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Phuket like the rest of Thailand, has colourful festivals
and local events throughout the year. Some of the festivals take
place according to the Chinese lunar calendar so dates vary each
year. Some of the more popular festivals are listed below:
Patong Festival - Held at the beginning of November every
year to mark the start of the high season, this loud and colourful
festival provides floats, marching bands, and lots of visual entertainment.
Great fun.
 Vegetarian
Festival - Celebrated by Phuket's Chinese Community, this
festival continues for 9-10 days around late September/early October.
See link for gory details...
Por Tor Festival - This Chinese merit-making festival falls
around July/August. Cakes in the shape of turtles are made from
flour and presented to the ancestor's altars, along with special
foods, flowers and candles. Turtles are significant because they
live for many years and it is believed that by making such offerings
worshippers may live longer. An important festival for the local
Chinese.
Thao Thep Krasatri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival - Held on 13
March yearly in memory of the two heroines who led the defence of
the island against the Burmese in 1785.
Songkran Festival
- Held every year in the hottest month - April to celebrate the
Thai New Year. Prepare to get very wet or stay indoors!!
Turtle Releasing Festival - Part of the New Year celebrations
- the government has also named this National Fisheries Day. Turtles
are released into the sea at beaches in the north of the island.
Chao Le Boat Floating Festival - This falls around May and
October at the Sea Gipsy villages in Phuket. Small boats are set
adrift at night to drive away evil and to bring good luck. Fingernail
clipping and strands of hair are put in the little boats before
being released, along with little dolls fashioned from wood. Afterwards,
the villagers perform the Ram Rong Ngeng, a local dance around their
own boats.
 Full
Moon Day Or Wan Loy Kratong - one of the most beautiful
festivals in Thailand, in which the whole nation sets small home-made
boats lit with candles and decorated with flowers to take away their
bad luck.
King's
Cup Regatta Yachts from around the world compete in a series
of races around Phuket and the neighbouring islands. Held every
year to celebrate H.M. The King's birthday on 5th December.
Laguna
Phuket Triathlon
This annual event sees the world's top triathletes, plus hundreds
of amateurs competing for prize money and a placing on the world
triathlon circuit. The course, which includes swimming, bicycling,
and running through the beautiful natural scenery of Phuket, takes
from two-and-a-half to five hours to complete.
The ninth Laguna Phuket Triathlon will be held on Saturday 30 November,
2002 starting at 8.00 am.
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