NOISY fireworks, dragons, colourful processions and a host of entertainment will herald the start of the Chinese New Year on Monday. The Year of the Ox will begin with a bang in Phuket’s old quarter, which is home to many of Phuket’s Chinese residents. This year, the New Year festivities will coincide with the 10th annual Old Phuket Town Festival which promises to be an electric three days of performances, parades and culinary treats.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Phuket City Municipality will host three days of cultural performances between January 31 and February 2.  Traditional Thai and Chinese activities, including Chinese opera, traditional Thai dancing, Kung Fu demonstrations and Chinese folk dancing, will be staged every night between 7pm and 11pm in Queen Sirikit Public Park, Thalang Rd, Krabi, Road and Soi Rommanee, and streets in the old quarter will be closed to traffic to add to the street carnival atmosphere.

Phuket City Mayor, Somjai Suwansupana, said this year’s Old Phuket Festival would be much better than previous years.  The festivities will begin with a street parade, starting at 5pm on Saturday. The parade, which will feature both young and old people wearing traditional Thai and Chinese costumes, will start at Sapan Hin park and finish at Queen Sirikit park. At 7pm, the Minister for Sport and Tourism Phuket, Chompol Sillapaarcha, will officially open the festival. Continue reading →