Experience the spellbinding charms of Thailand’s lantern festival

The Lantern Festival of Thailand, colloquially known as the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, is one of the most popular and eye-catching events in Southeast Asia. It is celebrated in November when the full moon of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar year appears in full glory.

On the day of festivity, tourists and locals gather in large numbers to witness a parade of luminous paper lanterns or Khom Loi floating skyward in an ethereal procession. (Unsplash)Visitors are encouraged to dress up in formal attire, preferably white to complement the solemnity of the festival.

Published on:

28 Oct 2023, 10:47 am

On the day of festivity, tourists and locals gather in large numbers to witness a parade of luminous paper lanterns or Khom Loi floating skyward in an ethereal procession. The vision of lambent paper lanterns ascending against the backdrop of a calm night sky is truly a surreal experience and can be enjoyed in a few locations across Thailand.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival is celebrated in a grand fashion with dedicated viewing platforms, food stalls, souvenir shops, and even cultural exhibitions that demonstrate the history of Lanna tribes and the origin of the festival. Visitors are encouraged to dress up in formal attire, preferably white to complement the solemnity of the festival.

Here are some of the best lantern festival celebrations one can attend in Thailand this year:

Yee Peng Lanna International 2023

Venue: Lanna Dhutanga, located next to Mae Jo University, Sansai, Chiang Mai

Date: November 27, 2023

Ticket Tiers: Standard and Premium

Additional Perks: Food Stalls, Souvenir Shops and Cultural Exhibitions

Chiang Mai CAD Khom Loy Sky Lantern Festival (Eco-Friendly Sky Lanterns)

Venue: CAD Cultural Centre Lanna Ethnicity, A, Ban Sa Ha Khon Moo 1T, On Klang, Mae On, Chiang Mai