| Whether they're held to honour a religious belief
or just for fun, the festivals of Phuket are exciting, sometimes bizarre
spectacles - certainly never bland. The island's most distinctive event is the
annual Vegetarian Festival  ,
featuring processions of god-mediums performing shocking acts of self-mortification
as a test of faith. This bazaar of the bizarre is held annually over 9 days in
the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Other lively and colourful
events unique to Phuket include the Phuket
King's Cup Regatta, the Annual
Gay Festival
and Phuket Bike Week, while others, such as Loy
Kratong and Songkran ,
Chinese New Year, are part of nationwide celebrations. The island gets
busy during festival times so be sure to book
a hotel in advance. Check this section regularly for updates and additions.
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April 2008
2008 will mark the fifth annual Phuket Cricket Sixes Tournament. All
of the participants had an absoltue ball in previous years, and 2008 promises
to bring even more top international players to the island. Some of the big names
from past years are: former Test cricket player Trevor Chappell (Australia) and
greats Adam Hollioake and Alan Mullaly (England). The Phuket Sixes is fast becoming
a major stop on the Asian cricket circuit. Email media@phuketsixes.com. (Read
More...)
April 2008: Karon Municipal Stadium, Phuket |
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Phuket Bike Week
Get to
see an amazing collection of Harleys, Hondas and superbikes at this annual event.
Music, contests, parties and charity rides around the island. Fun for bikers and
hangers-on alike. More info at http://www.phuketbikeweek.com or by calling Sumon
(01-6919346) or Mr. Good (01-6915758).
April 10 to 13th 2008: Patong Beach, Phuket |
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Thailand's most famous festival celebrates the Thai New Year. Prepare
to join in the fun and get very wet or stay indoors! A loud, boisterous festival
that features a lot of water throwing in the streets. Contact the Tourism Authority
of Thailand Phuket office (Tel: 076 212 213) for details. See photos of the Songkran
Festival in Phuket.
April 2008: Nationwide |
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| April is a busy month for festivals
in Phuket. Thai New Year (Songkran) also occurs in April, nationwide, so be sure
to book your hotel in advance!!! |
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June 2008
2008 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
This year’s Laguna Phuket International Marathon, the third, is expected to attract some 4,000 competitors, of whom 1,500 will be coming from 40 countries overseas.
June 13th to 15th 2008: Bang Tao Beach |
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Kalim Surfing Contest
Kalim Beach hosts the Kalim Surf Contest. Organized by members of the Phuket Board Rider Club, the 2008 contest will be in late June with…surfers participating…
June 2008: Kalim Beach |
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July 2008
Phuket Race Week
A week of exciting, international-standard yacht racing, off Phuket’s East Coast. Plenty of social activities throughout the week.
July 23rd to 27th 2008: Chalong Bay |
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August 2008
Once a community project, now an annual event, the Gay Festival is becoming
a widely anticipated attraction for Patong's visitors and residents. Beach activities,
a colourful parade, street parties, lots of outrageous costumes and stage shows.
See photos of the Phuket Gay Festival.
August 2008: Patong Beach and Paradise Complex, Patong |
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Por Tor Festival
The “Hungry Ghosts” festival is an important merit-making event for ethnic Chinese. Special food, flowers and candles are presented to ancestors’ altars in order to feed the ghosts that are said to have been released from hell for the month.
August 2008: All Chinese Shrines on the Island |
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Phuket Surfing Contest
The Phuket Surfing Contest is held at Kata Beach, and has been running for the past seven years. It usually takes place in mid-September but this year it will be in August. There are cash prizes to be won.
August 2008: Kata Beach |
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Kamala Go Surfing Contest
Then there is the Kamala Go Surfing Contest held at the northernmost end of Kamala Beach. This contest will mark its sixth year. Again, it is organized by locals - members of Kamala Go Surfing Club.
August 2008: Kamala Beach |
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October 2008
Celebrated by Phuket's Chinese community, this festival starts on the first
day of the ninth Chinese lunar month (usually in October) and continues for 9
days. Lots of body piercing and strange processions of people under trances. Part
of a cleansing ritual which involves many local residents. Excellent vegetarian
food on sale in the streets.
28th September to 7th October 2008: Phuket Town |
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Phuket Thailand Open 2008
Part of the SWATCH FIVB Beach Volley World Tour, the biggest tournament in Asia. Meet the world top 20 on white sand Karon Beach in Phuket.
