Phuket Area Events 2012

Things to Do | Phuket Area Events Events and Festivals 2012

The what, when and where on local happenings, special events and more :

January 2012

• Chinese New Year
  Date: January 23, 2012
  Location: Sanam Chai Park, opposite the governor’s office in Phuket Town
  Contact: The Or Bor Jor Phuket Office
  Tel: +66 (0) 76-217 087
  Come to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Phuket. You'll find celebrations and cultural events across the island especially in the heart of Phuket’s Old Town and at local Chinese Shrines. This year’s main event will be at Sanam Chai Park opposite the governor’s office in Phuket Town, starting at 16:00. The Dragon is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animal signs. Though Chinese New Year is not an official public holiday in Thailand, most businesses owned by Thais with Chinese ancestors are closed during the period.
• Wat Chalong Fair
  Date: January 23 – 29, 2012
  Location: Wat Chalong on Chaofa West Road
  Wat Chalong (or Chalong Temple) Fair is probably the biggest of all temple fairs on the island. It was first started in 1933 by local farmers who lived near and around Wat Chalong. After a long period of hard work and when the harvest was complete, they would get together and create a kind of fun fair on the temple’s grounds. In later years, they set up the fair during the Chinese New Year because they wanted to make sure that Thais with Chinese heritage would join in, too. The fair lasts seven days each year and is a colourful, crowded, aromatic, noisy but fascinating spectacle. Claustrophobic people stay away…
• Old Phuket Festival
  Date: January 28 - 30, 2012
  Venue: The Heart of Phuket Town
  Contact: Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office
  Tel: +66 (0) 76-212 213
  This year’s event will be the 13th anniversary of the popular Old Phuket Town Festival which is held in collaboration with the Chinese New Year. The festival is held at the heart of the Old Town on Thalang, Krabi, and Phuket Roads and along the famous Soi Rommanee. Thalang Road and Soi Rommanee will be converted into walking streets during the festival. Expect many colourful entertainment options including a Phuket Baba Light Show, a rickshaw tour around the streets, cultural parades, Chinese opera performances, Chinese folk dancing troupes and more. The activities start from about 15:00 and last until midnight each day. If coming by car, please make sure to park away from the centre as things get extremely congested, traffic wise.

February 2012

• The Bay Regatta
  Date: February 1 - 5, 2012
  Location: Phang Nga Bay
  Website: www.acyc-phuket.com/bayregatta.htm
  The provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi will provide the backdrop to The Bay Regatta (formerly the Phang Nga Bay Regatta), one of the world’s most scenic sailing events, from February 1 – 5. Showcasing some of the most stunning maritime scenery in the world – beaches, limestone karsts and cliffs – the Regatta takes racers on a tour of the bay and, as an extra bonus, offers a fun-filled time off the water – fantastic parties and camaraderie – for the 40 to 50 yachts in attendance. Now in its 15th year, the Regatta is unique amongst Thailand sailing events. More information, please email bayregatta@acyc-phuket.com
• Phuket International Blues Rock Festival
  Date: February 24 – 25, 2012
  Venue: Laguna Phuket
  Contact: Andy Andersen Tel: 086-682 2639
  Who says Phuket lacks good musical events? Check out the annual Blues and Rock Festival. Starting in 2005, the Phuket International Blues Festival has gained both popularity and fans over the years. The festival grows bigger in terms of the number of artists that rock the stage as well as in audience numbers every year.  The main artists for 2012 included Chris Thomas King, who has sold more records and appeared in more successful films than any other blues artist this century. A singer and guitarist on the now classic ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’ soundtrack, King found crossover fame as a successful actor in the Coen Brothers movie opposite George Clooney.
  Other newcomers will be from USA, UK and Asia in addition to returning acts Rich Harper (USA), John Meyer (Australia) and AkashA (Malaysia), all returning by popular demand. Local Phuket-based acts will also appear as in the past. It will be another glorious weekend of blues and rock ’n’ roll under the stars!

March 2012

• Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX)
  Date: March 29 – April 1, 2012
  Venue: Royal Phuket Marina, Kho Keaw
  The Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) must be one of the most interesting marine showcases in Asia. Last year it attracted 5,500 visitors over the four-days with record numbers on the opening day. It was reported that seven boats and numerous luxury cars sold had a collective estimated value of $17 million USD. The 2012 PIMEX is again at the Royal Phuket Marina in late March. The event will cover over 2,000sqm of air-conditioned exhibition space as well as many of on-water display boats.
• Thao Thepkasattri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival
  Date: March 2012 - Dates to be Announced
  Venue: Thalang Victory Memorial Field, Heroine’s Monument and Wat Pranangsang, all in the Thalang area
  Contact: +66 (0) 76-211877 and +66 (0) 76-211866
  Thao Thepkasattri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival is one of the island’s major festivals and covers many cultural and sporting activities in one go. The festival features bicycle racing, a takraw (volleyball played with the feet) tournament, tug-o’-war, a mini-marathon as well as an uppasombot moo (Buddhist ordination) ceremony. The highlight of the festival is a spectacular historical show about the history of Phuket. Back over 200 years ago, two heroic sisters Thao Thep Krasatri and Thao Sri Suntorn rallied the islanders to defend Phuket from Burmese troops. The open-air play with a cast of 700 actors runs three nights, starting at 19:00 at the Thalang Victory Memorial Field.
  The event caters mainly for locals but foreign visitors are encouraged to go along. The organizers invite nearby hotels to bring their guests to this free-entrance festival but an interpreter might be necessary to help you appreciate it better. Some are quite unique and rare that even new-generation Thais might never have experienced them before. Such activities include Thai boxing’s wai kru ceremony (a demonstration of respect and gratitude of boxers to their teachers), a sword dancing show, shadow puppet shows and traditional lullaby singing. Lots of local cuisine and ‘OTOP’ products (such as batik, silk and wooden decorative items) are on display and for sale at the fair, too.

