saket tour, which includes transportation, food, and lanterns to release. Roundtrip tours to Doi Saket Lakes cost around 2,400 to 3,600 Baht, including food and everything you need to celebrate.

These tours are available for purchase a few days before the event, both online and at local tour agencies around the city. I attended one of the Doi Saket Tours last year, it was a fun and convenient way to celebrate!

Note: There is no scheduled lantern release at the park, here visitors at Doi Saket spontaneously release lanterns throughout the evening.

One Release Events

Another popular way to celebrate the festival is attending one of the many one-release events. These gatherings are particularly favored because they create a spectacular sky display, as all the lanterns are released simultaneously.

These events have a slightly formal atmosphere. Participants are first taken to a designated area outside the city to enjoy dinner, and attendees usually dress up. Then, preparations for the big lantern release begin.

The only downside to one-release events is that they are expensive, ranging between 4,500 and 6,000 Thai Baht.

Nawarat Bridge

Walking to Nawarat Bridge, located on the eastern side of Chiang Mai, is a convenient way to experience the Lantern Festival if you’d rather stay in the city.

Here, both locals and tourists will be lighting lanterns, and the bridge and nearby streets will be closed to allow attendees to stroll around and enjoy the night market and festival decorations.

Tha Phae Gate

Another popular spot in the city to enjoy the festivities is Tha Phae Gate, recognized as Chiang Mai’s most prominent landmark.

Here, you’ll find a vibrant mix of locals and tourists enjoying traditional performances, indulging in delicious local food, and soaking in the festive atmosphere.

This is also where the Lantern Festival’s opening ceremony takes place the night before the two-day festival on November 14th, 2024.

Three Kings Monument

The Three Kings Monument is situated in the heart of the Old City in Chiang Mai, within a spacious square that’s perfect for festival gatherings.

At this location, you’ll discover vendors offering food and decorative goods, along with many people coming together to participate in the evening festivities.

TIP: If you’re not attending an organized event and prefer to explore one of the many free locations around Chiang Mai, you can purchase lanterns for release from street vendors or in advance at Warorot Market (Kad Luang).

How do Locals Celebrate

In addition to releasing lanterns, Thai people also participate in various activities during the Yi Peng festival.

Celebrations include attending religious ceremonies at temples throughout the city, making offerings to monks, meditating, and engaging in acts of kindness towards others.

Fireworks can be spotted being set off all over the city, especially in areas where organized events are.

You’ll spot many locals close their eyes and place their hands together once they’ve released their lantern into the sky. At this moment, they’ll think of wishes they wish to come true in the near future.

It’s said that if the lantern you release stays lit and disappears into the dark sky, good fortune is on its way into your life!

At times, when tourists can be intrusive to locals during the Lantern Festival celebrations, I noticed this firsthand last year. Please be mindful of those taking part in their religious practice.

The Lantern Festival not only showcases Thailand’s rich cultural heritage but also promotes unity among its people. It attracts both locals and tourists who come together to celebrate this magical event filled with beauty and spirituality.

Final Thoughts

The Lantern Festival offers a remarkable opportunity to experience Thai culture at its finest through breathtaking visuals and deep spiritual significance. I couldn’t put into words how amazing it was to experience the festival in person.

However, the fact that I’m going back for a second year in a row should say a lot on its own!

Last year, I attended the festival at the Doi Saket Lakes due to its popularity. This year, I plan to consider attending one of the one-release events to experience the festival differently!

I’m still considering it because the one-release events are quite touristy, which sort of defeats the feeling of authentically celebrating the festival, however, the image of all the lanterns in the sky at once is making me debate it!

TIP: Don’t forget to bring a lighter to light your lantern, many people forget and end up asking others to borrow one. It’s always best to come prepared!

Happy & Safe Travels

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