Chiang Mai is gearing up for its annual festival season, and this year, the Loy Krathong and Yee Peng Lantern Festivals will take place on November 15th and 16th, 2024. These two magical festivals are a highlight of the year for both locals and visitors alike.

During the festival period, there will be several large-scale sky lantern events happening throughout Chiang Mai. If you want to experience the breathtaking sight of thousands of lanterns floating into the night sky, make sure to get your tickets early, as they tend to sell out quickly.

Here are five events in Chiang Mai that you can attend to make your festival experience truly unforgettable.

The Chiangmai CAD Khomloy Sky Lantern Festival 2024 is the largest and grandest sky lantern release event in Chiang Mai.

The festival is held at a spacious compound in Mae On district, about 35 kilometers outside of Chiang Mai city center. It takes place over two days, on November 15th and 16th, 2024.

Visitors can expect to arrive at the venue in the late afternoon, just before sunset. Your ticket includes round-trip transportation (note: cheaper ticket may exclude transportation) to and from the festival site, a buffet dinner, and sky lanterns. The festival is a celebration of Northern Thai culture, offering a variety of Thai food, cultural performances, and activities like Thai massage. The food options cater to all dietary needs.

The festival features cultural and traditional on-stage performances, followed by prayers by monks. The highlight of the event is the mass sky lantern release, where thousands of lanterns are released into the sky to symbolize the release of worries and negative energy, as well as hope, prosperity, and renewal. You can buy ticket here. (purchase link temporarily removed, probably Sold Out)

The Yee Peng Lanna International, established in 2013, is the oldest, and the original sky lantern event in Chiang Mai. It’s likely that the captivating videos and photos you’ve seen online of thousands lanterns filling the sky come from this event.

This year, the event will take place on November 15th and 16th at the Lanna Dhutanka temple grounds, located behind Maejo University, about 18 kilometers from Chiang Mai city center. Despite being the second-largest sky lantern festival in the city, it consistently attracts a crowd of around 3,000 people each night.

Organized by a Buddhist group, the event places a strong emphasis on the spiritual and religious aspects of the tradition, including chanting and meditation led by monks. The ticket price may, or may not (depends on ticket type and price tiers), includes transportation to and from the event venue, lanterns, and a dinner set. You can purchase tickets here.

The Heaven Lantern Thailand 2024 is another sky lantern event that will take place on November 15th and 16th, 2024. The event will be held at Suan Sawan (The Garden), located in the mountainous Mae Taeng District of Chiang Mai, approximately 45 kilometers away from the city center.

This event is a celebration of Northern Thailand’s (Lanna) cultural heritage. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience authentic local cuisine, admire the craftsmanship of local artisans, and enjoy traditional performances by local tribes.

The Heaven Lantern Thailand 2024 offers a more intimate and local experience compared to other sky lantern events in Chiang Mai. The event is held in a natural setting, closer to the visitors, providing a more relaxed and forest-like atmosphere.

The ticket price includes transportation to and from the venue, meals, and a sky lantern. You can purchase the ticket here.

For 15th and 16th November 2024, the Loy Krathong and Sky Lantern Festival at Horizon Village Chiang Mai is a more intimate experience compared to other lantern events in Chiang Mai, yet it still attracts a significant crowd of around a thousand people. This smaller scale contributes to a much more cheaper ticket price.

Horizon Village Resort Chiang Mai is conveniently located just outside the city center, in the Doi Saket district. It’s about a 15-kilometer drive or a 25-minute journey from Chiang Mai city center.

The ticket price for the event includes a buffet dinner, a lantern, and admission to cultural performances and activities. However, transportation is not included. Given its proximity to the city center, it’s easy to reach Horizon Village in the afternoon by taking a songthaew or using a Grab taxi. You can buy the ticket here.

Lamphun, located next to Chiang Mai, is known for its beautiful sky lantern festivals during Yee Peng. This year, there will be a special event where thousands of lanterns will be released at the Gassan Panorama Golf Club on November 15th, 2024.

The golf club is about 25 kilometers (30 minutes by car) from Chiang Mai city. If you buy a ticket, you will get a ride to and from the event, a dinner, lanterns, and a chance to watch traditional Thai performances. You can buy the ticket here.