Release Lanterns Into The Sky In Chiang Mai, Thailand

Kicking off the festivities with the night parade

The night before the full moon in the 12th Thai lunar month (usually in late October or November), lantern release festivities start with a parade of large floats down at Thapae Gate. The floats are lit up and locals are dressed up in traditional clothing carrying lanterns and offerings. Men and women march through the streets. The men can be seen playing drums and the women dance to the beat. The parade starts at Thapae Gate and ends at the Ping River. The streets don’t have barricades, so people just pile into the streets to get a good spot for the parade. Get there early as the streets start to get crowded right before the parade starts. Follow the parade to the end, and head to the carnival where there are games, cotton candy, and plenty of food vendors to choose from.

Releasing lanterns with the masses on the Ping River

On the night of the full moon, the city and the Ping River turns into one big lantern release party. Unlike the organized mass releases, everyone just releases his or her lanterns at will. This fun tradition finds people from all over the world coming together on this special night to release lanterns into the sky all over the city. The releases start as soon as the sun goes down and go well into late in the evening. It’s an amazing event that one would be lucky to experience in their life.

Participating in an organized mass release

There are usually two organized lantern launches; one for tourists, that ranges from 130.00 - 345.00 USD (approximately 4,600 - 12,300 THB) per ticket, and the lesser-known local release, which is free. Both of them are performed at Maejo University, which is about a 30-minute ride outside of the old city of Chiang Mai. They are arranged by an independent Buddhist group, and are not actually part of the Yi Peng celebrations.

The tourist launch can be booked once you get to Chiang Mai, but is recommended you book online before you come as this usually sells out. This release usually occurs on the night of the full moon and is filled with tourists releasing lanterns all at once into the air, making for breathtaking pictures and memories.

The local ceremony is not publicized and usually occurs a week to two weeks before the full moon. Filled with locals and monks, the two-hour ceremony is filled with prayers, chanting and meditation. You will witness the beautiful sight of the congregation lighting candles, chanting and walking in a circle around the stage followed by a gorgeous firework show. It is one of the most beautiful ceremonies you will ever witness. You will be in awe of the event and come away feeling grateful to have witnessed it.