What's On In Phuket in 2011?

What's On In Phuket in 2011?

Phuket has many events and festivals happening throughout the year. Visiting Phuket during such celebrations enables tourists to gain a rich experience of the culture in Phuket and makes it an enjoyable and memorable trip.

1. The Chinese New Year is celebrated with great pomp and show in February. Hotels in Phuket remain occupied during this time with many tourists heading to Phuket.

Resort Phuket

2. The Phuket International Blues Rock Festival, also celebrated in February, is an annual charity event, where international and local blues and rock bands perform live and the proceeds from the event go to organisations dedicated to children's education.

3. The Phuket Bike Week in April is another important event in Phuket bringing bike enthusiasts from cross countries to witness various bikes and designs on display.

4. Visakha Bucha considered the holiest day of the Buddhist calendar is observed in May on the fifteenth day of the sixth lunar month. Natives take part in candlelit procession around the temples in the evening.

5. June and November celebrate the Chao Ley (Sea Gypsy) Boat Floating Festival where the sea gypsy communities make small model boats and launch them in the sea with candles and pray for their ancestors.

6. Of the many festivals, the Vegetarian Festival that is organised in late September is the most popular one. Spread over nine days, this festival sees the Chinese community praying to the Nine Emperor Gods to ensure purification of the mind and the body. Occurring during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, this festival has many ceremonies that are held in the vicinity of the six Chinese temples scattered throughout Phuket. These ceremonies see the locals invoking Gds by performing body piercing, fire walking and other such acts. This festival begins with the raising of the Lantern Pole and once erected, the natives believe that the Hindu Gd Shiva descends to the earth.

7. The tourist season begins from November and the Andaman Sea Festival (Boek Fah) is held to coincide with this. The event includes water sport competitions, boat races with "longtail" boats, food festivals and cultural shows.

8. Phuket King's Cup Regatta, which is Asia's biggest and most popular regatta is a one-week event held in December to celebrate the Thai King's birthday. Over the years, this regatta has transformed into a big boat event, with keelboats and ocean-going catamarans taking part in the event. An international crowd puller, this event brings in many visitors to Phuket and tourists should book Phuket hotels well in advance.

9. Another event held in December is the Local Life Festival. Organised by the Old Phuket Foundation, this event is held to restore significance to the historical parts of Phuket. This event is held on the Thalang Road and Soi Romanee and sees several street musicians coming together to stage shows.

Planning a holiday to Phuket to coincide with one of these festivals will definitely add much excitement to the trip.

Tags : Phuket hotel & another area