Phuket Entertainment

Phuket is renowned for having a frenetic night scene, although this is not the only option available. There are quieter alternatives that are more suited to families with young children. It is a resort island, so much of the entertainment revolves around tourists, with cabaret shows and live music. The island does not offer much in the way of cultural activites at night, but the options are certainly entertaining.

You will undoubtedly be around for a festival, as there are events happening virtually every month. If you are, it is recommended that you take full advantage of the scenes on offer, as you are unlikely to experience them anywhere else in the world.

Nightlife

Phuket has a thriving nightlife, which is one of the main attractions of the island. There are plenty of places to let your hair down after a day at the beach including lively nightclubs with live bands or dj's; small beachside bars with a chilled out atmosphere; trendy cocktail bars and lively go-go bars. The nightspots are concentrated around the tourist beaches of Patong, Kata and Rawai as well as in Phuket Town.

On Patong Beach, the heart of the action can be found on Bangla Road and soi Sunset, with soi Seadragon being home to the majority of the go-go bars. The Kata area is a smaller version of Patong with a just a few bar lanes, while Rawai Beach houses many late-night bars.

The night life in Phuket Town is predominantly made up of Thai-style nightclubs, which are dotted across the web of one-way streets. These are usually very lively and packed with a mix of Thais and foreign residents. If you’re going to celebrate Thai-style, pick up a bottle of whiskey and bring it with you. There are rarely corkage fees, although you are expected to buy ice and mixers from the bar.

For those hoping to find some company for the evening, there is no shortage of places with friendly girls or gay boys, most of whom will willingly leave with you at the end of a night for a small ‘bar fine’.

If you are travelling with your family, there is much more to a night out in Phuket than lively bars and late-night clubs. There are a number of activities to suit families such as English-language cinemas, mini-golf courses, bowling alleys, go-karting, a shooting range and child-friendly pubs. Many of the top hotels offer nightly entertainment and cabaret shows as well as babysitting services.

Theatre and music

Phuket is not renowned for its cultural performances. If you are travelling in hope of seeing a classical concert or a much-loved play, you may have to reconsider your plans. There is lots of music to be found in Phuket, but it consists mainly of bands playing to audiences in bars or DJ's playing to the masses in clubs.

As far as theatre goes, you won’t find any Shakespeare in Phuket, but you will find plenty of cabaret shows. These include the world-famous Simon’s Cabaret, which features larger-than-life lady boys putting on a spectacular show for eager audiences. This is one theatre performance not to be missed.

Festivals

• Thailand has a number of festivals taking place throughout the year, with something happening almost every month. Many of the festivals are related to religion or royalty as well as many cultural events. Some festivals which take place in Phuket and are not to be missed include:
• Phuket Gay Festival has quickly grown into an annual event that attracts both international and Thai tourists alike. The festival includes a lively and colourful parade, outrageous costumes, street and beach parties, and plenty of entertainment (February).
• Songkran Festival is a national holiday in Thailand and attracts people from across the world. The festival began as a modest Buddhist event, where monks would bless people for the New Year by pouring a small amount of water on their shoulder or forehead. Over time, the festival has become more of a national water fight, with the whole country coming to a standstill to throw water over each other. It is great fun and the Thais spend all year looking forward to it and certainly make the most of it when it arrives (April).
• Turtle Releasing Festival is part of Songkran. It is a Thai tradition to release birds, fish, turtles and other animals for good luck as well as being a perfect opportunity to raise conservation awareness. The main beaches where animals are released are: Bang Tao, Nai Yang and Mai Khao (April).
• Por Tor is translated as meaning ‘hungry ghosts’ and is a celebrated Chinese merit-making event in which ancestors are honoured and remembered. It is believed that the ghosts of their families are released into the living world for the day and must be showered with gifts of food, flowers and candles (August).
• Patong Carnival is an event centered on Bangla Road, which is fully kitted out for the occasion. The carnival features a colourful parade, outdoor concerts, traditional food and other street entertainment. The carnival marks the beginning of the official high season in Phuket (November).
• Phuket King's Cup Regatta is the most exciting event on the sporting calendar. Competitors race from Phuket to neighbouring islands (December).