I’ve been meaning to make it out of Chiang Mai to go explore some more of Thailand for a while, but there’s something about this place that really holds onto you. As a result, I was around for my second experience of the famous Loy Krathong festival, otherwise known as the Floating Lantern Festival, and while this picturesque celebration takes place all over Thailand, this city has one of the best. Chiang Mai does everything in style.

Loy Krathong is one out of the two most widely recognized holidays in Thailand, and it is undoubtedly the most magical and beautiful of celebrations. Taking place from November 1st to November 3rd, the festivities in Chiang Mai really start kicking off about a week early.

About half an hour north of the city, five thousand lanterns are released into the night sky to bring in the holiday. An amazing spectacle in itself, it is only the beginning.

The paper lanterns hold a large candle are built so that hot air builds up inside as it burns. You light the candle and hold onto it, allowing it to fill with hot air, and as it rises and reaches for the sky, you wait until it is ready to go on its own and then release it.

These lanterns are being released all over the city throughout the festival and in the days surrounding, and as a result, a beautiful display of floating balls of light dot the sky throughout the night. This in itself a beautiful enough sight when looking out over the city, but there are also fireworks blasting off everywhere you go.

In Chiang Mai, a parade travels down along the Mae Ping River and the huge crowds of party-goers set intricately folded banana leaf floats with flowers, incense, coins, and burning candles into the waters, allowing them to flow down the river, carrying their bad luck away.

Several different interpretations exist about who is honored by the offering. Some say it is meant for the Goddess of Water. Others offer interpretations from the widely held religion of Buddhism, though even these interpretations cannot seem to agree on the significance.

No matter what the reason, Thais believe strongly in the power of good and bad luck to rule our lives. This is going on at rivers all throughout the country, and the Thais believe that by releasing the candles onto the water and the lanterns into the sky, they are clearing their karma to enter into the new year.

In Chiang Mai, hoards of people gather to light off fireworks at the riverside in the Narrawat Bridge area. Just be careful because the general public here isn’t very safety-conscious when it comes to fireworks, and a lot of people do get hurt. Not to mention, a lot of small firecrackers tend to “accidently” get thrown in the direction of tourists. This isn’t malicious in most cases, its meant to harmless fun, but it can be dangerous.

This is one of the must-see festivals in Chiang-Mai—no doubt about it—and people come from all over Thailand to celebrate. End the night by taking a walk from Narrawat Bridge down to the Riverside Pub to get some beers and listen to one of Chiang Mai’s best American music band—two bands actually, both of which sing the latest pop songs with a rock and roll style and absolutely no accent. A great place to hang out, for Thais and foreigners alike, and a far cry from the typical girlie bar scene.

Speaking of girlies, another aspect of this festival you absolutely cannot missis the “Nopamas Beauty Queen Contest.” The Thai people love their beauty contests, and as the women are so beautiful its not hard to see why. This particular contest is held in honor of a legendary and beautiful queen from the 13th century named Nopamas. She is credited as the woman who organized the first Krathong festival.

Loy Krathong is a festival with a mixed vibe of outright drunken partying, spirituality, beauty, and a bit of magic. It is Thai culture at its finest and most revealing. You’ll have to see it to know what I mean, but there’s truly nothing like it.

Hey, it’s November 3rd tonight—guess I’ll have to head out for another night of it myself, though I know I’ll be hearing these fireworks blasting off for the next couple days. All in good fun! What would Thailand be if not loud?