Old town set for seven-week festival

PHUKET CITY: Thalang Rd, Krabi Rd and Dibuk Rd will be transformed into a cultural medley showcasing local food stalls and performances between 7 pm and 11 pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from September 23 to November 6.

The “7 weeks of Phuket City’s Cultural Roads” festival will have shows from a variety of countries, Minister of Culture Uraiwan Thienthong announced. “Not only Southern Thai culture will be represented; there will also be performances from China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Iran, Portugal, the Netherlands and Britain,” she said.

Also among the festival’s events will be 48 traditional Baba (Straits Chinese-style) weddings, and a photo studio featuring a backdrop of Sino-Portuguese architecture will be set up for anyone who wants a souvenir picture taken.

The festival is being organized by the Office of the National Culture Commission (ONCC) in cooperation with the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, Phuket Municipality, Phuket Rajaphat University, the Hokkien Association of Phuket and the Phuket Old Town Foundation.

K. Uraiwan noted, “This will be the first time [the ONCC] will have initiated a cultural festival with a focus on involving local residents.

“Local residents will be encouraged to evaluate the event so that it becomes a model for future cultural festivals.”