Phuket Carnival Marks High Season Arrival

[thaigerd]

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN: Patong’s large contingent of ladyboys, decked out in their finest plumage, are perennial stars of the opening parade.

PATONG: The Phuket Carnival 2007 will take over the streets of Patong today through Saturday, marking the official launch of the high season with musical performances, parades, food and games and much more.

The festival started at 7 am with an alms-giving ceremony at Loma Park. Commerce Minister Krerkkrai Jeerapat will preside over the official opening ceremony 6:30 pm tonight in the same location.

This year the three-day celebration, themed “Art, Culture and Fun”, will have performances on three stages. Features will include concerts by rock band Blackhead and jazz band Bangkok Connection, along with daily magic shows.

Information booths will provide guide maps of the daily activities zones, complimentary coupons, activity-entry cards and souvenirs to all attendees. Entry to the festival is free.

All activities will be held in 10 color-coded zones – on Soi Bangla, along the beach road, at Loma Park and on Patong Beach – and categorized into three sections: field activities, daily parades, and stage performances.

This year, parades will take place every day of the carnival along the beach road from 6 pm until 7 pm. Extravagant floats carrying beautiful women – and some beautiful men – in Thai costumes will be led by children dressed as marine-themed mascots.

Activities will be held daily from 1 pm to 10 pm in eight zones identified by different colors where workshops, games, food and exhibitions will offer everything from an exhibition of photographs taken by HM The King to delicious seafood to carnival dart games.

Click here for a detailed description of the zones and a full schedule of events.

FRom the PHUKET GAZETTE online

Gerd

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: The spectacular beach parade to welcome tourists drew vast attention from visitors, Thais and foreigners alike.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=215159

The official opening ceremony of the Phuket Carnival at Patong 2007 took place yesterday evening with the Minister of Commerce Krerkkrai Jiraphate presiding over the ceremony. It began with paying respect to His Majesty the King, when all participants gathered and sang a song. Fireworks were also displayed in honour of His Majesty. After that the beach parade started with spectacular cultural and festive styles attracting the interests of vast crowds, especially foreign tourists. After the opening ceremony the Minister of Commerce visited community products from across the country which the Ministry select top quality ones to be displayed and put on sale at the fair hoping to provide a platform for manufacturers or producers to directly meet with potential customers, whether local tourism businesses or foreign operators. The Phuket Carnival at Patong 2007 will go on until tomorrow with many activities and entertainment.

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MiniVDO: Around 100 volunteer divers took part in an under water garbage collection competition during the Phuket Carnival at Patong 2007

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=215158

The Buddhist monks alms offering ceremony early yesterday morning marked the beginning of activities for the festival held to celebrate the beginning of the high tourist season for Phuket this year. Held at a public park on the beach front, the activity was well participated in by local resident and businesses. Later some sea turtles were released in tribute to HM the King. Meanwhile the under water garbage collection contests were participated in by 100 divers in 18 teams. They went out at sea and came back at around 2 pm with a target to collect a total of 1,000 kilograms of garbage. On the beach, students and local businesses also helped collect garbage to keep the beach clean and tidy to welcome visitors from around the globe.

both from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Friday 2nd November 2007 & www.Thaisnews.com

[phuketsub]

The stall by the cocktail jugglers on the beach road has the best drink deals ever seen in Patong. Try a double Gin Sling for just 100 baht. Killer. Worth hanging about in the rain for...