The festival, held at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Phuket Provincial Cultural Office, Phuket Provincial Cultural Council, local administrative organisations, government agencies, the private sector and arts networks.
The event highlights the ‘kebaya’, the traditional costume of Baba and Peranakan women, which was jointly inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2024 by Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Rakchanok Kojaranon, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, together with Puangphaka Chaowai, Phuket Provincial Cultural Officer, Phuket Town Mayor Suphot La-ongphet and Chalam Attham, Vice President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), along with representatives from cultural councils, government agencies and community groups.
Ms Rakchanok said the festival was designed not only as a celebration, but also as a platform to strengthen awareness and pride in local identity while connecting Phuket’s cultural roots with modern trends.
“The Ministry of Culture has a key mission to preserve, restore and develop the nation’s cultural capital in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” she said. “Phuket, recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy, has shown that culture and creativity can generate economic power, create jobs and improve quality of life.”
She added that the Kebaya Festival is part of a national drive to elevate Thai festivals and traditions to the international stage as a form of soft power, alongside major events in Sakon Nakhon and Ratchaburi.
The opening parade captured Phuket’s rich multicultural heritage with 11 themed floats, including the festival logo, the Thai Hua School marching band, government representatives, a tribute to the island’s tin mining history, a long drum procession and a showcase of Sino-Thai friendship. Local schools, cultural troupes and community groups joined the procession, drawing large crowds along the route.
Throughout the evening, visitors enjoyed cultural performances, Baba theatrical plays, Peranakan handicraft demonstrations, and exhibitions tracing Phuket’s history. Highlights included a play in Tiam Chu reflecting the lifestyle of Phuket’s Baba community, musical performances by local students, the ‘Complete Story of My Home’ exhibition, and a mini-concert by Phuket artists ‘Gam’ Wichayanee and ‘Dome’ Jaruwat.
Organisers said the festival underscores the strength of public-private collaboration in promoting Phuket’s identity as a Creative City, integrating fashion, food, performing arts and local lifestyles to attract visitors and inspire regional pride.
The Kebaya Festival 2025 continued over the weekend with more parades, workshops and performances, offering locals and tourists a chance to experience the living heritage of Phuket’s Baba and Peranakan culture.