Loi Krathong started in Sukhothai and spread rapidly across mainly north Thailand. Not many elaborate celebrations going on in other areas of Thailand. It is not even considered an official holiday as schools, banks and government office are open during Loi Krathong.

According to the Chiang Mai city officials the Loi Krathong Festival will be celebrated from November 4th through the 6th. In the nearby town of Mae Jo the “Khome Loi” Celebration will be the evening of November 3rd. Here the people release tens of thousands of “Khome Loi” hot air paper balloons all at one time. I have a short streaming video of this. You got to see this.

In Sukhothai, where the Loi Krathong tradition started they have a fantastic Khantoke dinner with traditional live, music, dance and performances, laser light show, large fireworks display. They give you a Khome Loi to release and of course a Krathong to release in the stream. This all take place among the ancient ruins, very beautiful.

Along the Ping River in Chiang Mai it can get a little crazy with people drinking and setting off fireworks. What my wife and I do along with friends is reserve tables at one of the riverside restaurants. From here we watch the fireworks display and the lighted water parade in safety.

What we will do this year is go to Mae Jo on the 3rd and join in the releasing of the “Khome Loi”. On the 4th we will travel to Sukhothai and participate in the program there and spend the evening. We drive back to Chiang Mai in the early morning and have a party at our home on the 5th. On the 6th we will watch the festivities from a riverside restaurant and float our Krathongs.

For the party at our home I cook a Texas Barbeque with all the trimmings and my wife and her Thai friends make lots if Thai dishes. The city police block off our street 50 meters in each direction where we set up tables. We have performers playing live traditional northern Thai Music and female dancers in traditional dress. We hire a professional fireworks team who set off big aerial displays for us.

If you plan to be in Chiang Mai or Sukhothai for Loi Krathong make all your reservations now. The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and the North Thailand Hotel Association has reported that there will not be enough rooms available for the busy tourist season from November through April. This is mainly because from the 1st of November 2006 until the 31st of January 2007 Chiang Mai will host the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 Exposition in celebration of H.M King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th anniversary or the "Diamond Jubilee of Accession to the Throne" together with His Majesty's 80th birthday in January of 2007. More than two and a half million plants, flowers and flowering trees will be planted and on display in a 80 hectar park which is already near completion near the Chiang Mai Night Safari. This will stay open to the public all year round after the King’s special celebration. They are requesting that anyone who has a spare room in their home to contact them.

The celebration in Sukhothai will sell out about 1 month in advance.

If you would like more information or maybe join my wife and I for Loi Krathong feel free to email me here at Flyer Talk.

Have Fun,
Randy and Ning