January
- New Year’s Day – January 1st
February
- Chinese New Year -Chinese counting: 2567=2017 Dragon processions
- Phuket Old Phuket Festival & Chinese new year celebrations February 15-17
- Wat Chalong Fair. It was first started in 1933 by local farmers who lived near Wat Chalong. After a long period of hard work and the harvest was complete, they would get together and create a kind of fun fair on the temple’s grounds. In later years, they set up the fair during the Chinese New Year because they wanted to make sure that Thais with Chinese heritage would join in. The aromatic fascinating fair lasts 7 days.
- Phuket Blues Festival – mid-February Blues bands Karon Beach
- Valentine day February 14th
- The Bay Regatta (formerly Phang Nga Bay Regatta), the region’s roaming and sleep aboard regatta, offers four days of racing and sailing Jan 30-Febr 3.
March
- Wat Chalong Fair, Febr.
- Thao Thep Krasatri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival – mid-March, celebrating the heroines who defended the island of Phuket at the end of the 18th century
- Balinese Saka New Year 1935 (Nyepi)
- International Marine Expo-
April
- Chakri Memorial day, April 6th public holiday to commemorate the origins of the Chakri dynasty, founded by Rama I, who established Bangkok as the nation’s capital. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth monarch of the Chakri dynasty. In Western world the Friday before is Eastern Friday and the weekend is Eastern. This means money transfers will be delayed since banks are closed!
- Gay Festival Parade 22-28 April, attractive gay men and lesbians
- Bike Week – April, first in 1991 by the Phuket Riders Club at Patong Beach
- Songkran Festival – Celebrates the lunar New Year mid-April. One of the most notable festivals in Thailand, featuring water throwing and other fun events
- Turtle Releasing Festival – mid-April, many turtles and other animals are released as part of the Songkran. April 13th, 2010 the same day as National Fisherman’s Day! Turtle Release Baby turtles are released into the sea.
May
- Phuket International 10s Rugby Tournament – late May, teams from all over the world competing for the Clive Williamson Memorial Trophy Karon Beach 29-31 May
June
- Visakha Bucha / Vesak Day The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha.
- Phuket International Marathon – mid-June, various running events, all of which starts at the Laguna Phuket Resort
July
- Phuket Race Week – late July, week-long yacht racing and other sailing events
- July Six Senses Phuket Raceweek
- Halal Food / Hilal Town Festival – late July, Muslim event around Heroines’ Monument Thalang. Featuring fashion show, live music and singing
August
- Asalha Puja Day Commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon in the Deer Park in Benares and the founding of the Buddhist sangha.
- Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Khao Phansa) This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist ‘lent’ period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth.
- Khao Phansa Day: the beginning of the three months Buddhist ‘lent’. Khao Phansa means “to enter”, the period in which monks will remain in one place during the rainy season. It is also the time when young men should enter the monk hood for spiritual training. Many Thais feel that a man cannot be considered a mature adult unless he has been a monk. “Ok Phansa Day ” to come out of lent October
- Por Tor Festival – late August / early September, often known as the ‘Hungry Ghosts’ festival, with offers of local delicacies, turtle-shaped cakes, flowers and gifts to ghosts, held each year in Phuket City. August Por Tor Festival @ All Chinese Shrines on the Island. The ‘Hungry Ghosts’ festival is an important merit-making event for the ethnic Chinese. Special food, flowers and candles are offered to ancestors’ altars in order to ‘feed the ghosts’ that are said to have been released from hell for the month. The Por Tor Festival has a long, rich tradition in Phuket and similar festivals are held throughout Southeast Asia, China and Japan. It starts on the first day of the waxing moon on the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar. With ceremonial events taking place on the first 10 days. During this month it’s believed that the gates of hell are opened, allowing ghosts trapped inside to return to earth to enjoy feasts prepared by their living relatives. It’s also a time to help those who may be wandering lost in a deathly realm: the forlorn spirits of those who died suddenly or died away from family, or otherwise missed the chance for a proper send-off. The festival’s first day is typically spent at the family home, where an elaborate feast is prepared. The table is set with all the dishes placed in the middle, plus a plate of rice for each of the departed relatives. Sticks of incense speared into each serving of rice are lit, then all the family members sit off to the side or go to another room. When the incense is burned through it indicates the ghosts have finished dining, allowing the living relatives to come to the table to start their meal.
