Wat Chalong Fair

The spectacular and historic temple of Wat Chalong is considered the most sacred and important temple in the south of Thailand. Every year a large fair is organised in the grounds that usually coincides with the Chinese New Year, but it's also been held in February during previous years. It takes place over 8 days and is an extremely important local event that attracts people from all over Thailand, and of course Phuket.

Traditionally, the fair was intended as a way for the local farmers to celebrate the completed harvest when all their hard work was finished. The ceremony has continued and nowadays includes a wide range of activities, shopping stalls and Thai food vendors that come from all over the country, as well as lots of games and activities. If you're looking to shop and grab a bargain, this is an ideal opportunity as amongst the popular items on sale are clothing, bags, flowers, electronics, ceramics, jewellery and much more.

Entertainment wise it's a great day out for families, with shooting games, merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels, live music and even Muay Thai boxing displays courtesy of local training camps. You might see the occasional appearance by well known (in Thailand) Thai celebrities and there is even a drive-in movie theatre! During the fair, the temple is more elaborately decorated with bright colours and lights, and an impressive firework display is part of the celebration. If you are in Phuket around this time, it's a very worthwhile event and one that you won't forget in a hurry.