LOY KRATONG, one of Thailand's sweetest festivals, will be celebrated this year on Phuket with dance performances and a beauty pageant over two days in Patong.

The festival comes on November 2, with the making of banana-leaf boats to carry off lighted candles, and romantic dreams, for the next year.

On November 1, perhaps because of the traditional start to the high season falling on this date in good years, stage performances will be held at the beach end of Soi Bangla.

Young dancers will take to the stage on November 1 at 6pm, followed by a presentation of student scholarships. A Miss Beer Bar contest follows. The winner should be known by 8pm.

Soi Bangla will also have eight stages in action, with local traditional dances, on both nights.

On November 2, dancing starts on the big stage at 5.30pm, with a parade to follow along beach road at 6.30pm, from the Sea Pearl junction to Soi Bangla.

At 7pm, the Mayor of Patong, Pian Keesin, will formally open the night performances with a fireworks display.

Children will take part in the Miss Loy Kratong contest that follows. The best of the banana boats, known as kratong, will be on display.

Elsewhere on Phuket around virtually every waterway, Thais will be setting their hopes and dreams adrift by candlelight, and sending up their prayers for future happiness.

Couples often also buy small birds to release as a goodwill gesture.

Water plays a strong role in Thai culture, both at the end of the monsoon season, which is marked by Loykratong, and at the beginning each April, with Songkran.

Most large Phuket resorts plan on celebrating Loy Kratong. The public parks in Phuket City, with their large lakes, are popular spots to release kratong and enjoy the night.