Thalang Road is one of the very important roads representing the architecture about Phuket’s history and its unique style in living through the buildings, as they are called "Sino-Portuguese Architecture Style" which were influenced from Penang and Singapore about 80-120 years ago. There are carefully designed and well decorated buildings which we or visitors can admire for their valuable heritage along Thalang Road.

Both governmental and private organizations, especially the Phuket city office, a local administrative body, realize and agree to maintain these buildings for the next generations.

With Phuket being rich with its unique and outstanding culture, the Phuket office reflects the old charming Phuket way of life and good old times in the form of the Old Phuket Town Festival which is coming up to the 8th time this year.

Organized in the old traditional town, the roads of Thalang, Krabi and Soi Rommani will be blocked off from traffic from 4.30 pm on Friday February 3rd to Sunday the 5th and turned into pedestrian roads with local food stalls, including traditional sweets rare to find these days. Many activities reflecting the local life-style and folk plays will be around there, while boating along Bang Yai canal which the city has been recently redeveloping will be offered. Exhibitions about the preservation of the old buildings will be shown at house No. 63 on Thalang Road. A grand procession showing off Phuket’s old style of costumes will take place on the opening day Friday.

A local cultural historian Pranee Sakulpipat, who also resides on the old road of Thalang, is very proud and welcomes the unique festival. She sees it as not only helping to promote the charming value among the new generation but also to attract tourists into town to appreciate the real essence of Phuket town itself.

She also invites all to enjoy and experience authentic local culture and customs. Pranee encourages local residents to dress in traditional Phuket style of Yaya.

The grand light and sound presentation telling the glorious past and future of the island will be staged every evening at the Thantavanit Mansion during the festival.

The Old Phuket Town Festival is something proudly presented and enjoyed by local residents and a great experience for its visitors.

from Special Report for Andaman News TV11 Phuket, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket, 8.30am Thursday 2 February 2006 & to see mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=160576

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The 8th Old Phuket Town Festival will start with an exhibition on Phuket’s ancient history and culture at house no. 63 on Thalang Road. A street procession showcasing local customs and costumes will start from Phang Nga road, go along Phuket Road, entering Thalang and Krabi Roads to end at the Tantavanitch mansion where the official opening ceremony will take place at 8.30pm.

This will be followed by a spectacular Light and Sound presentation reflecting Phuket’s glorious times. Later in the evening, the show will be televised nationwide at 11pm by channel 11 here. The Thalang and Krabi roads and Soi Rommanee will be blocked off from traffic at 4.30 pm to midnight from today ( Feb. 3rd ) to Sunday (5th) turning it into pedestrian area where people can enjoy great varieties of old local cuisines and desserts as well as games and folklore. The annual festival is organized to promote unique cultural preservation among the new generation on the island.

to see mini-video after the festival and Light-Sound Show go to

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=161153