# buildwith · Yi Peng / Loy Krathong: sources

Row #10 of `experiences_v1.csv` (research pass 3 Oct 2026, IST). Dates and deadlines come from `cal.py` (date check 4 Oct 2026, IST), which is the source of truth for dates, with the 4 Oct 2026 source-rule audit applied. The page deliberately shows **no prices** and no contact emails; see the official site.

| Fact used | Source |
|---|---|
| Name, place (Chiang Mai, Thailand), continent | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Usual timing: November (full moon, 12th lunar month) | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| What you build / use: BUILD a banana-leaf krathong (or buy one from local makers) and float it; sky lanterns only at authorised events | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| How a traveller takes part: Float a krathong on the Ping River (make one or buy one from a local maker); sky lanterns only where organisers say release is allowed | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Participation level: Build/Use (open to all) | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Entry requirements / deadline: Sky-lantern release rules in Chiang Mai: Unconfirmed: no official source. Release only at authorised events | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ (primary) ·  (secondary) |
| Verification note (research pass): Source audit 4 Oct 2026: travel-guide and unofficial festival-site links removed. Timing from TAT (full moon of the 12th lunar month); TAT hasn't published 2026 dates. | experiences_v1.csv |
| Date: Nov 2026 · date TBC: Yi Peng / Loy Krathong 2026, Chiang Mai (November full moon). TAT: Loi Krathong is on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month. 2026 dates: Unconfirmed: no official source. | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ |
| Date: Nov 2027 · date TBC: Yi Peng / Loy Krathong 2027 (November full moon). 2027 dates not published. | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ |
| Take-part route "Make a krathong and float it" (Workshop / open build): Make a banana-leaf krathong and float it on the Ping River. TAT lists krathong contests, a traditional Lanna lantern competition and a krathong sai ceremony around Chiang Mai's municipal area during Yi Peng. | Re-worded from the CSV row and the dated items above |
| Take-part route "Or buy one from local makers" (Use local gear): Buy a krathong from a local maker. Sky lanterns: release only at authorised events (official Chiang Mai rule page: Unconfirmed: no official source). | Re-worded from the CSV row and the dated items above |
| Check note: 2026 dates: Unconfirmed: no official source. TAT says Loi Krathong falls on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month; its 2026 festival news isn't out yet. | CSV verification notes / dated items above |
| Check note: Sky-lantern restrictions in Chiang Mai: Unconfirmed: no official source. Release lanterns only at authorised events. | CSV verification notes / dated items above |
| Check note: Many 'official' lantern-ticket sites are commercial: we don't link them. | CSV verification notes / dated items above |

## Skills you'll need (section 03)

| Fact used | Source |
|---|---|
| Skills (this experience): Folding a banana-leaf krathong: petal folds pinned around a banana-trunk base; Using only biodegradable materials and decorating with flowers, a candle and incense; Sky-lantern rules: release only at authorised events | Skills research, checked 2026-10-04 (IST) |
| Difficulty (our estimate): Beginner; prep time (our estimate): 1 practice session (about 1 hour). Difficulty and prep time are Curiosta editorial estimates for a first-timer, not organiser figures. | Curiosta editorial estimate |
| Refresher, practice and safety steps: Start with a round slice of banana trunk (or bread or another biodegradable base) as the float. / Cut banana-leaf strips and fold them into pointed petals; pin them in overlapping rows around the base with wooden pins or toothpicks, not staples or metal pins. / Top with flowers, one candle and three incense sticks; keep it small and light. / Test that it floats level in a bucket before taking it to the river. / Float it gently from a safe, lit spot on the Ping River; don't lean over railings or step onto slippery banks. / Sky lanterns: release only at authorised events. An official Chiang Mai page on current restrictions: Unconfirmed: no official source. / TAT promotes biodegradable krathong workshops; joining one is the easiest way to learn the folds. / Fold petals from any large leaf (banana leaf is easy to find in South India) or paper strips and pin them around a foam-free base. / Practise one full krathong and float-test it in a bucket. / Watch for local Loy Krathong or Kartik Purnima diya-float events to practise floating safely. / Biodegradable materials only; no foam, plastic, staples or metal pins. / Take care at river edges at night. / Release sky lanterns only at authorised events (Chiang Mai's rules: Unconfirmed: no official source). | Our summary of the resources below |
| Resource (Official; publisher: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)): Loi Krathong Festival 2024: Experience Thailand's Enchanting Festival of Lights: TAT overview including Chiang Mai's Yi Peng programme and biodegradable krathong-making workshops. | https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/ |
| Resource (Official; publisher: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Newsroom)): Thailand marks rivers of light for the Loi Krathong Festival 2025: Shows TAT's eco-friendly banana-trunk krathong traditions (e.g. Mae Klong). | https://www.tatnews.org/2025/11/thailand-marks-rivers-of-light-for-the-loi-krathong-festival-2025/ |
| No official resource yet: No official krathong-folding guide yet, and no official Chiang Mai page on sky-lantern rules (Unconfirmed: no official source). | Skills research (gap recorded) |

See also: skills guide `skills/lanterns-and-floating-lights/`

## Source audit (4 Oct 2026, IST)

Official sources first; non-official sources only if the event community widely accepts them, with evidence. Links removed or replaced on this page (old links are shown as plain text, not linked):

- Old: `visit-thailand.org/culture/yi-peng-lantern-festival` → New: https://www.tatnews.org/2024/11/loi-krathong-festival-2024-experience-thailands-enchanting-festival-of-lights/. Why: Unofficial guide site. Replaced by TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand). TAT has not published 2026 dates, so the 23–25 Nov dates are removed and the item is month-level TBC (Unconfirmed). Sky-lantern rules marked Unconfirmed (no official Chiang Mai page).
- Old: `yipengchiangmailanternfestival.com` → Removed. Why: Unofficial festival-branded site. Removed.

## Check notes shown on the page

- 2026 dates: Unconfirmed: no official source. TAT says Loi Krathong falls on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month; its 2026 festival news isn't out yet.
- Sky-lantern restrictions in Chiang Mai: Unconfirmed: no official source. Release lanterns only at authorised events.
- Many 'official' lantern-ticket sites are commercial: we don't link them.

## Our grouping

- Levels shown: Workshop / open build, Use local gear (our grouping of the CSV participation level "Build/Use (open to all)").
- Usual months used by the month filter: Nov.