Sukhothai Loy Krathong & Candle Festival
If there is one event in Thailand I deeply recommend you to attend and celebrate, it is Loy Krathong and especially the Sukhothai Loy Krathong & Candle Festival.
Every year for Loy Krathong festival during five days, the Sukhothai Historical Park offers free admission after closing for 5 exceptional evenings with performances, ceremonies, monuments illuminations, entertainment, booths of all kinds of local products and food mixed with the famous krathongs, small rafts that people launch on the pounds of the park. And the night ends with a light nd sound and fireworks on the pound in front of Wat Sa Si.
Loy Krathong festival is the most important of the year in Sukhothai, the Historical Park usually so calm get a lot more lively. It welcomes what is probably the largest night market in Thailand. The main temples are beautifully lit and you have many krathongs vendors on the lawns to offer you more or less elaborate rafts. First price 10 baht, last price, I do not know but I’ve seen a raft at 150 bahts.
You can see demonstrations of traditional fighting, eat dinner for 30-50 bahts and discover a multitude of savory Thai dishes.
At 7.30 pm begins the sounds and lights show in front of Wat Mahathat. Prices from 400 to 900 THB places depending on their location. You can buy them on the spot or order them on ThaiTicketMajor.
Once the show is over. People gradually start to buy their krathongs (small rafts) and kneel in front of the pounds in the park, make a prayer before putting their krathongs on the water and pushing them away with the hand.
In front of the chedi, a traditional show takes place before the final show at 10 pm on Tra Khuan alake and at Wat Sa Si. And this show is free and really nice if you manage to get on good spot to watch it. A commentary in Thai describes the scenes, there is a actors, illuminated boats and light effects. The show ends with a small fireworks around 11 pm. And logically, at that time, you should be happy with your evening.
Besides the Sukhothai Loy Krathong & Candle Festival there are several times a year mini light and sound show in Sukhopthai Historical park. We usually share the dates with you our Facebook page.
For its 2015 edition, the Sukhothai Loy Krathong & Candle Festival will take place from 21 to 25 November . The last day is loi Krathong official date.
Note that to get to the park on those evenings, you can take the shuttle buses connecting New and Old Sukhothai and Old Sukhothai (Hitorical park) for 30 baht. Exceptionnally, they will still circulate when you leave. So no need to hire a tuk-tuk who will ask you around 200 THB, you can tale the local bus. But tuk-tuk atre quicker and may be a good option if you are a group (the price is divided).
