THERE are people who think they know how to throw a party on Phuket, and then there is Phuket FantaSea.

Last night a glittering spectacle entertained a vast crowd of 2000. Performers sometimes seemed to outnumber the audience. The show will be repeated on March 9 and March 10.

It's FantaSea's way of saying ''Thank You'' to Phuket. Can it really be more than 12 years since the Kamala show opened to rave reviews and a succession of travel awards? That's what they tell us.

For glint and glamor, FantaSea cannot be topped on Phuket. It's plain that the ''S'' is capitalised for ''Spectacular.''

Oooohs and Aaaahs could be heard throughout the spectacular free show that celebrated FantaSea's special part in Phuket's history as a tourist attraction.

There was a Miss World contest to mark the vast number of agencies around the world who send people to FantaSea; the first of three lucky draws that gave away 20 million baht in cash and gold; and a dinner that flowed first into an indoor show, then to an even more spectacular finale outside.

When it comes to parties on Phuket, the FantaSea birthday blast will take a power of beating.

For the statistically minded, the Phuket show site opened on February 6 1999 at a cost of 3.5 billion baht. Since then, there have been 4071 shows. The staff currently numbers 1111, and just about all of them appeared to be performing last night.

Throwing a party? Join in the Phuketwan Phuket Party Challenge 2011 by sending the shots and telling us all about it