- Hua Hin Regatta see YachtRacingAssociation of Thailand
- August, 19-23 2020 Sail Amsterdam see: photography
September
- Phuket Surfing Contest – throughout September, with strong waves at this time of the year attracting many surfers, based around the coastline off Kata Beach.
October
- October 15th Sat Thai Day occurs at the end of Thai lunar calendar Moon 10, waning day 15, evening (วันแรม ๑๕ ค่ำ เดือน ๑๐). This is a New Moon but not one of the secular public holidays in Thailand. It occurs midway past the traditional Thai New Year and near the autumnal equinox. It is an occasion for making merit by honoring (บูชา buucha) the spirits of the season, as well as one’s deceased relatives, according to local tradition, with various rites and ceremonies. Sat Thai Day appears on calendars as “Begin 9-day vegetarian festival” (roem thet-sa-gan kin-che 9 wan, เริ่มเทศกาลกินเจ ๕ วัน) — kin-che (กินเจ)
- Vegetarian Festival – Nine Lunar Month late October, an event with clear Chinese origins, where many locals choose to eat only vegetarian food for nine days. Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival also features a range of street entertainment, parades. This year special street procession to honor HM King Bhumipol Adulyadej, HM Queen Sirikit and HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. This procession will be held on starting at 4 pm Sanam Chai field opposite Provincial Hall in Phuket Town.
- Ok Phansa Day: the end of the three months Buddhist ‘lent’. Khao Phansa means “to enter”, the period in which monks will remain in one place during the rainy season. It is also the time when young men should enter the monk hood for spiritual training. Many Thais feel that a man cannot be considered a mature adult unless he has been a monk. “Ok Phansa Day ” to come out of lent, three months after
- Thod Kathin Presentation of Monk’s Robes after Rains Retreat
November
- Phuket Carnival (Patong Carnival) – early November, often referred to as Patong Carnival and featuring a range of live music (including jazz), art exhibitions, sporting events and sumptuous Thai cuisine
- Loy Krathong 12th lunar month November 21st Loy Kratong or Full Moon Day – November, with a procession of small floats, decorated with colourful flowers, leaves and candles. Loi Krathong Water Festival – Loy Kratong. The origins of Loy Kratong are unclear, but it is believed that it started in Sukhothai (north of Bangkok) one of the most powerful cities in Asia, around 800 years ago. On this particular night, on nearly every expanse of water, be it a river, lake or the ocean, you’ll notice thousands of lights drifting across the water like fairy dreams.
December
- Phuket Triathlon – December, attended by international athletes, combination of swimming, cycling and long-distance running
- King’s Cup Regatta – December large numbers of yachts arriving and congregating at various points around the coastline. Various parties are held as part of this regatta held first 1987 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta
- Phuket Invitational Superyacht Rendezvous – late December, stunning yachts sail into the Amanpuri Resort for gala dinners and partying, Dec. 16-18@Surin
Name list of Special days
New Year’s Day
The beginning of the western New Year is a national holiday in Thailand, one of three “new year” holidays celebrated every year. Sunday, 1 January Monday, 2 January =Substitute
Chinese New Year Monday, January
Makha Bucha celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon in to his disciples. Wednesday,
Chakri Day commemorates the founding of the current dynasty by its first king, Rama I
Songkran April 13-16
Thailand Labor Day International Labor Day is also a national holiday. Some businesses may be closed. 1 May
Coronation Day Celebrates the day the current king Rama IX was crowned in 1949.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony An ancient royal rite held in Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season
Visakha Bucha / Vesak Day
The holiest Buddhist holiday celebrates the birth, enlightenment and entry into nirvana of the Buddha.
