How to do Yee Peng (Yi Peng) lantern festival in Chiang Mai

Timing & Dates:

• The festival dates vary year by year following the Thai calendar, normally it falls in mid -late Nov.
• Exact dates are announced a month or so ahead (usually in either September or October) and the dates have been known to vary from the week before/after announcement, so keep an eye out for date changes

There are 2 separate lantern shows

• Free - Lanna Khatina Ceremony: The official and biggest release
• Location: inside a medidation center behind Mae Jo University (Google Map: Lanna Dhutanka)
• Transportation: there's no public transportation, some options:
• rent a scooter. daily cost ranging from 150-300baht (someone really should write a tip about this) - make sure you remember where you park and what it looks like, make a removable mark as there will be thousands of bikes
• hire a tuk tuk to take you and wait there: about 600baht (according to research)
• use a Grab (Thai Uber) - but considering the traffic, this may not be a good option
• Dress Code to enter: cover shoulders, long pants. preferably white tops
• DO NOT bring
• alcohol
• your own lanterns (sold inside for 100baht / 3USD each)
• Release time: 6:30PM - But go early by 3pm before it gets packed
• Paid: the event made just for tourists
• Location and exact dates are not announced till later, normally happens about a week after the official ceremony
• Ticket cost: 100+USD, includes a meal, transportation, and 2 lanterns. Tickets can be bought online, will only be issued near the date of the event. Usually they'll send it directly to your hotel
• Limited seats available

Other Tips:

• If you hate crowds, you can also occupy a seat on any roof top bar (just book a few days in advance) or find an accommodation with nice balcony to catch the view
• Lanterns are released all over the city throughout the weekend festival
• There are also parades, fireworks, food markets going on at the same time in the city
• It is a religious ceremony not a tourist show