October to November 2008: Karon Beach |
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November
2008
Loud and colourful. Lots of visual entertainment
and fun for visitors. Each year is slightly different, but the festival includes
a parade, shows and concerts. Bangla Rd is lit up and turned into a walking street
with food stalls, stage shows and other entertainment. Marks the start of the
official high season in Phuket.
November 1st to 3rd: Patong Beach,
Phuket |
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British
Business Association Charity Golf Tournament
Good fun for a good cause.
Every year the British Business Association of Phuket (BBAP), in conjunction with Blue Canyon Country Club, holds a Golf Tournament
to benefit Childwatch Phuket, a non-profit organization
dedicated to preventing child abuse in all its forms and assisting and educating
underprivileged children. The tournament is open to all and it's a great chance
to help out Phuket's youth while enjoying one of the finest golf courses in all
of Asia. Email: chill@bbap.org
November 2008: Blue Canyon Country Club |
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One of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand. Small floats made from
banana trees with flowers, candles and incense are launched into the water at
night to take away bad luck. Events held at all of Phuket's major beaches and
in Phuket Town. A truly stunning event.
November 2008: Nationwide |
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Phuket
Soccer 7s
The 4th Annual Phuket Soccer 7s tournament looks to pack
the pitch with a football flurry. A sporting-competition-slash-social-event, 40
teams from 10 countries struggle through 14-minute games, then relive the glory
of the past afternoon in the nearby watering holes. Boasting zero prize money
and none of that sticky offsides nonsense, this is guaranteed to be a fun battle
for bragging rights.
http://www.soccer7s.reperages-thailand.com/
November,
2008: Karon Stadium Phuket |
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December 2008
The most exciting event on the island's sporting calendar. The regatta attracts
yachts from all over the world to enter the races from Phuket to the neighbouring
islands. A great competition, and great fun throughout the week. This year is
the 21st annual.
November 29th to December 6th: Kata Beach, Phuket
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Phuket
International Marine Expo (PIMEX)
Complimenting the King's Cup Regatta
is this world famous marine and boat show. 1,800 square metres of boats, marine
equipment and displays including product launches and on water displays. Buyers,
brokers and yacht owners from all over the Asia-Pacific region converge for this
outstanding show.
December 4th to 7th, 2008: RPM, Phuket |
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Laguna
Phuket Triathlon
The annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon is an exciting event
that attracts top athletes from all over the world. The race starts with a 1.8km
swim followed by a cycle along a 55km course up a coastal road, and ends with
a 12km run. Email triathlon@lagunaphuket.com for further details.
December 7th, 2008: Bang Tao, Phuket |
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Phuket
Invitational Superyacht Rendezvous
As if yacht's weren't super enough,
this exclusive (hence the word 'invitational') event sees the biggest, fanciest,
most expensive yachts on this side of the planet floating into Phuket's ports
for a little pre-Christmas party. There are cocktail parties, gala dinners, and
presumably some sailing is worked in, too.
December 2008: Amanpuri Resort,
Phuket |
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February 2009
Phuket
International Blues Festival
While the weather is cool the music gets
hot. The 3rd Annual Phuket Blues Festival promises to be another great time of
food, fun and, of course, music. The Rich Harper Blues Band is once again headlining
the collection of local and international acts, which includes Victor Brox and
daughter Kyla, Disralai Gears, the Groove Doctors, Blues Machine and Soi Dog Blues
Band.
February 2009: Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort, Karon Beach, Phuket |
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Phang Nga Bay Regatta
The Phang
Nga Bay Regatta is Phuket's first major sailing event of the year. Speeding ships
knife through the Andaman Sea around Phang Nga, Krabi, and Phuket - only stopping
to sleep, eat, party, take in shows, socialize, and generally have good times. This time there prize money on offer, that should make things interesting.
February , 2009: Phang Nga Bay (locations TBA) |
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Celebrate the Year of the Ox with Phuket's Chinese community. Dragon parades
and other events planned to take place in and around Phuket Town's historical
district. Contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket office (Tel: 076 212
213) for details.
February 2009: Phuket Town |
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Old
Phuket Festival
Three Old Phuket Town streets - Thalang Road, Krabi
Road and Phang Nga Road - close to motorized traffic for three evenings of pedestrian
celebrations. It's a sensory circus, with performances of traditional dance, food,
music, and art. The community event is free and open to all.
February 2009:
Phuket Town |
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