If you have ever wanted to see the night sky filled with thousands of floating lanterns, then Yi Peng Festival is your dream come true. Every November, the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand becomes a magical place when thousands of locals and tourists will release sky lanterns and make wishes for peace and happiness.
While it is a tourism event, Yi Peng is much more than that, it is a cultural and spiritual experience like there is no other. You can feel the devotion and the deep sense of community spirit found in the Thai culture, but yet it is a peaceful experience.
Origins and Meanings of Yi Peng Festival
Yi Peng stems from the vintage Lanna culture of Northern Thailand, and takes place at the same time as the Loy Krathong Festival – a festival of planting flower lanterns down the river. However, Yi Peng is different in that people release sky lanterns (KHom Loi) – which are lighted paper lanterns that float into the air. The raising of lanterns, according to Buddhism, is letting bad luck continues to leave behind and also as a wish for a good auspicious new beginning to the new year. At this event, people decorate their homes and temples with lanterns of all colors while engaging in religious and cultural activities in the community.
When and Where to Experience the Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai
Time
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival occurs on the full moon night of the second month under Lanna calendar. If we consider the Thai lunar calendar system this festival usually occurs at or near the full moon day of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar system, which falls in November. Lanna calendar works on lunar cycle therefore the years will change with respect to intensive celebration with Yi Peng Festival on a solar calendar.
In 2025 the Yi Peng Festival will happen on November 5th and November 6th, 2025! Yi Peng official dates will span a window from November 5th -7th, but most of the activities and lantern releasing will happen in the 5th and 6th at night time.
Location
Locations where Yi Peng Festival takes place
Chiang Mai is the core of the Yi Peng festival, where all the events are most exciting and assorted. Streets, temples, and the east bank of the city are illuminated with thousands of colored lanterns during the festivity. If you are wondering about the best things to do during Yi Peng Festival, Chiang Mai is the place where you can experience them all.
Here are some famous places to hold and watch lanterns in Chiang Mai:
Mae Jo University
This is the most famous and traditional place to experience the grand lantern release ceremony. Typically, participants and spectators of the event here are separated and the number of tickets is limited for safety reasons and to limit audience size. At the festival here, visitors will be present when excitement and happiness come together, and thousands of visitors sit on the grass, awaiting the moment that bright lanterns are released into the sky at the same time, blanketing the area with the most brilliant light picture in the world.
Nawat Bridge and Ping River
For those who wish to enjoy the feeling of the festival for free go to the area of Nawarat Bridge (the Ping River). Both locals and travelers gather to observe the atmosphere of the sky and flower lanterns being released in the sky with fireworks shimmering from the water below. Vendors selling food and souvenirs are to the left and right of the river, which brings a fun yet cozy atmosphere that is a common part of any festival adventure. This is all part of the Yi Peng festival experience and something Eddie will need to incorporate into his Yi Peng festival plans.
Tha Phae Gate & Old City
Tha Phae Gate, one of the iconic sites of Chiang Mai, is the center of the area, decorated with hundreds of thousands of lanterns hanging high above on the street. Guests can witness a lantern parade, traditional dances, folk singers and free community events. The old town around it is a fun place to walk around, snap photos or enjoy some street food in the festive vibe.
Wat Phan Tao and Wat Lok Molee
These two famous ancient temples are where religious ceremonies take place during Yi Peng. At night, the temple grounds are lit up with hundreds of oil lamps and paper lanterns, creating a peaceful and sacred space – very suitable for visitors who love the traditional atmosphere.
Experiences not to be missed at Yi Peng
Lantern release – a legendary moment in the sky of Chiang Mai
The Yi Peng Festival occurs on the full moon night of the second month in the Lanna traditional calendar. If you wanted to describe the Yi Peng according to the Thai calendar the Yi Peng Festival would fall on or about the full moon day of the twelfth month (or November) in the Thai lunar calendar.
The Lanna calendar works on lunar cycle, so it is especially important to note that the Yi Peng festival can have different timing in each solar year’s calendar: In 2025 this Thailand lantern festival will occur over two nights, the 5th and 6th of November. The festival can happen from the 5th to the 7th of November, though the main activities for lantern release occur on the 5th and 6th.
Lantern Release ceremony
Lantern parade and Lanna art performance
The traditional lantern festival occurs on the streets of downtown Chiang Mai city, attracting street visitors and touristic locals alike into the celebration. The lanterns are beautifully crafted into many different designs, such as lotus flowers, dragons, elephants, and symbols of Buddhism. All of the lanterns are lit at night.
In addition to the lanterns, there are traditional Lanna dances with folk music, drums, gongs, and other traditional forms of music. Tourists can watch the dances, or even join the local people in dancing, and can dress up in their traditional costumes to take souvenir pictures.
Lantern parade
Spiritual rituals at ancient temples
Yi Peng is not only a festival of lights but also a time for people to turn to spirituality and gratitude. During the festival days, large temples such as Wat Phan Tao, Wat Lok Molee or Wat Phra Singh are decorated with hundreds of oil lamps, lotus flowers and bright yellow garlands.
