Phuket Events & Festivals
Planning your holiday to coincide with one of Phuket's many events and festivals could make all the difference between a good holiday and a really memorable one. There are important events scattered throughout the year, so check if your visit to Phuket will coincide with anything you'd be interested in.The Vegetarian Festival, which takes place in late September, is the most famous and spectacular of these. However, there are events throughout the year. Songkran, in April, is the Thai new year but is also an excuse for a huge water fight. While Loi Krathong, in November is a more subdued but magical festival.

February
Phuket International Blues Festival: 16th - 17th
Following up on last years inaugural event, the 2nd Annual Phuket International Blues Festival will now take place in February. The scheduled line-up includes familiar names from last year's festival, including the Rich Harper Blues Band, Victor Brox, Blues Machine, Soi Dog Blues Band, as well as Victor Brox’s daughter, Kyla Brox. The event will be held at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon Beach.

March
2007 Johnnie Walker Classic; 1st-4th
The 16th Johnnie Walker Classic, Asia's premier golf event, is returning to the Blue Canyon Country Club for the third time, having been previously held there in 1994 and 1998. Visit tournament homepage for more info.

The Thao Thep Krasatri - Thao Sri Suntorn Festival (mid-March)
This event is held annually in mid-March to honour Phuket's two heroines, (see history). The festival takes place in the area around the heroines' monument on Thep Krasatri road. There is a fun-fair, food stalls and stage performances throughout the week.

Phuket Gay Festival: 29th - 1st
Taking place in Patong, the festival itself runs over four days with parties, a volleyball tournament and a street parade that is the highlight of the festival.

April
Songkran: 13th - 15th
On the 13th of April Thai people all over the country celebrate the Thai new year. It is a religious occasion as well as an excuse for a water fight. The festival is a 3-day public holiday, (see holidays).

Turtle Releasing Festival
The Turtle Releasing Festival is held every year during Songkran. Turtle eggs are collected by the Fisheries Department in an effort to conserve the numbers of sea turtles. The baby turtles are released into the sea on Nai Yang beach.

Phuket Bike Week
Big bike rally and events in Phuket during Songkran Festival organized by Phuket Riders Club and Ride Thailand Magazine.

July
Phuket Race Week
A full week of international-standard yacht racing for a wide range of yachts — from the highly competitive top racers all the way to liveaboard cruisers and charter boats.

August
Por Tor Festival
This Chinese ancestor worship festival takes place in the seventh Chinese lunar month, which is when the Chinese believe that the spirits of the dead are released from the underworld. The Chinese communities in Phuket make food offerings to appease the hungry spirits and to pay their respects. Turtle-shaped cakes are a popular offering as turtles represent longevity. The worshippers believe that these turtle cakes will help prolong their own life. Events take place around Phuket's Chinese shrines at different times over a 15-day period. Like most other festivals Chinese Phuket, there is a lot of food, as well as stage performances.

Phuket Fireworks Festival
This event takes place in mid-August at Saphan Hin on the edge of Phuket City. The scale of the display means that the spectacle can also be enjoyed from other locations, such as Rang Hill, or anywhere along Phuket Bay.

October
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Vegetarian Festival takes place at the start of the ninth Chinese lunar month, which falls in late September or early October. This is Phuket's most famous and spectacular festival. The rituals, which last for nine days, are performed to purify both body and mind. During this time, participants go on a strict diet, which is technically vegan as no animal products are allowed to be consumed.

There are processions through the streets and tests of devotion where supplicants perform acts of self-mortification including piercing of the cheeks and tongues with knives and various objects. The more impressive events include ascetic devotees walking on burning coals and climbing ladders with knife-edged rungs. Definitely not for the faint hearted.

November
Patong Carnival
The carnival is held in the first week of November to celebrate the start of the high season at Patong Beach. There are stalls selling crafts and food, colourful parades, watersports competitions and even a beauty pageant.

Loi Krathong
Loi Krathong takes place on the night of the full moon in November and is the most magical of all Thai festivals. Small lotus-shaped boats woven from banana leaves, called krathongs, are floated on water. These vessels contain small flowers, candles, incense and offerings to thank Mother Water for providing water for them to use. Thai people also believe that if they place a strand of hair or nail clipping in the krathong their troubles will be carried away with it.

In Phuket, many people go to Saphan Hin on the edge of Phuket City to launch their krathongs. The beach at Patong is also popular. There you can also float paper lanterns into the sky. Watching hundreds of these glowing lanterns drifting up into the sky over the sea is an enchanting way to spend an evening.

December
Laguna Phuket Triathlon
This annual competition takes place in the Laguna Resort complex at Bang Tao Beach. It attracts professional and amateur triathletes from around the world. The event comprises a 1.8km swim, 55km cycle and 12km run through beautiful natural surroundings.

King's Cup Regatta
The King's Cup is Asia's premier regatta. The event takes place in the first week of December as it was inaugurated to honour the King's birthday, which is on December 5th. Sailing enthusiasts from around the world come to Phuket every year to take part in the regatta, which not only involve lots of sailing but plenty of parties in the evenings.