If you want to experience the charm of Thai culture and immerse yourself in the identity of the Thai way of life, Loy Krathong is the Thai Festival you cannot miss. Bangkok River Festival 2024 is an event related to the celebration of this annual Thai festival in Bangkok. This year the event will be presented under the concept “Melodies of the River”.
What is Loy Krathong?
Loy Krathong is one of the main Thai festivals and is celebrated to honor the Goddess of the river. This annual celebration gets its name from the floating basket decorations or ornaments that are traditionally lit and floated on rivers all over Thailand. Loy Krathong comes from two Thai words. First, loy, means to float, while krathong is a type of small floating basket made from banana trunk. Local Thais typically create their own krathongs with folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks. Modern krathongs are mainly made of bread, biodegradable or edible for fish. The Krathongs are floated on the river as an offering to the water goddess Pra Mae Khongkha.
In Thailand, Loy Krathong festival is held every year on the full moon night of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar and this year Loy Krathong Festival falls on Friday 15 November 2024.
What is Bangkok River Festival?
Bangkok River Festival 2024 is one of the best and most popular events in Bangkok related to Loy Krathong. This unique cultural celebration will continue for 3 days and 3 nights, from 14 to 16 November 2024.
This year, Bangkok River Festival 2024 is ready to offer you fun once again with a variety of activities. During the festival everyone can experience nighttime merit making and Krathong floating ceremonies as well as immerse into Thai culture with the riverside communities. Additionally, the festival is inviting to dress in Thai costumes to participate in activities.
Bangkok River Festival Venues and Activities
The 10 venues taking part in Bangkok River Festival 2024 and activities offered there are listed below.
Temples in Bangkok
Bangkok River Festival venues include 5 important historical temples along the Chao Phraya River, where you can join merit-making activities, called Loy Prateep (Light the Lanterns) believed to bring prosperity to life, as well as see various traditional performances.
1. Wat Pho
Activities:
- Mon Piphat competition
- Krathong contest
- Noppamas Little Girl contest
- Dance performance
- Luk Thung band performances
2. Wat Arun
Activities:
- Puppetry performances
- Thai dance performances
- Contemporary music band
- Nang Yai performance
- Central Thai folk songs
3. Wat Rakhang
Activities:
- Cultural performances
- Thai dance performances
- Miss Noppamas River Fest 2024 contest
- Muay Thai performance
- Performance by a brass band, country music
4. Wat Kalaya
Activities:
- Cultural performances
- Dragon Dance, Lion Climbing Poles
- Chinese Opera Performance
5. Wat Prayoon
Activities:
- Traditional Thai music performance
- Thai Likay performance
- Pong Lang performance
- Ceremony to chant the words of worship for the Buddha's relics
- Floating scented candles
- Dragon Dance, Lion Climbing Poles
- Fireworks
- Khon Performance
- Retro Band and Circle Dance Performance
Other Festival Venues in Bangkok
There are also other 5 Contemporary Culture riverside venues of Bangkok River Festival 2024, including Yodpiman Riverwalk, Tha Maharaj, Asiatique The Riverfront, Sooksiam at ICONSIAM, and Ong Ang Canal - Wat Bophit Phimuk Worawihan - Constitutional Court.
6. Tha Maharaj
Activities:
- DIY Krathong Buffet
- Live Jazz & Chill Music
- Instagram-worthy Landmark
- Food & Thai Desserts Stalls
- Krathong Floater
7. Yodpiman River Walk
Activities:
- Admiring the Views of Chao Phraya River at Night
- Shops and Food Stalls
- 24-Hour Flower Market
- Krathong Floater
- Free Shuttle Boat Interchange
8. Ong Ang Canal - Wat Bophit Phimuk Worawihan - Constitutional Court
Activities:
- Dance performance
- Youth band performance
- Performances from educational institutions
9. ICONSIAM
Activities:
- See the culture of 4 regions of Thailand
- Taste delicious food,
- Shop for Thai products at the retro market
10. Asiatique The Riverfront
Activities:
- Contemporary brass band performance
- Retro band and dance performance
- Luk Thung band performance
- Isan Pong Lang performance
- Live Band Performances
More information about the venue: Asiatique the Riverfront.
Bangkok River Festival 2024 Schedule
Bangkok River Festival 2024 will be celebrated on 14-16 November 2024 with the following schedule:
- 14 November 2024, from 16:00 to 22:00
- 15 November 2024, from 16:00 to 24:00
- 16 November 2024, from 16:00 to 22:00
The schedule listed above is the operating hours of the festival shuttle boats. Various activities at different venues will have different timings that will normally fit within these hours.
How to get to Bangkok River Festival?
Depending on where in the city you are staying, you can reach the piers of Bangkok Riverside by BTS, MRT, or taxi, and then board the shuttle boat to travel between the venues of the festival.
The nearest pier to Bangkok MRT is Yodpiman River Walk Pier, which is also the interchange pier of both festival shuttle boat routes. To get there, you need to take MRT Blue Line train to Sanam Chai Station.
For getting to the festival venues by Bangkok BTS, there are two decent options:
Taking BTS Silom Line train to Saphan Taksin Station, and then boarding one of the public ferries going from Saphan Taksin Pier to Asiatique or ICONSIAM.
Taking BTS Silom Line train to Krung Thon Buri Station, where you can change to BTS Gold Line going to ICONSIAM.
Free Shuttle Boat
There will be a free shuttle boat throughout the piers from 16:00 to 22:00 on 14 and 16 November 2024, and from 16:00 to midnight on 15 November 2024, which is the main day of Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand.
You can get on the free shuttle boat at any of these piers, just choose the nearest to you.
Route 1: R1 – R7
Wat Pho > Tha Maharaj Pier > Wat Rakhang Pier > Wat Arun Pier > Wat Kalaya Pier > Wat Prayoon Pier > Yodpiman River Walk Pier (Interchange)
Departure every 30 minutes
Route 2: R7 - R10
Yodpiman River Walk Pier > Memorial Bridge Pier > SOOKSIAM @ ICONSIAM Pier > Asiatique The Riverfront Pier
Departure every 30 minutes
Cross River Ferry Service
Those who don’t want to wait for complimentary shuttle boats can use a paid cross river ferry service on the following routes:
- Wat Arun Pier - Tha Thein Pier (Wat Pho)
- Maharaj Pier - Wang Lang Pier
- Asiatique Pier - Saphan Taksin Pier
- Tha Chang Pier - Wat Rakhang Pier
- Saphan Taksin Pier - SOOKSIAM @ ICONSIAM Pier
For more information about using cross river ferries in Bangkok check: Bangkok Cross River Ferries.
River Festival 2024 in Lamphun
In addition to organizing events in Bangkok, the second consecutive Lumphun River Festival will be held on the banks of the Kuang River. This is the main river that nourishes the life and culture of the people of the Lanna area.
Apart from that, Loy Krathong festival takes place throughout the city. We are sure that you will enjoy this wonderful festival and will take away some unforgettable memories.
Tips
Other good places to celebrate the festival in Bangkok are listed here: Loy Krathong Festival in Bangkok.
If you want to participate in Bangkok River Festival and looking for the place to base, the best area to stay is around the Bangkok Old Town, as you will be in a short distance from the pier. As the area is very popular during Loy Krathong, Book Your Hotel Now!
