Phuket Festivals and Cultural Events

Phuket has way more happening than people realise, even as a local resident I find it hard to keep up. There are traditional festivals, there are music and food festivals, local street fairs, all kind of things going on year round! The most famous festival in Phuket is the Vegetarian Festival. Phuket is also a great place to be for Songkran (the "water throwing" festival / Thai New Year). Another popular festival is Loy Krathong. Dates for the vegetarian festival and Loy Krathong change every year as they are based on the lunar calendar. There is plenty of culture and history here, not just beaches. And there are plenty of Phuket festivals!

The vegetarian festival always was my favourite thing in Phuket! The 2024 Phuket Vegetarian Festival will be 2nd - 12th October. But as I am now in the UK, not sure when I'll be back for another vegetarian festival!

• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2024 Schedule

Photos from Phuket vegetarian festivals ...

• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2016 Photos
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2015 Part 1
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2015 Part 2

Phuket Festivals on the Phuket Blog

• Hungry Ghost Festival 2015
• Phuket Baba Wedding Festival 2013
• Phuket Old Town Festival 2013
• Por Tor Festival 2012
• Kathu Phuket Street Culture Festival 2012
• Phuket Old Town Festival / Chinese New Year 2012
• Chalong Temple Fair
• Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival 2011
• Kathu Culture Fair 2011
• A night in Phuket Town for Japan 2011
• Phuket Street Show Festival
• Phuket Heroines Festival
• OTOP Fair in Phuket Town
• Phuket Halal Expo

Note: Most of these are annual events, I don't go or blog them every year!

kathu-piercing-4

Procession through Kathu village, 8th October 2016

Since 2006 I have always tried to see some of the ceremonies, take a lot of photos, and eat plenty of the great food on offer. I am not normally a veggie, but it can't hurt for a week or so!? My "local" is Kathu shrine, located in Baan Kathu. Sam Kong shrine is not too far from Tesco Lotus - loads of veggie food stalls in the Kathu/Sam Kong area during the festival. In Phuket town you find big shrines such as Jui Tui and Bang Neow which are very much the center of festivities. Phuket Town is the best place to be based if you want to see as much as possible.

Songkran Festival (Thai New Year)

Songkran is the Thai New Year, a real mix of quiet prayer and water throwing mayhem. We tend to mix it up - a bit of quiet at the temple, a bit of water... in 2007 (as well as the water fights) we went to a turtle release ceremony at Mai Khao beach. The next year we drove around taking photos. In 2009 we reckoned both our kids were were ready for a ride in the back of a pick up truck around Patong, throwing water at anything that moved - that's fun! In 2010 I was too busy throwing water and drinking beer to take photos! In 2011 I was not in Phuket, but took lots of photos in my wife's home town, Chumphon (about 400km north of Phuket). Last few years simply drinking beer and throwing water with some friends in Phuket!

• About The Songkran Festival
• Songkran 2011 Photos in Chumphon
• Songkran at Patong Beach Phuket
• Songkran 2008 Photos
• Songkran 2007

• Phuket Bike Week - 3 days of big bikes and beachside concerts, normally about the same date as Songkran.

Loy Krathong

Every year, but dates vary according to the full moon. 2021 will be November 19 - 20. The main element of Loy Krathong is giving thanks to the goddess of water. The "Kratong" are floated onto the water and many lanterns are lit to float up into the sky. It's all about giving thanks and asking for good luck.

• About The Loy Krathong Festival
• Loy Krathong - Making A Kratong

More Local Phuket Life

• Local Markets
• Market at Karon Temple
• Indy Market in Phuket Town
• Local Street Fair in Kathu District

Kathu Village Festival 2011

• Phuket Butterfly Release
• The Weekend Market
• Buddha Shelf & Shrine in our house
• A Funeral in our village
• Caged bird singing competition