Thao Thep Krasattri - Thao Si Sunthon Festival (early Mar)
An annual event held in memory of the two heroine sisters, Khunying Muk and Khunying Chan, who jointly led the soldiers and people of Thalang, as Phuket was known formerly, in repelling the invading Burmese troops in 1785. The titles of Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon were bestowed on the sisters by King Rama I and a statue was erected at a crossroads near the centre of the island in recognition of the invaluable service they did to the country.
The festival lasts for about two weeks and takes place in various locations in Thalang area, north of Phuket including Heroines’ Monument and Wat Pranang Sang.
It covers many cultural and sporting activities. There’s also lots of local cuisine and OTOP products (such as batik, silk and wooden decorative items) are for sale at the fair too.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Oct)
Despite its seemingly unattractive title, Phuket Vegetarian Festival is one of the most popular and most successful annual celebrations of Thailand. This 9-day event does not have fixed dates on the Gregorian calendar, but it is always held from the 1st to the 9th day of the 9th moon according to the Chinese lunar calendar which roughly corresponds to October. This is because the festival originated from immigrant miners from China in the 19th century.
Phuket residents of Chinese ancestry, and many Thais too, go on a vegetarian diet and attend ceremonies at local Chinese temples during this period. But to the tourists and non-participants, the most absorbing part of the long event is the colourful processions and the remarkable feats performed by possessed mediums. You won't believe your own eyes when seeing them.
More information
Patong Carnival (early Nov)
This annual event marks the beginning of the tourist season in Phuket. It has been organized by the tourist trade community of Patong Beach to promote tourism in the province. The main carnival areas are along the famous Bangla Road and Soi Post Office.
The annual parade is renowned for its stunning costumes and floats. Apart from the grand parade, there are many activities including live music, cultural performances, street art and a great number of stalls selling food and beverages and OTOP products.
Laguna Phuket Triathlon (November)
The Laguna Phuket Triathlon is held annually at Laguna Phuket, occupying 1,000 acres at Bangtao Bay on the west coast of Phuket Island. It attracts world-class triathletes from around the world. The race was created in 1994 by IMG, Laguna Phuket Resorts and PCH Sports and is Asia's longest running triathlon event. LPT's race distances of 1.8 K swim, 50 K bike and 12 K run are designed to provide participants with a unique challenge and to showcase the venue. LPT's bike course is one of the race's most outstanding features for its scenic view along the route and the challenging, hilly parts.
Phuket King's Cup Regatta (early Dec)
The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is a one-week event held annually in Phuket.
The regatta was inaugurated in December 1987 in celebration of the 60th birthday of His Late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Since then, the Regatta has become an annual event attracting more and more of the region's top yacht enthusiasts each year. Presently, it is the biggest keel boat regatta in Asia with over 90 boats and 2000 participants each year.
With royal patronage, the regatta is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club (RVYC), in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), and Phuket Province.
For more details, contact TAT Phuket Office, Tel. 0 76 212213, 0 76 211036.