No matter how many times you visit Phuket, there’s always something new and exciting. This is partly due to its rich culture, which has led to a number of annual festivals.
Phuket and Festivals
It’s an island of phenomenal natural beauty. The charming coastline is home to many beaches that will have you spending hours in the sun. Markets uphold Phuket’s reputation as busy and chaotic, with their many stalls attracting both locals and tourists.
This Thai island, the largest in the country, boasts a rich culture shaped over hundreds of years by immigration and various historical events. Temples are scattered across the island, showcasing beautiful architecture. Annual festivals are a highlight too. Tourists visiting the island are completely captivated by these lively festivals, some of which include acts of self-mortification in honour of the gods – not the best sight for a child, but you might find it fascinating to see such devotion brought to life.
If you’re planning to visit Phuket with your family, there’s so much in store for you – not just water sports, which are, of course, part of any vacation here. Festivals will add a great deal of cultural depth to your experience.
Best Time to Go and Places to Stay
Festivals take place throughout the year, but the best time to visit is generally considered to be the dry season, from November to April, although this depends on what you want to do. It’s also worth noting that the dry season coincides with many festivals.
Some might prefer to visit during the monsoon season, from May to early October, as prices tend to go down. The rain doesn’t last long, so there are dry spells when you can go out and explore.
As for places to stay, Phuket’s accommodation sector offers both budget and high-end options. If you have a generous budget and want to stay close to the top attractions in Phuket while enjoying the comfort of spacious family suites, you might like Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas.
Songkran
This has to be the most boisterous of them all. Songkran, or the Thai New Year festival, is one of the most vibrant and lively festivals that Phuket hosts. This is not the kind of festival you watch from the sidelines – even if you wanted to, you couldn’t. Water splashing is the main feature of the festival. Both locals and tourists throw water at each other in a frenzy, which is fun to watch and participate in.
While it’s loads of fun, there’s more to Songkran – the water throwing symbolises purity and the washing away of the previous year’s misfortunes. During the festival, the whole island, especially Phuket Town, comes alive with parties, music, and parades. If your kids are with you, you’ll have a hard time stopping them from joining in. Don’t let your children out of sight, though.
Loy Krathong
Thai festivals have a deeper cultural and spiritual meaning than they appear to have on the surface. They are also closely connected to nature. Take Loy Krathong, for example, a festival held to honour the river spirits. Locals craft flowers out of banana leaves, fill a basket with them, and place a lit candle in the centre. They then let the baskets float on the river, asking the river spirits for forgiveness for polluting the water. A river filled with these illuminated baskets makes for a truly beautiful sight.
Phuket Vegetarian Festival
One of the most spiritually charged events on Phuket, the Phuket Vegetarian Festival is held every year in late September or October. Frankly, the name doesn’t do justice to the event, as it celebrates much more than vegetarianism. The festival is held in honour of the Nine Emperor Gods, and those who wish to participate follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet to purify the mind and body.
Rituals, incense, and processions are all part of it. Spirit mediums provide the most striking sight. They perform acts of self-mortification such as walking on hot coals, piercing their cheeks, or climbing bladed ladders, believing it will earn the gods’ favour. If you decide to visit, brace yourself for a spectacle full of vigour – you won’t miss the spirit mediums even if you tried.
The Phuket International Boat Show
Filled with glamour and wealth, the Phuket International Boat Show attracts well-known yachts from around the world. Familiar names include Ferretti Yachts, Sunseeker, Princess Yachts, and Fairline. The estimated value of some of these yachts can exceed USD 200 million!
Lasting four days, it is one of the most prestigious events on the island. While it draws big spenders from across the globe, those without a million-dollar paycheck a month can visit, too. Apart from the yachts, hundreds of stalls pop up to sell all sorts of items, including diving excursions and charter holidays. Delicious local food is part of the event as well.
More Festivals
Phuket hosts a range of festivals beyond the ones you’ve just read about. The Bay Regatta, also known as the Fun Regatta, is worth a visit. Of course, the Chinese New Year is one of the biggest festivals, not only in Phuket but across Thailand. Other festivals include the Phuket Old Town Festival, Thao Thepkrasattri–Thao Sri Suntorn Festival, Phuket Bike Week, Laguna Phuket Marathon, Baba (Peranakan) Wedding Festival, and Kathu Festival.
As you can imagine, Phuket is one of the most animated destinations in Thailand. With soul-stirring festivities, the island invites you to take part in its many events, enjoy water sports, eat delicious food, and have a wonderful time under the tropical sun, all in the company of your family.