Just been up to the Dhamma center where they do the big Khom Loi release every year.

No signs to say it's on BUT,

All the grass verges have been cut.

All the usual 'No alcohol, no weapons, etc.' have been erected along with some crowd barriers.

All the market pitches have been set out.

The Khom Loi release stations have been set out.

Looks like it's happening tomorrow evening, Saturday 25th October, release time usually around 8:00pm.

Crowd barriers, signs, market pitches.

Nice I like the Yi Peng lanterns and this time of the year

where?

okay it might look good, but its also a lot of rubbish. burn candles instead and there is almost no waste.

where?

Mae Jo, behind the uni. Think it's a Dhammakaya temple, not sure of the name. But can recall Tudong something or rather.

You can find all the details about the venue, how to get there and more here: http://mithunonthe.net/2012/12/10/loi-krathong-yeepeng-lanna-sansai-lantern-festival/#axzz3GsALgO00 I went for it (successfully) in 2012 and my only advice is to get there before 4pm, as traffic can be bad any later than that.

Wikimapia link is here: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=18.911564&lon=99.013102&z=16&m=b

GPS: lat=18.911564, lon=99.013102

Or, because Wikimapia has conflicting coordinates, perhaps it's 18.54'41"N and 90.00'47"E

Google streetview: http://goo.gl/maps/KoI7s

I went the last four or five years, I won't go this year. I had a scheduling conflict that I could have resolved, but last year's crowds left me unmotivated to do so.

I'll be interested in reading comments from any who do go, specifically if the lack of advertising and earlier date keeps the crowds down. I'm sure many people will be disappointed that they couldn't make advance plans to attend, but I can't fault the organizers for attempting to keep it a religious event as opposed to a tourist attraction.

re

I can't fault the organizers for attempting to keep it a religious event as opposed to a tourist attraction.

it dont think it worked

there was a huge queue of chinese tourists

lineing up at thaphae gate at 2 30 this afternoon and being put on mini buses outside the m hotel

going to something called .. a ya .. in chinese

( mae jo khom loy floating ?)

the whole thing was being organised by lots of thai tour guides from what i could see and they even had the police there to see them accross the road and the songthews were not slow on the uptake either and were taking bookings by the gate as well

money ... luvly jubly ... religion ?

dave2

ps ... if they were japanese ... forgive me .. coz i cant read either

It was a wonderful evening!

It was a wonderful evening!

Have you been to past events? How were the crowds? Last year anyone leaving Chiang Mai after 4 p.m. was lucky to find a place to observe the ceremony and release their lanterns..

Not too bad, compared to the years before.

They had put a series of footbridges across the klong, and the only 'squeeze' was at the security gates.

There were two people flying and filming from drones.

Not too bad, compared to the years before.

They had put a series of footbridges across the klong, and the only 'squeeze' was at the security gates.

There were two people flying and filming from drones.

A series? Not just one flimsy bamboo bridge? They had this one better planned.

Last year the grounds were full past capacity. Was it the same this year?