Some activities you can participate in:
- Pray with monks to express gratitude and wish for good luck for yourself and your family
- Write wishes on yellow paper to stick on the temple wall, an activity that symbolizes good things to come
- Learn how to fold traditional paper lanterns is also an activity worth trying, even though it is just a small activity but has a lot of cultural meaning
Enjoy food and the street festival atmosphere
Night markets and walking streets in Chiang Mai, notably the Sunday Walking Street or Warorot Market, are packed with action during Yi Peng. Food stalls are offering a wide selection of Thai foods, such as khao soi, sai oua, mango sticky rice, and fresh fruit juice. You can more easily see music vendors and local artisans who are selling handcrafted lanterns to take home, along with various street performers to view while you eat and grab more food from the stalls. This is a great opportunity to absorb the festival vibe and nearby local identity.
Night market during Yi Peng festival
>>> For those who want to immerse themselves deeply in the culture and beauty of Northern Thailand, you can combine your festival visit with a short exploration of the city — check out this Amazing Chiang Mai Adventure in 4 Days itinerary for more inspiration.
Guide to Yi Peng 2025
Getting to Chiang Mai
Thanks to the development of air transport, tourists from many parts of the world can easily travel by international flights to Thailand. If you are already in Thailand, traveling to Chiang Mai is not difficult with many flexible options for your budget.
- Flights: The flight time from major cities is not long at all, around 1-2 hours, and there are a variety of airlines
- Night buses/trains: Traveling via train and long-distance buses takes longer, but will save you a lot of money in comparison to travel by airplane. In addition, if you were to travel by these modes of transport, you could also view the scenery of Thailand through the window for the journey.
Yi Peng Festival Tickets
Yi Peng Festival has many different organizing areas. You can choose between a free public zone or a private event depending on your experience:
Free public zone
- Where: Tha Phae Gate, Nawarat Bridge, along the Ping River and the main temples in the city Cost: Free, but try to arrive early to find a good location
- Activities: Releasing lanterns, observing the dragon dance, experiencing the festival alongside the locals
- Benefits: Free, experience a traditional atmosphere
- Disadvantages: crowded, difficult to take good photos or release lanterns at the same time due to limited space
Private events with tickets
- Notable locations:
- Mae Jo University: This is the most famous location, recommended by many international magazines
- Chiang Mai CAD Festival Grounds or Yee Peng Meditation Center: professional organizations, serving international tourists
- Ticket price: From 3000-7000 THB (80-190 USD) depending on the ticket class and accompanying services
- Includes:
- 1-2 lanterns (Khom Loi) Seats or private area
- Buffet / snacks and drinks
- Traditional performances and group rituals
- English speaking tour guide
- Benefits: complete experience, safety, seating and synchronized scene when everyone releases lanterns
- Disadvantages: Tickets must be reserved well in advance, as the ticket supply is limited and typically sold out 1-2 months prior to the festival.
>>> Don’t miss out! Contact us now to secure your Yi Peng 2025 tickets – We have tickets available for the most prestigious events!
In the illuminated sky of thousands of floating lanterns, you will truly experience a sense of interconnectedness between mankind, nature, and faith. Yi Peng Festival is not just your typical Thailand lantern festival; it is a journey of an emotional and spiritual experience. Work with us to plan your Thailand trip, get yourself to Chiang Mai, and make Yi Peng Festival one of the most memorable times in your life.
Travel Advice for Yi Peng Festival
Enhance your Yi Peng 2025 trip with the following workable travel advice to make it easier and pleasant:
Accommodation Awareness
Chiang Mai gets extremely mobs and reactive during the festival period. hotel and guesthouse room rates will substantially increase -sometimes 3-5 times what they would be, especially within the Old Town and Tha Phae Gate.
Tip for you: It is highly recommended that you book your accommodation or travel service choices early for a better standard location and cost. Many visitors opt to book package tours with accommodation, airport transfer, and Yi Peng as tickets due to the ease and peace of mind without the increase in prices last minute.
Arriving at Chiang Mai Airport
Chiang Mai International Airport gets busy during Yi Peng. You might meet traffic congestion and may have to wait a long time to book a taxi or a Grab.
Tip for you: Pre-arranged your private car rental or airport transfer to make your ride feel comfortable.
Dress Comfortably and Respectfully
November evenings can be a bit nippy, so feel free to bring a light sweater. If you intend to visit temples, you should dress respectfully: that means no bare shoulders or knees. The key is to wear some comfortable shoes because you will most likely be doing a lot of ‘hoofing’ during the celebrations.
Lantern Etiquette
Whether enjoying floating or launching, we ask that you please follow instructions from the event’s official staff. Keep clear of buildings, pylons or over woods etc. Light your lantern patiently, and wait for it to fill with hot air before releasing it. This safer method will also be much more beautiful.
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