Asalha Puja Day Commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon in the Deer Park in Benares and the founding of the Buddhist sangha.
Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Khao Phansa) This day marks the beginning of the Buddhist ‘lent’ period, a time when monks are supposed to retreat to their temples while new life springs forth.
H.M. The Queen’s Birthday Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday is a national holiday, also serving as the country’s Mothers’ Day as well. 12 August
Chulalongkorn Memorial Day Celebration of the death anniversary of Thailand’s one of the most revered kings, Rama V. 23 October
End of Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Awk Phansa) This day marks the end of the Buddhist ‘lent’ period or the Rains Retreat.
Thod Kathin Presentation of Monk’s Robes after Rains Retreat. Wednesday, 31 October
Loy Kratong While it is not marked a national holiday, it is an evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings on any and all waterways around the kingdom. 28 November
H.M. The King’s Birthday His Majesty the King’s birthday is celebrated 5 December
Thai Constitution Day Celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution. 10 December
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
Mooncake promotions herald this Chinese festival, during which Chinatown fills with stalls. September
End of Buddhist Lent Day (Wan Awk Phansa)
This day marks the end of the Buddhist ‘lent’ period or the Rains Retreat.
Thod Kathin Presentation of Monk’s Robes after Rains Retreat.
Chulalongkorn Memorial Day Celebration of the death anniversary of Thailand’s one of the most revered kings, Rama V.
Loy Kratong While it is not marked a national holiday, Loy Krathong is a major celebration in the evening when Thais pay respect to the goddess of the waters by floating candlelit offerings on any and all waterways around the kingdom.
H.M. The King’s Birthday
His Majesty the King’s birthday is a national holiday celebrated throughout the country and is also the country’s Fathers Day
Thai Constitution Day
Celebrates the date in 1932 when the country was granted its first constitution.
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Penang No.1 Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 10350 Penang.
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 09.00 – 12.00 hrs 14.00 – 16.30 hrs
9.00 am -11.30 am (Visa Application) 2.00 pm – 16.00 pm (Visa Collection)
9.00 am -12.00 noon 2.00 pm . 16.00 pm (Legalization)
Official Holidays 2015 (R.E. 2558)
October 14 Wednesday Islamic New Year (Awal Muhsrrsm/ Hsri Raya Qurban) M November 10 Tuesday Festival of Lights (Deepa veli)” M
25 Friday Christmas Day M
December 31 Thursday New Year’s Eve T/M
| January | 1 | Friday | New Year’s Day | M/T |
| February | 15 | Monday | Chinese New Year Day | M |
| April | 26 | Friday | Prophet Muhammad’s Brithday | M |
| 6 | Tuesday | Chakri Memorial Day | T | |
| 13 | Tuesday | Songkran Festival | T | |
| 14 | Wednesday | Songkran Festival | T | |
| 15 | Thursday | Songkran Festival | T | |
| May | 5 | Coronation Day | T | |
| 28 | Visakha Bucha Day | M/T | ||
| July | 26 | Asaranha Bucha Day | T | |
| 27 | Buddhist Lent Day | T | ||
| August | 12 | Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand’s Birthday | T | |
| 13 | Mother Day | T | ||
| 31 | Malaysian National Day | M | ||
| September | 10 | Hari Raya Puasa | M* | |
| October | 25 | Substitute of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day | T | |
| November
November |
10
17 |
Depa velli
Hari Raya Haji |
M*
M* |
|
| December | 6 | Substitution for His Majesty the King of Thailand’s Birthday | T | |
| 7 | Awal Muharam | M | ||
| 31 | New Year’s Eve | M/T |
Remarks. T=Thai National Holiday , M=Malaysia National Holiday, * Subject to Change