The Fire Monkey
Each Chinese New Year is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals; 2016 (according to the Chinese lunarbased calendar) is a year of the Monkey, starting from February 8, and will end on January 27, 2017.
In Phuket, the Chinese New Year festivities will be preceded by the 17th Phuket Old Town Festival and the annual Wat Chalong Fair.
On Chinese New Year, many Chinese descendants visit their close family to celebrate the holiday in close company.
Across the island, the Chinese New Year festival and celebration will be held mainly on three days, from February 13-15 in conjunction with the Phuket Old Town Festival which is celebrated in Old Town, the SinoPortuguese quarter of Phuket Town each year.
Entertainment and highlights like the dragon procession will fill the streets with dazzling colours throughout the three days, all along Krabi, Thepkassattri and Phang Nga Roads, and on Soi Rominee and around the Thai Hua Museum.
The entrances of many shops and houses will be festooned with red banners, lanterns and decorations to encourage luck and happiness during the coming year. For Chinese, red symbolises luck and fortune.
The four festive Old Phuket Town streets – Thalang, Krabi, Dibuk and Phang Nga roads – will be closed to motorised traffic for three evenings of the pedestrian celebrations.
On the first day of the event, Saturday (Feb 13) the colourful parade will start at 5pm from Surin Rd and enter Surin Circle to Thalang Rd and end at Queen Sirikit Park, where the opening ceremony will be held at 7pm, presided by Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana.
The ceremony will be followed by Chinese music and performances from professional entertainers from Beijing, as well as kung fu performances from Tianjin.
On February 14, the fun kicks off on stage at 5pm at Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Rd with concerts featuring SKRU Pop Orchestra, Gam Vitchayanee The Star, KoKai, Nook The Voice, Su Boonleng and Watchara Pan-eim, to name a few.
On the final day of the festival, Monday (Feb 15), revellers will honour and pay respect to the gods by gathering at the golden sea dragon square at Queen Sirikit park at 10pm to take part in the closing ceremony.
Temple Fair
Another exciting event taking place this month is the Wat Chalong temple fair which will take place at the famous temple on Chao Fah West Rd.
It is the most famous of all temple fairs on the island, a week-long festival (see itinerary below) that takes place around the same time as Chinese New Year every year.
It features crowds, lights, food, shopping, fun, games galore and live entertainment from mini concerts to Nora Dance and musical folk drama.
Itinerary for the Wat Chalong Fair
•February 7: Concert by Takkatan Chollda, Tulu-Phan Maitongkham and Luk-Tan R-Siam; Thai shadow puppet show (Nung Ta Loong) by Ajarn Narong.
•February 8: Concert by Dech Issara, Lamyong Yonghinhau and Leethang Maithongkham; Nung Ta Loong by Ajarn Narong.
•February 9: Concert by Ja R-Siam, Nuch Willawan R-Siam and Nat-Nai Maithongkham; Nung Ta Loong by Kainui S Bundit.
•February 10: Concert by Ying-Lee Srichumpon, Senlek R-Siam and Baifern Maithongkham; Nung Ta Loong by Kainui S Bundit.
•February 11: Concert by Bao Wi R-Siam, Super Valentine Girls and Joi Maithongkham; Nung Ta Loong by Kainui S Bundit.
•February 12: Concert by Wong Skypass, Job-Joy Morlampanlai and Arm-Pupa Chingchasawan; Nung Ta Loong by Eiat-Nui.
•February 13: Concert by P-Saderd, Jinthala Poonlap and A Maithongkham; Nung Ta Loong by Eiat-Nui.