The retro-themed Srisoonthorn Carnival, held at Bang Maruan Lake north of Heroines Monument, is a three-day event dedicated to Loy Kratong.
Despite Friday’s (Nov 25) rain in central Phuket, the festival, beloved by local folk and Srisoonthorn Mayor Chalermpol Kerdsup, commenced at in the afternoon with high spirits. Hundreds of people joined the Loy Kratong parade and further activities at Bang Maruan Park.
The carnival starts at 5pm. The event boasts traditional and modern performances, cooking workshops, and an array of delectable food options.
The festivities will climax tomorrow (Nov 27) with traditional Loy Krathong activities, including the Nong Noppamas Beauty Contest and setting krathongs afloat in the lake.
The Nai Yang Beach Music Festival, now in its second year in Sakhu, commenced around noon on Friday (Nov 25). Sakhu Mayor Trin Panyawai extended a warm welcome to both VIP guests and the general public at Nai Yang Beach, inviting everyone to revel in a weekend of music and seafood, for which the area is renowned.
Activities related to Loy Krathong will include several beauty contests, including Miss Mom Loy Krathong Sakhu 2023, traditional stage performances, electronic dance music, and more. The festival begins at noon (12 pm) and runs till late.
Loy Kratong around Phuket
Each year, thousands of people turn out for the Loy Krathong festival in Phuket to offer their ‘krathong’ ‒ a hand-crafted float made from a slice of banana tree stalk adorned with flowers ‒ to waterways and other bodies of water as a way of making merit and to wash away the sins of the past.
Also referred to as the “Festival” of Lights”, Loy Krathong in more recent years has also become renowned for floating ‘sky lanterns’, called Khom Loy.
As is Thai tradition, the festival will see events held in every community on the island and in the country ‒ complete with live music, cultural performances and the famed ‘Nong Noppamas’ beauty contests.
In Patong, the centre of festivities will be near the end of Bangla Rd on Patong Beach. In the past, many people used to launch their krathong from the pier at the southern end of the beach but this year Patong Municipality encourages people to refrain from releasing krathong into the sea and use a special pool in the official celebration zone.
In Rawai, the centre of festivities will be at Nai Harn Lake and Nai harn Beach, while in Chalong the most popular sites for enjoying the festival will be Chalong Pier, Palai Pier, Wat Ladthi Wanaram (Wat Tai) on Chao Fa East Rd and the lakes behind Wat Chalong, on Chao Fa West Rd.
Karon festivities will be held at Nong Harn Public Park, while Kamala will hold its festivities at the beach area of Chalermprakiat 100th Anniversary Park.
While the festival each year features large fireworks displays organised by local municipalities, local officials have made it clear that people individually setting off their own fireworks will not be tolerated.
For the official festivities in Phuket Town, to be held at Suan Luang (King Rama IX Park), Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas is asking all people taking part to observe ‘One Family, One Krathong’ ‒ an environmentally conscious trend that has become increasingly popular in recent years.
Festivities at all locales will be from about 6pm onwards.