April 2012

• Phuket Bike Week
  Date: April 6-8, 2012
  Venue: Patong Beach www.phuketbikeweek.com
  Now in its 18th year, the annual Phuket Bike Week is one of the biggest motorcycle events in Southeast Asia. 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.
• Songkran Festival
  Date: April 13–15, 2012
  Venue: Nationwide
  Contact: Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket office
  Tel: +66 (0) 76-212213
  Thailand's most famous festival celebrates Thai New Year. Prepare to join in the fun and get very wet or else stay indoors! Songkran is a loud, boisterous festival that features a lot of water throwing in the streets. 

June 2012

• 2012 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
  Date: June 10, 2012
  Location: Bangtao Beach www.phuketmarathon.com
  This year’s Laguna Phuket International Marathon, the seventh, is expected to attract more competitors. From its humble beginnings with less than 2,000 participants the event has grown to a size of more than 5,000 participants, with an average of 1,500 international participants from 43 countries. The event will again feature a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 Km Run, 5 Km Walk and a 2 Km Kids Run.
• July 2012  Phuket Race WeekDate: July 18-22, 2012
  Location: Chalong Baywww.phuketraceweek.com
  A week of exciting, international-standard yacht racing off Phuket’s East Coast. Plenty of social activities throughout the week. Now in its ninth year, the regatta is run over six or seven classes, including cruising/bareboat/charter yachts. It’s competitive, high-octane racing for the serious boats and fun courses around the islands for the less serious racers. Phuket Raceweek’s gained a reputation as the most exciting and fastest-growing Regatta in Asia.

August 2012

• Por Tor Festival
  Date: August 2012
  Location: All Chinese Shrines on the Island
  The 'Hungry Ghost' festival is an important merit-making event for the ethnic Chinese. Special food, flowers and candles are offered to ancestors on altars.  Other offerings are made to 'feed the ghosts without relatives' that are said to have been released from hell for the month. Experience this beautiful event for yourself at any Chinese Shrine on the island during the festival. Or if you want to enjoy one of the biggest Hungry Ghost celebrations in Phuket head to the fresh market on Ranong Road. The whole market and nearby areas will be colourfully decorated and feature interesting activities from about noon until midnight including the traditional merit-making ceremony, lion dances , magic shows, live concerts, cabaret shows and many more stage shows. Also expect to see plentiful local food stands during the event. Dates for 2012 Festival will be announced later.

September 2012

• Phuket Vegetarian Festival
  Date: September 2012
  Location: Chinese Shrines on the Island
  A colourful event held over a nine-day period in late September/early October, this celebrates the Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help obtain good health and peace of mind.
  Though the origins of the festival are unclear, it is thought that perhaps the festival was bought to Phuket by a wandering Chinese opera group who fell ill while performing on the island and who were miraculously healed through a strictly vegetarian diet.

November 2012

• Loy Kratong FestivalDate: November 28, 2011
  Location: Nationwide
  A festival of quiet celebration, the origins of Loy Kratong are unclear, but it is believed that it started in Sukhothai, (north of Bangkok) one of the most powerful cities in Asia, around 800 years ago. On this particular night, on nearly every expanse of water, be it a river, lake or the ocean, you'll notice thousands of lights drifting across the water like fairy dreams.
  Gently flickering, dipping and dancing in the breeze as they go, they make a spectacular sight. All of Phuket's major west coast beaches take part in Loy Kratong festivities, with a mix of locals and tourists. Nai Harn (on the large lake) and Patong usually have the most activity with locals visiting beaches like Kata and Karon.
• Laguna Phuket Triathlon 2012
  Date: November 2012 - Date to be announced
  Venue: Laguna Phuket
  Southeast Asia's premier multi-sport event, the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, has been going on for almost two decades. The event comprises a 1.8km swim, 55km cycle and 12km run. Over the past seventeen years the popular race has attracted thousands of age group athletes as well as triathlon legends Mark Allen, Greg Welch, Craig Alexander, Paula Newby-Fraser, Michellie Jones and Chrissie Wellington, to name just a few.

December 2012

• Phuket King's Cup Regatta
  Date: December 2012
  Venue: Kata Beach
  The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is Asia's biggest and most popular regatta. More than a regatta, the week-long event consists of great parties, great sailing and lots of fun. Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, the event has been held every year since during the first week of December. 
  Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship
  
  Date: December 2012
  Venue: Laguna Beach Resort, Cherngtalay
  Contact: www.ironmanphuket.com
  The next Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship is expected again in late 2012 (The date will be announced later.). The race, at Laguna Phuket Resort in Cherngtalay, will be the culmination of WTC's new Asia-Pacific Ironman 70.3 Event Series. Also, the Laguna Phuket Resort is expected to be the permanent home of this Championship. The race consists of a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run.