PHUKET may be an island playground for the rich, but among the locals it is better known as a playground for the young, especially on Children's Day this Saturday.
A chance to scramble on a big navy ship is just one of the highlights of the many events planned around the island.
All events are free of charge. (If you know of any that we have missed, please comment below and we will add them).
Children's Day, January 10
The Royal Thai Navy is holding its annual Children's Day festival at the Deep Sea Port in Wichit from 8.30am-4pm. Vessels will be open for children to board, as well as a helicopter and parachute display. Look for demonstrations about sea safety, musical performances and student shows. Kids can also take a sail trip around Promthep Cape aboard the Songkhla. Small gifts and free drinks will be available, and the Army will hold an artillery show.
Phuket International Airport With Thai Airways, Air Asia and Bangkok Airways, the airport is holding a festival from 8.30am-3pm. Among the highlights will be performances of HM the King's songs, picture drawing contests and aircraft displays. There will also be parachute shows and a fighter jet airshow, as well as firefighting demonstrations. Entrance is free, with free food and drink. Children of airport staff and local students will put on dancing shows.
Wat Chalong Student performances, game booths, free food and drinks start at the temple from 8am.
Wichit Municipality is having a children's show, with a gift exchange from 8.30am to noon.
Rassada Municipality will have game booths, hand-puppet contests, and doll-making booths. Added to those events will be music from a DJ and student performances, a lucky draw, free food, ice cream and drinks from 7am to noon.
Prince of Songkla University in Kathu is holding a full day of activities from 8am. Games, lucky draws, stage shows, food and drink are all free and open to all.
Phuket FantaSea in Kamala invites children to join its Happyland Village festival from 3pm-5pm. There will also be an educational exhibit, Tiger Jungle Adventure, featuring two 350-kilogram white tigers named Pinthong and Hommalee from Canada, largest of the big cats. Free entrance with free popcorn and drinks, and a mini-concert.
Loma Park in Patong has a full day of activities from 7.30am-5pm, beginning with a children's parade along Thaweewong Road starting at 8am. A ceremony will award scholarships to 170 students. Stage shows begin at 9am. Food for children will be served at 11am. Exhibition stands will be put on by Patong Municipality (Tessabaan), DDPM, Kathu police station, Thai Government Bank, Supanimit Foundation, Patong art group and others.
Phuket ICT Skill Development and Learning Centre in Saphan Hin, Phuket City, is holding a cartoon animation contest for two groups, Under 16 and 16 Up, on the theme ''Save the World Save the Earth'' and ''My ICT Phuket''. Chance to win scholarship of 1500 baht, 1000 baht or 500 baht. There is also an ICT designer contest on the theme ''Stop Global Warming,'' inviting children to design clothes using recycled materials such as newspaper or plastic. Top entries will be featured in a fashion show and win prizes of 1500 baht, 1000 baht or 500 baht. Entry details on www.phuketict.org
Jungceylon shopping centre in Patong is organizing a Kid's Fun Fair called "Four Naughty Girls and the Miracle of the Seven Musical Notes" on Saturday and Sunday, from 11am-6pm.
The main program will be an animated and humorous adaption of the popular Thai TV program "Woman to Woman", featuring four naughty girl characters named PaPui, GaiJang, Nina and Kalamare.
Other activities include a "4 Angies (Naughty Girls)" contest, a "little star boy and girl challenge" for the chance to win 20000 baht in scholarships, and special shows by the 4 Angies mascots.
Kids will also have the chance to win prizes, play games and join other fun activities.
A chance to scramble on a big navy ship is just one of the highlights of the many events planned around the island.
All events are free of charge. (If you know of any that we have missed, please comment below and we will add them).
Children's Day, January 10
The Royal Thai Navy is holding its annual Children's Day festival at the Deep Sea Port in Wichit from 8.30am-4pm. Vessels will be open for children to board, as well as a helicopter and parachute display. Look for demonstrations about sea safety, musical performances and student shows. Kids can also take a sail trip around Promthep Cape aboard the Songkhla. Small gifts and free drinks will be available, and the Army will hold an artillery show.
Phuket International Airport With Thai Airways, Air Asia and Bangkok Airways, the airport is holding a festival from 8.30am-3pm. Among the highlights will be performances of HM the King's songs, picture drawing contests and aircraft displays. There will also be parachute shows and a fighter jet airshow, as well as firefighting demonstrations. Entrance is free, with free food and drink. Children of airport staff and local students will put on dancing shows.
Wat Chalong Student performances, game booths, free food and drinks start at the temple from 8am.
Wichit Municipality is having a children's show, with a gift exchange from 8.30am to noon.
Rassada Municipality will have game booths, hand-puppet contests, and doll-making booths. Added to those events will be music from a DJ and student performances, a lucky draw, free food, ice cream and drinks from 7am to noon.
Prince of Songkla University in Kathu is holding a full day of activities from 8am. Games, lucky draws, stage shows, food and drink are all free and open to all.
Phuket FantaSea in Kamala invites children to join its Happyland Village festival from 3pm-5pm. There will also be an educational exhibit, Tiger Jungle Adventure, featuring two 350-kilogram white tigers named Pinthong and Hommalee from Canada, largest of the big cats. Free entrance with free popcorn and drinks, and a mini-concert.
Loma Park in Patong has a full day of activities from 7.30am-5pm, beginning with a children's parade along Thaweewong Road starting at 8am. A ceremony will award scholarships to 170 students. Stage shows begin at 9am. Food for children will be served at 11am. Exhibition stands will be put on by Patong Municipality (Tessabaan), DDPM, Kathu police station, Thai Government Bank, Supanimit Foundation, Patong art group and others.
Phuket ICT Skill Development and Learning Centre in Saphan Hin, Phuket City, is holding a cartoon animation contest for two groups, Under 16 and 16 Up, on the theme ''Save the World Save the Earth'' and ''My ICT Phuket''. Chance to win scholarship of 1500 baht, 1000 baht or 500 baht. There is also an ICT designer contest on the theme ''Stop Global Warming,'' inviting children to design clothes using recycled materials such as newspaper or plastic. Top entries will be featured in a fashion show and win prizes of 1500 baht, 1000 baht or 500 baht. Entry details on www.phuketict.org
Jungceylon shopping centre in Patong is organizing a Kid's Fun Fair called "Four Naughty Girls and the Miracle of the Seven Musical Notes" on Saturday and Sunday, from 11am-6pm.
The main program will be an animated and humorous adaption of the popular Thai TV program "Woman to Woman", featuring four naughty girl characters named PaPui, GaiJang, Nina and Kalamare.
Other activities include a "4 Angies (Naughty Girls)" contest, a "little star boy and girl challenge" for the chance to win 20000 baht in scholarships, and special shows by the 4 Angies mascots.
Kids will also have the chance to win prizes, play games and join other fun activities.
