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Chao Le (Sea Gypsy) Boat Floating Festival
Chao Le (Sea Gypsy) Boat Floating Festival
falls during the middle of the sixth and eleventh lunar months
yearly. The sea gypsy villages at Rawai and Sapam hold their
ceremonies on the 13th; Ko Si-re celebrates on the 14th; and
Laem La (east of the bridge on Phuket's northern tip) on the
15th. Ceremonies, which centre around the setting adrift of
small boats similar to the Thai festival of Loi Krathong,
are held at night and their purpose is to drive away evil
and bring good luck.
Laguna Phuket Triathlon
Laguna Phuket Triathlon is held in each
December. The triathlon (a 1,000-metre swim, a 5-kilometre
bike race and a 12-kilometre run) attracts world-class athletes
from all over the world.
Phuket King's Cup Regatta
Phuket King's Cup Regatta is held in December.
The Phuket Yacht Club hosts international yachtsmen, largely
from neighbouring countries who compete in the Nai Han Beach
area for royal trophies.
Phuket Travel Fair
Phuket Travel Fair , held on November 1,
was first initiated in 1985 at Patong to welcome in the tourist
season and designed to foster co-operation among tourism-related
operators both in the private and public sectors. Many colourful
and interesting activities are organised, such as merit-making
in the morning, water sports contests, a Miss Visitor Contest,
among others.
Seafood Festival
Seafood Festival, held around May yearly,
is designed to publicise the delicious seafood of Phuket and
attract visitors during the rainy season. Activities include
a Marine Tourism Resources Parade, seafood stalls, demonstrations
of regional cuisines and cultural shows.
Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sisunthon Fair
Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sisunthon Fair
is held on March 13 every year to commemorate the two great
heroines who rallied the Thalang people to repel Burmese invaders.
Many activities and celebrations are organised.
Tourist Season Opening Festival
Tourist Season Opening Festival , starting
from November 1, is usually called the Patong Carnival, from
the place where celebrations occur. Colourful parades, sports
events, and a beauty competition for foreign tourists are
major activities.
Turtle Release Fair
Turtle Release Fair is held on Songkran,
the nationwide Thai water festival, on April 13 which is also
National Fisherman's Day. Baby turtles are released into the
sea at various locations.
Vegetarian Festival
Vegetarian Festival is held on the first
day of the 9th lunar month (usually October). Phuket islanders
of Chinese ancestry commit themselves to a 9-day vegetarian
diet, a form of purification believed to help make the forthcoming
year trouble-free. The festival is marked by several ascetic
displays, including fire-walking and ascending sharp-bladed
ladders.
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