Phuket Events & Festivals

Phuket Events & Festivals
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planning your holiday to coincide with one of Phuket's many events and festivals could make all the difference between a good holiday and a really memorable one. There are important events scattered throughout the year, so check if your visit to Phuket will coincide with anything you'd be interested in.
The Vegetarian Festival, which takes place in late September, is the most famous and spectacular of these. However, there are events throughout the year. Songkran, in April, is the Thai new year but is also an excuse for a huge water fight. While Loi Krathong, in November is a more subdued but magical festival.

December
Laguna Phuket Triathlon: 2ndThis annual competition takes place in the Laguna Resort complex at Bang Tao Beach. It attracts professional and amateur triathletes from around the world. The event comprises a 1.8km swim, 55km cycle and 12km run through beautiful natural surroundings. (See http://www.lagunaphuket.com/triathlon for more details).King's Cup Regatta: 1st - 8thThe King's Cup is Asia's premier regatta. The event takes place in the first week of December as it was inaugurated to honour the King's birthday, which is on December 5th. Sailing enthusiasts from around the world come to Phuket every year to take part in the event, which not only involve lots of sailing but plenty of parties in the evenings. (For more info see King's Cup Regatta).The 5th Phuket International Boat Show: 6th - 8th
This years event will be held at the Royal Phuket Marina with an impressive list of exhibitors attending.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 2008
Phuket Gay FestivalThe Phuket Gay Festival is one of Phuket's largest annual events. Taking place in Patong, the festival runs over four days with many parties, a volleyball tournament and a street parade that is the highlight of the festival. (For more info see http://www.beachpatong.com/gaypatong/phuketgayfestival).The Thao Thep Krasatri - Thao Sri Suntorn Festival (mid-March)
This event is held annually in mid-March to honour Phuket's two heroines. The festival takes place in the area around the heroines' monument on Thep Krasatri road. There is a fun-fair, food stalls and stage performances throughout the week. __________________________________________________________
April 2008
Songkran: 13th - 15thBeginning on the 13th of April Thai people all over the country celebrate the Thai New Year, the most important holiday on the Thai calendar. The holiday is best known for revellers playfully splashing water on each other and dabing scented powder on each others faces as a new year blessing. Over the years this has escalated into a huge water fight where anyone is fair game. People roam the streets armed with high pressure water pistols or stand by the side of the road with buckets and hoses, ready to drench any passer-by. If you venture out during this period, the 13th in particular, expect to get soaked!Traditionally, however, Songkran is a time of cleaning and renewal. During Songkran Thais perform religious rituals such as cleaning Buddha images, giving alms to the monks and going to the temple to pray. Songkran is also a time for families. Many people return home over the Songkran holiday and pay respect to their elders by sprinkling scented water over their hands. The festival is a 3-day public holiday.Turtle Releasing FestivalThe Turtle Releasing Festival is held every year during Songkran. Turtle eggs are collected by the Fisheries Department in an effort to conserve the numbers of sea turtles. The baby turtles are released into the sea on Nai Yang beach.Phuket Bike WeekBig bike rally and events in Phuket during Songkran Festival organized by Phuket Riders Club and Ride Thailand Magazine. (See http://phuketbikeweek.com/ for more details).
__________________________________________________
July 2008
Phuket Race Week
A full week of international-standard yacht racing for a wide range of yachts — from the highly competitive top racers all the way to liveaboard cruisers and charter boats. (See Phuket Race Week for more details).
____________________________________________________________
August 2008
Por Tor FestivalThis Chinese ancestor worship festival takes place in the seventh Chinese lunar month, which is when the Chinese believe that the spirits of the dead are released from the underworld. The Chinese communities in Phuket make food offerings to appease the hungry spirits and to pay their respects. Turtle-shaped cakes are a popular offering as turtles represent longevity. The worshippers believe that these turtle cakes will help prolong their own life. Events take place around Phuket's Chinese shrines at different times over a 15-day period. Like most other festivals Chinese Phuket, there is a lot of food, as well as stage performances. Phuket Fireworks FestivalThis event takes place in mid-August at Saphan Hin on the edge of Phuket City. The scale of the display means that the spectacle can also be enjoyed from other locations, such as Rang Hill, or anywhere along Phuket Bay.
_______________________________________________
October 2008
Phuket Vegetarian Festival The Vegetarian Festival takes place at the start of the ninth Chinese lunar month, which falls in late September or early October. This is Phuket's most famous and spectacular festival. The rituals, which last for nine days, are performed to purify both body and mind. During this time, participants go on a strict diet, which is technically vegan as no animal products are allowed to be consumed.
There are processions through the streets and tests of devotion where supplicants perform acts of self-mortification including piercing of the cheeks and tongues with knives and various objects. The more impressive events include ascetic devotees walking on burning coals and climbing ladders with knife-edged rungs. Definitely not for the faint hearted. (For more info see Phuket vegetarian festival).
__________________________________________________________
November 2008
Phuket (Patong) Carnival The carnival is held in the first week of November to celebrate the start of the high season at Patong Beach. There are stalls selling crafts and food, colourful parades, watersports competitions, fashion shows and a beauty pageant. This years festival marks the 20th anniversary of the event and promises to be the biggest ever.
Loi KrathongLoi Krathong takes place on the night of the full moon in November and is the most magical of all Thai festivals. Small lotus-shaped boats woven from banana leaves, called krathongs, are floated on water. These vessels contain small flowers, candles, incense and offerings to thank Mother Water for providing water for them to use. Thai people also believe that if they place a strand of hair or nail clipping in the krathong their troubles will be carried away with it.
In Phuket, many people go to Saphan Hin on the edge of Phuket City to launch their krathongs. The beach at Patong is also popular. There you can also float paper lanterns into the sky. Watching hundreds of these glowing lanterns drifting up into the sky over the sea is an enchanting way to spend an evening.
__________________________________________________________

For more information on all events in Phuket, contact the Tourist Office at:Tourism Authority of Thailand73-75 Phuket Rd.T. Talad Nuea, A. MuangPhuket 83000
Tel: 076 211 036, 076 212 213