Carnival set to open high season

PHUKET TOWN: About 5.2 million baht is to be spent on this year’s Patong Carnival from November 1 to 3 to mark the opening of the tourist high season. Live music will be performed nightly over the Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Other highlights will include a beach-cleaning campaign, fireworks, a mini-marathon, the Miss Andaman Patong Contest and beach volleyball and soccer competitions. Soi Bangla will be closed to traffic for the entire three days of the festival. The Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, Pol Col Chalit Thinthani, told a media conference that security was a priority for police and some of the traffic problems of past years would be overcome this year. Carnival events include: Saturday, November 1: 8 am: Ceremony of food offering to the monks at Patong Beach; 2 pm: Mini-marathon; 4 pm: Bartender contest; 5:30 pm: Patong Carnival; 8 pm: Fireworks, Simon Cabaret Show; 8:20 pm – 2 am: Live music. Sunday, November 2: 10 am: Beach volleyball, beach soccer; 4 pm: Fruit carving contest; 7 pm – 2 am: Live music show. Monday, November 3: 10 am: Beach volleyball, beach soccer; 4 pm: Garden tray decorating contest; 7 pm – 2 am: live music show, including Miss Andaman Patong Contest at 8 pm.