The ‘Phuket Festival 2024’ will be held from Feb 15-17, Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas announced yesterday (Feb 5).
The three-day event will feature a variety of festivities, including a light and sound show, cultural performances and a colourful parade, Mayor Saroj explained.
A major feature of the festival will be at least 432 vendors setting up stalls along key road throughout the Old Town area, he added.
In order to allow the vendors to set up their stalls, key roads in the Old Town will be closed from 6pm to 11pm each night from Feb 15-17.
The roads to be affected by the closures are: Thepkrasattri Rd, Phuket Rd, Thalang Rd, Soi Rommanee, Krabi Rd, Phang Nga Rd, Soi Pradit and Takua Pa Rd.
“The festival will show the world the power and greatness of the Phuket Chinese New Year events,” Mr Saroj said.
“Phuket City Municipality understands the importance of preserving the Phuket Old Town and wanst to promote tourism to the town. We have joined forces to help create awareness among Phuket people to realise the value of their local cultural heritage and the traditional way of life that has been passed down from ancestors. This will stimulate the economy in urban areas, and Phuket province,” he said.
The festival is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by promoting economic growth and valuable employment, together helping to reduce inequality, he added.
There will be eight ‘check-in’ features set up throughout the Old Town area, where visitors can take photos and have a ‘festival passport’ stamped.
People who collect all eight passport stamps will be able to join several activities, including plaster and bag painting activities, Mayor Saroj explained, adding that anyone can pick up a ‘festival passport’ at any of the eight check-in’ points.
The festival will also feature the traditional parade, this year involving more than 300 youths and adults, and there will be a main stage and six ‘min stages’ set up for live performances each night through the Old Town area, he noted.
PARKING
Phuket City Municipality has organised free shuttle services to and from designated parking areas, Mayor Saroj said.
The free shuttle services will operate from 6pm to 11pm each night.
The designated parking areas area at:
- Wat Khajon Rangsan on Krabi Rd (50 cars)
- Wat Mongkolnimit (Wat Klang) on Dibuk Rd, from 5pm to 11pm (80-100 cars0
- Sanam Chai on Narisorn Rd, (300 cars)
- Wichit Sangkharam Temple (Wat Kuan) Narisorn Rd (30-40 cars)
- Vacant lot opposite Phuket Post Office on Montri Rd (80 cars)
- Pearl Phuket Hotel on Montri Rd (30 cars)
- Vacant lot next to the Meijo Hotel on Luang Phor Rd (150 cars).
- 3D Image Museum, on Phang Nga Rd from 5:30pm onwards (20 cars)
- Daeng Plaza Hotel on Phuket Rd (150 cars)