This is the free festival with the beautiful candle-lit procession followed by the massive release of lanterns. 1,000 lanterns released into the sky all at once. It's quite a spectacular event, especially for photographers.

Our Photography Group has considered this as one of our best photo opportunities of the year.

This year we have two air-conditioned vans reserved for our group. We're leaving Chiang Mai at 3:30 in order to arrive there in plenty of time to stake out the best spots to photograph the procession. We'll be returning around 9:30 pm.

We happen to have four open seats for anyone who might wish to join us. It will be a good opportunity to meet some of our members. But better yet, you'll have a comfortable, pre-arranged ride to and from the event. The traffic and parking for this event is always a nightmare if you drive yourself.

If you're interested in joining us, please PM me for all the details.

Thanks for the info. Look forward to you posting some more pics.

Edited November 22, 201213 yr by MESmith

Uh...10,000 kom loy -- at least. Not 1,000.

It's really worth the effort! Do get in touch with PhotoJohn if you want to join the CMPG's field trip as a guest.

I heard this was very nice, but we aren't crazy about crowds. Love your pictures..

Our last seats were just taken. I sent a confirmation to those who responded first.

There should be a number of other good options for transportation though, for those who still need a ride.

I heard this was very nice, but we aren't crazy about crowds. Love your pictures..

If you don't like crowds then give this one a miss. As much as I love the annual event it is one of the most difficult in terms of parking, pushing your way through crowds, finding a place to sit, tolerating hot, melting fuel dripping on, and ruining your clothes, people pushing you, sticking cameras in your face, and the like. Haven't decided if I'll make it this year. I'm afraid with having the flu, and being a little short on patience at the moment, as well as the stress of navigating my kid through the crowds and not losing him, it could become unpleasant.

One extremely unpleasant thing is the teenagers throwing firecrackers into the middle of the crowds entering the event!

Greenside is an amazing photographer IMHO. Looking forward to seeing some from this year.

Edited November 23, 201213 yr by elektrified

It is a great event and one worth going too just one time or if you can get good seats, the time a mate and I went, we left our run a wee bit late and was a nightmare getting in and we hussled and bussled with the locals in between fire crackers and lanterns, when the first wave of lanterns went off it was really spectacular, but getting out was a foot slog and as the crowd was going out another was trying to get in, so there was a bottle neck, that was 18 months or so ago, so things maybe different this time.

It is worth seeing really live and the Thai people were very gracious to us and so many family groups offered my mate and I to join them in releasing lanterns

Where exactly is this?

Here's a link to a map showing the route: http://www.yeepenglanna.net/map.html

It is a great event and one worth going too just one time or if you can get good seats, the time a mate and I went, we left our run a wee bit late and was a nightmare getting in and we hussled and bussled with the locals in between fire crackers and lanterns, when the first wave of lanterns went off it was really spectacular, but getting out was a foot slog and as the crowd was going out another was trying to get in, so there was a bottle neck, that was 18 months or so ago, so things maybe different this time.

It is worth seeing really live and the Thai people were very gracious to us and so many family groups offered my mate and I to join them in releasing lanterns

How could it be 18 months ago? It's an annual event every November.

it was about that time when i was here in Chiang Mai

Is this an appropriate place to take a 4 yrs old. All this talk about hot dripping wax and firecrackers is beginning to worry.

Maybe watching from a safe distance rather than immersing with the crowd.

Not sure, but I think most expats in CM have seen lanterns before, like every year.

No offence intended.

Edited November 23, 201213 yr by Semper

Is this an appropriate place to take a 4 yrs old. All this talk about hot dripping wax and firecrackers is beginning to worry.

Maybe watching from a safe distance rather than immersing with the crowd.

The most dangerous part is upon entering and making the trek to the meditation center. Teenagers just chuck firecrackers into the crowds of people. 3 or 4 years ago I wore a nice shirt. I think I paid about 50 Euros for it. I felt something hot on my back and some people behind me began whacking me with their jackets or something. My shirt was on fire from the fuel that drips down on people as the khom loy go into the sky. I had a good size burn on my back for about 2-3 weeks afterwards. The European shirt was destroyed obviously.

Just to mention, there will be a limited one-way system operating on some local roads, the signs say between 18.00-22.00.

So im guessing this is a no go for ppl on crutches

So im guessing this is a no go for ppl on crutches

No go 100%.

Anyone know approximately what time the lanterns are released?

I'll watch from a distance.

I'll watch from a distance.

This is what I am planning to do from my condo roof top but dont want to wait till it happens.

Anyone know the time or can post here when they see it go up...much appreciated.

Anyone know approximately what time the lanterns are released?

Could be wrong, but 8pm rings a bell.

Hopefully the lanterns were released as its coming down hard now.

I went, it was good, no rain.

Back in town 90mins later, tipping down.

Yes the big release was at 8pm

Nice!

Glad we got home on the scooter before this big rain though

Here it is

im kicking myself right now Ive been dying to go to this for weeks and somehow got it in my head it was today not yesterday!!!

I'm so annoyed - is there anywhere I can see something similar today pleaseeeee?!!!

thanks

Not today. But there is a similar event on this Friday, Nov. 30, at the same location. It will cost you though.

Check out this link: http://www.yeepenglanna.net/

Thanks for the heads-up and for arranging transport PhotoJohn.

It was a great show and my friends from the States loved it. Lots of great photo ops. Already looking forward to next year.

David

Here it is

Very nice. Thanks.