Loy Krathong (Kra-tong) floating lantern festival in Chiang Mai (Thailand)

For the Loy Krathong celebration, there is a great parade in Chiang Mai in addition to the floating candles.
Loy Krathong means “to float a basket.”  People from all around come with their krathongs (either hand made or bought along the streets) and then set them lit in the river. They are traditionally made of a slab of wood, bread or styrofoam and then embellished with banana leaves, incense sticks, and flowers. And of course, a candle, that you light before putting it in the river.

You can also see my YouTube Channel for a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meR57jXJJq8

Pictures from the floating sky lanterns:

Yi Peng (Yee Ping, etc) refers to the full moon nigh in the second month of the Lanna calendar. This is the festival with the sky lanterns  (which I have another article about).

There is a Loy Krathong song which is very catchy and you will be quite familiar with it by the end of the parade.  You can buy the song on Amazon too.
The parade has many lighted floats and all sorts of cultural symbols. It is very crowded so stake out a place early. If you are lucky, you’ll also get to see many of the floating lanterns from Yee Ping going up behind the parade.  And if you are really lucky, you’ll be able to get a picture with the full moon behind it.  Kind of looks like Doctor Who is about to visit.