The festival will take place from Sept 20-21 at Queen Park in Phuket Town, starting each day at 4pm.
Phuket Provincial Cultural Officer Puangphaka Chaowai recently announced details of the event, joined by representatives from the province’s cultural, tourism and community sectors, including Phuket Town Deputy Mayor Phibunsak Kittithorakul, Peranakan Association of Thailand President Dr Kosol Tang-Uthai and Phuket Old Town Community President Don Limnantaphisit.
The Kebaya Festival will feature a vibrant programme blending tradition with modern flair. A grand parade of kebaya costumes will showcase styles that merge cultural authenticity with contemporary design.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy local Phuket cuisine, shop for Thai cultural products (CPOT), and experience a ‘Complete Exhibition of My Home’, which tells the story of Baba-Peranakan life through displays of architecture, clothing, accessories and antiques.
Interactive activities will include the ‘Walk Rally: Journey through Time’, guiding participants through Phuket’s history of art, food, beliefs, and multicultural exchanges. Performing arts will be a central part of the programme, with stage plays, traditional ‘Nai Tiam Chu’ performances, and live demonstrations of Peranakan handicrafts such as shoe embroidery.
Music lovers can look forward to concerts by top Thai artists Gam Wichayanee and Dome Jaruwat, adding to the festival’s festive atmosphere.
Organisers stressed that the event is not only a celebration of cultural heritage but also a collaborative effort between government, private sector, and local communities to strengthen Phuket’s identity as a Creative City and promote its culture globally.
Phuket Province and the Phuket Provincial Cultural Office are inviting locals, tourists and international visitors to join the festivities, experience the beauty of the kebaya, and share in the pride of the island’s Baba-Peranakan heritage.