February 18th – March 18th, 2009

Flowering Body is an art exhibition by Nitaya Ueareeworakul. Born in Udonthani in 1966, she graduated in Fine Art from Chulalongkorn University. Her remarkable artwork features mixed techniques and touches on the process of reusing items. In this series 'Flowering Body', Nitaya recycles used clothes from her family members which were cut and coloured, then pasted on canvas. The exhibition is basically a female’s story told through materials, patterns and colours.

Nitaya has had eight solo exhibitions in Thailand as well as participating in group exhibitions and workshops in France, Australia, Kenya, Austria, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Singapore. She is also one of the founding organizers of the annual Womanifesto event.

Stephen Tothill will present 'Phuket Dreamscapes' – an exhibition of photographs and other artwork from 10 February until 4 March.

Well-known local artists Marilyn Band and Pom Ittisak will present 'Islands and Handbags' from March 5 until March 31, with paintings and artistic bags made out of recycled plastic.

The 4th Phuket Japanese Festival (aka Japanese Love Thais Festival) will take place from 15:00 – 21:00 on Saturday March 7 at the Queen Sirikit Park, next to the TAT Office.

There will be lots of shows include Thai dancing, Japanese modern dance, Wadaiko (Japanese Drums), a live band, free memorial photos posing dessed in a kimono as well as a speech contest. Enjoy shopping at the cultural market with many Japanese dishes and goods. Also, don’t miss a chance to win a free plane ticket to Japan

2009 will mark the sixth annual Phuket Cricket Sixes Tournament. Participants have had an absolute 'ball' in previous years, and 2009 promises to bring even more top international players to the island.

Some of the big names from past years are: former Test cricket player Trevor Chappell (Aus) and greats Adam Hollioake (Aus) and Alan Mullally (England).

The Phuket Sixes is fast becoming a major stop on the Asian cricket circuit.

Now in its 15th year, the annual Phuket Bike Week is one of the biggest motorcycle events in Southeast Asia.

Get to see an amazing collection of Harleys, Hondas and superbikes at this annual event.

Music, contests, parties and charity rides around the island. Fun for bikers and hangers-on alike.

Thailand's most famous festival celebrates Thai New Year. Prepare to join in the fun and get very wet or else stay indoors!

Songkran is a loud, boisterous festival that features a lot of water throwing in the streets.

See photos of the Songkran Festival in Phuket.

This year’s Laguna Phuket International Marathon, the fourth, is expected to attract some 4,000 competitors, of whom 1,500 will be coming from 40 overseas countries.

The 2nd Phuket Film Festival is scheduled to take place in June 2009, showcasing more than 50 movies from some 20 different countries, including numerous entries from Scandinavia, the UK and Germany, with the emphasis on light, family-oriented “fun” films. Most of the movies will be feature films or documentaries, though there may also be a “side bar” of short films about the plight of the elephant in Southeast Asia.

As in the first festival, in 2007, the movies will be divided into four categories: “Slices of Life”, “Water”, “The World Around Us” and “Alternative Lifestyle”. The organizers are also hoping to screen as many world premières at the Festival as possible. They expect the seven days of the Festival to attract between 3,000 and 5,000 moviegoers. The biggest part of this number is expected to be foreigners living on the island, followed by Thais in their late teens and early 20s, along with Thai families; and foreign tourists.

The inaugural Thailand Surf Series (TSS) incorporates the three main surfing contests held in Phuket each monsoon season into a series of connected events in June, August and September. Under the rules of the International Surfing Association, the Thailand Surf Series will become part of the ASC (Asian Surfing Championship) ranking system, offering a platform for Thai surfers to compete with other Asian surfers in meets around the region. The events expect to have participants from 15 countries and will feature four divisions: Short Board, Long Board, Groms (Kids) and Women. TSS is organized by the Phuket Boardriders Club and sponsored by both government and local businesses.

The Phuket Boardriders Club is a non-profit organization formed in 2002 to strengthen local surfing talent and create camaraderie and friendship between local and visiting surfers alike.

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. Dates for 2009 Festival will be announced later.

The inaugural Thailand Surf Series (TSS) incorporates the three main surfing contests held in Phuket each monsoon season into a series of connected events in June, August and September. Under the rules of the International Surfing Association, the Thailand Surf Series will become part of the ASC (Asian Surfing Championship) ranking system, offering a platform for Thai surfers to compete with other Asian surfers in meets around the region. The events expect to have participants from 15 countries and will feature four divisions: Short Board, Long Board, Groms (Kids) and Women. TSS is organized by the Phuket Boardriders Club and sponsored by both government and local businesses.

The Phuket Boardriders Club is a non-profit organization formed in 2002 to strengthen local surfing talent and create camaraderie and friendship between local and visiting surfers alike.

The inaugural Thailand Surf Series (TSS) incorporates the three main surfing contests held in Phuket each monsoon season into a series of connected events in June, August and September. Under the rules of the International Surfing Association, the Thailand Surf Series will become part of the ASC (Asian Surfing Championship) ranking system, offering a platform for Thai surfers to compete with other Asian surfers in meets around the region. The events expect to have participants from 15 countries and will feature four divisions: Short Board, Long Board, Groms (Kids) and Women. TSS is organized by the Phuket Boardriders Club and sponsored by both government and local businesses.

The Phuket Boardriders Club is a non-profit organization formed in 2002 to strengthen local surfing talent and create camaraderie and friendship between local and visiting surfers alike.

A colourful event held over a nine-day period in late September/early October, this celebrates the Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help obtain good health and peace of mind.

Though the origins of the festival are unclear, it is thought that perhaps the festival was bought to Phuket by a wandering Chinese opera group who fell ill with malaria while performing on the island and who were miraculously healed through a strictly vegetarian diet.

A festival of quiet celebration, 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.

n 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.

Gently flickering, dipping and dancing in the breeze as they go, they make a spectacular sight. All of Phuket's major west coast beaches take part in Loy Kratong festivities, with a mix of locals and tourists. Nai Harn (on the large lake) and Patong usually have the most activity with locals visiting beaches like Kata and Karon.

The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is Asia's biggest and most popular regatta. More than a regatta, the week-long event consists of great parties, great sailing and lots of fun.

Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of His Majesty the King of Thailand, the event has been held every year since during the first week of December.