Loi Krathong Festival 2024: Experience Thailand’s Enchanting Festival of Lights

Thailand invites visitors worldwide to celebrate the Loi Krathong Festival, showcasing its rich culture, traditions, and spiritual charm across multiple provinces.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) warmly invites tourists to experience the beauty, charm, and rich cultural heritage of Thailand’s beloved Loi Krathong Festival. Celebrated annually during the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, this year’s festival falls on Friday, 15 November.

Known as the ‘Festival of Lights,’ Loi Krathong brings people together nationwide at lakes, rivers, canals, and beaches to honour the goddess of water. Participants float beautifully decorated krathongs adorned with candles and flowers—a gesture believed to release misfortune and invite good fortune and positivity.

The Loi Krathong Festival is one of seven unique themes under the Thailand Winter Festivals, running from November through December. This series highlights Thailand’s distinctive cultural and creative assets, solidifying the country’s position as a top global event destination.

Sukhothai Loi Krathong and Candle Festival

8-17 November 2024, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai
The Sukhothai Loi Krathong and Candle Festival celebrates an age-old tradition rooted in Thai history, inspired by King Ramkhamhaeng’s inscription and the tale of Nang Nopphamat. Held at Sukhothai Historical Park for nearly 50 years, the festival lights up the ancient city with thousands of lanterns, casting a golden glow over the ruins, complemented by moonlight and candlelit krathongs floating across ponds. This celebration is truly unforgettable, with vibrant parades by day and breathtaking fireworks by night.Loi Krathong Festival at Phadung Krung Kasem CanalLoi Krathong Festival at Phadung Krung Kasem Canal

Loi Krathong Festival at Phadung Krung Kasem Canal

13-16 November 2024 (16.00-22.00 Hrs.), Phadung Krung Kasem Canal, near Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), Bangkok
Celebrated under the theme ‘Amazing Night of Lights: Loi Krathong Festival,’ this event at Phadung Krung Kasem Canal offers visitors an enchanting experience from 13-16 November, with extended hours until midnight on the full moon night. Highlights include a nightly ‘Lighting Illumination Show’ showcasing five of Thailand’s unique Loi Krathong traditions: Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng Festival, Roi Et’s Somma Nam Khuen Peng Seng Prathip, Samut Songkhram’s Loi Krathong Kap Kluai Mae Klong, Sukhothai’s Loi Krathong and Candle Festival, and Tak’s Loi Krathong Sai Lai Prathip 1000 Lanterns. The event features workshops on biodegradable krathong making, Thai cooking stations, traditional music and dance performances, and the floating of krathongs on the canal. Eco-friendly activities also embrace modern technology, with interactive krathongs and online Loi Krathong experiences in the Metaverse.

Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng Festival

14-17 November 2024, Around Chiang Mai Municipal Areas, Chiang Mai
The Yi Peng Festival brings vibrant celebrations throughout Chiang Mai, with highlights including the grand krathong contest, traditional Lanna lantern competition, and krathong sai ceremony—floating lanterns downstream symbolising a release from misfortune. The city will be illuminated with lanterns and phang prathip candles, creating a mesmerising cultural display.

Loi Krathong Kap Kluai Mueang Mae Klong

15-17 November 2024
Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong and King Rama II Memorial Park, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram
The festival’s programme features traditional, cultural and environmentally-friendly activities – in line with TAT’s responsible tourism initiatives – that include floating of Krathong Kap Kluai or banana stem cups on the Mae Klong River, cultural performances and processions.

Tak’s Loi Krathong Sai Festival

15-18 November 2024, 200th Anniversary Rattanakosin Memorial Bridge, Tak
Held along the Ping River, Tak’s ‘Loi Krathong Sai Lai Prathip 1000 Lanterns’ features a royal lantern procession, traditional boat parades, and grand fireworks displays, with nightly almsgiving and a stunning spectacle of 1,000 floating lanterns illuminating the river. Other highlights include cover dance performances, string music contests, and the “Rising Star Luk Thung” folk music competition, along with vibrant local markets, food stalls, and traditional krathong crafts.
Other Loi Krathong Celebration Locations

Loi Krathong Night at Ayutthaya’s Japanese Village

15-17 November 2024 (16.00 – 20.00 Hrs.), Japanese Village, Ayutthaya
Experience Loi Krathong in Ayutthaya’s Japanese Village, with a serene Japanese garden along the Chao Phraya River, featuring captivating performances, live music, and traditional krathong floating ceremonies.