Loy Krathong in Pattaya 2026: Festival of Lights Guide
Experience Thailand's most beautiful festival in Pattaya. Floating lanterns, candlelit krathongs, and a night of magic on the water.
Thailand's Most Beautiful Night
Full moon in November. Across Thailand, people gather at rivers, lakes, and beaches carrying small floating baskets – krathongs – adorned with flowers, candles, and incense. They kneel at the water's edge, make a wish, and release the krathong to float away, carrying their prayers and letting go of the past year's troubles.
This is Loy Krathong, the Festival of Lights. And in Pattaya, it transforms an ordinary night into something genuinely magical.
What Is Loy Krathong?
Loy means "to float." Krathong is the small boat, traditionally made from banana leaves and decorated with flowers, a candle, and incense sticks. The festival falls on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month – usually mid-November.
The origins blend Buddhist and Brahmin traditions. Some say it honors the Buddha. Others say it pays respect to the water goddess. Most Thais simply see it as a time to let go – floating away bad luck, making wishes, and celebrating the end of the rainy season.
Loy Krathong 2026: November full moon (check exact date closer to the time)
Pattaya's Loy Krathong
Beach Road & Pattaya Beach
The main celebration happens along Beach Road. Vendors sell krathongs of all sizes – from simple banana leaf designs to elaborate multi-tiered creations. As evening falls, thousands of people line the beach, waiting for the right moment.
At sunset, the krathongs begin floating out. The water fills with flickering candlelight. It's one of those scenes that photographs can't capture – you need to be there, holding your own krathong, making your own wish.
Tips: - Arrive before sunset to buy your krathong and claim a spot - Smaller krathongs float better than elaborate ones - The beach gets crowded – stake out space early - Bring a lighter (candles blow out in the wind)
Bali Hai Pier
The pier area hosts organized festivities – cultural performances, beauty contests (Miss Noppamas, the krathong queen), and more concentrated floating areas. More touristy but also more organized.
Jomtien Beach
Quieter alternative to the main beach. Fewer crowds, same beautiful floating lights. Good for couples and families who want the experience without the chaos.
The Evening Unfolds
Before Sunset (4-6 PM)
Walk Beach Road and browse krathongs. Prices range from ฿50 for simple designs to ฿500+ for elaborate creations. Pick one that speaks to you – or make your own at workshops some venues offer.
Sunset (6-7 PM)
The energy shifts. People gather at the water's edge. Families, couples, groups of friends – everyone united in the same ritual. The sky turns orange, then purple, then dark.
The Floating (7-9 PM)
When the moment feels right, light your candle, make your wish, and release your krathong. Watch it float away, joining thousands of others. The ocean becomes a field of flickering lights extending to the horizon.
The Night Continues
After floating your krathong, the celebration continues. The beach stays active. The bars come alive. And if you time it right, you can head to Las Vegas Beer Garden to continue the night with live music.
Las Vegas Beer Garden on Loy Krathong
The complex sits close to the action but offers refuge from the beach crowds. After floating your krathong, walk to Soi Diana and find the atmosphere transformed.
What to expect:
The Thai staff often bring their own celebrations. Don't be surprised to see small krathongs or candles around the bars – the festival touches everyone.
The live music takes on a different energy. The band might play Thai songs honoring the occasion. The crowd includes locals celebrating alongside tourists.
KQ Bar offers the usual – stage-side seats, cold drinks, strong AC – but the night feels different. There's a reverence to Loy Krathong that even a bar complex can't entirely escape.
📍 Soi Diana, 3 minutes from Beach Road | 🕕 Opens 6 PM | 🎵 Live music from 8 PM
Loy Krathong Itinerary
4 PM: Walk Beach Road, browse and buy your krathong
5:30 PM: Find a spot on the beach, stake your claim
6:30 PM: Watch the sunset, absorb the atmosphere
7:30 PM: Float your krathong, make your wish
8:30 PM: Walk to Las Vegas Beer Garden
9 PM onwards: Live music, drinks, and the particular energy of Loy Krathong night
Making Your Wish
The tradition says to place a small offering in your krathong – a coin, a strand of hair, a fingernail clipping. These represent parts of yourself that you're releasing. Some people write wishes on small papers and tuck them inside.
What do people wish for? The usual things. Love. Health. Prosperity. Letting go of past hurts. Fresh starts. The wishes are personal, and the water keeps them secret.
As your krathong floats away, you're not supposed to look back. Let it go. Watch until the candle becomes one light among thousands, then turn away. The wish is made. The ritual is complete.
Practical Tips
Get there early. Beach Road becomes packed after sunset.
Simple krathongs float better. The elaborate ones look great but often capsize.
Respect the environment. Pattaya has worked to make krathongs more eco-friendly. Choose biodegradable options when possible.
Watch for sky lanterns. Some people release paper lanterns. They're beautiful but controversial (fire risk, littering). The floating water krathongs are the traditional and safer choice.
Budget for multiple krathongs. Once you're there, you might want to float more than one.
The Magic Is Real
Loy Krathong is one of those experiences that transcends tourism. You're not watching a cultural performance – you're participating in something that millions of Thais do simultaneously across the country. The shared ritual creates connection. The floating lights create beauty. The wishes create hope.
Pattaya might seem an unlikely place for spiritual practice, but the festival doesn't care about context. The water receives all krathongs equally. The candles flicker the same whether floated by a local grandmother or a tourist on holiday.
Go to the beach. Float your krathong. Make a wish. Then walk to Las Vegas Beer Garden and let the live music carry you through the rest of a night that feels, somehow, blessed.
Loy Krathong 2026: November full moon. Beach Road for the floating, Las Vegas Beer Garden for the after-party. Soi Diana, Pattaya.
Topics:
Las Vegas Beer Garden
Your guide to Pattaya nightlife