Party for the Little People

PHUKET: Parents around Thailand today have their hands full as the nation celebrates Children’s Day. To mark the annual event, free activities, prizes and entertainment are being held for youngsters around the island.

Here, the Gazette has compiled a roundup of where to go and what to do to keep Phuket’s little people entertained on this special day. However, this list is by no means exhaustive. Please keep an eye out for other events being held around the island.

Phuket City: Students from Phuket City schools will be holding stage performances at Saphan Hin from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm with free food and drinks. The Land Transportation Office will have a road-safety exhibition and a demonstration of safe bicycle riding.

Computers will be available for children to use, along with a range of other activities, games and free gifts. For more information call Phuket City Municipality at 076-250163.

Patong: Patong students will be putting on some of the 10 stage shows scheduled from 8 am to 3 pm at Loma Park. There will also be a lucky draw, painting and other activities organized by a variety of government and private organizations, plus 5,000 gift boxes, as well as snacks and drinks. For more information call Patong Municipality at 076-342078.

Cape Panwa: Budding sailors will have the chance to climb aboard Royal Thai Navy ships HTMS Chao Phraya and HTMS Tayan Chol between 9 am and 4:30 pm at the Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Area Command post.

Highlights will include a helicopter and naval-weapons display, a sea-rescue demonstration, a parachute show, plus live entertainment, free gifts, drinks and sweets for kids. For more information call 076-391826.

Phuket Aquarium will be opening its doors to children and students for free from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

Other activities include quizzes for prizes and games. One-hundred-and-twenty children aged between 10 and 13 years old can take part in a digital photography workshop supported by Sony.

Applications for the workshop and photo shoot can be made in advance by visiting the aquarium’s website at www.phuketaquarium.org

A three-hour workshop will be held in the afternoon.

Visitors will also be able to take a look at the photos taken on last year’s Children’s Day photo shoot in Phang Nga. For more information call 076-391126 ext 15.

Mai Khao: Phuket International Airport, in co-operation with the Third Naval Area Command, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd and Thai Airways International (THAI), PTT and several airlines, will stage activities at the airport’s multi-purpose building and the parking lot from 8 am to 3 pm.

There will be a “Dun-Dar-Ra” (impressions of famous people) competition for individuals and teams. There will also be games, shows, free gifts, plus food and drinks.

A Destination Air aircraft will be on display in the parking lot, along with a Navy helicopter, airport emergency-response vehicles and fire engines. There will also be a fire-fighting demonstration. For more information call 076-351570.

Kamala: Phuket FantaSea will host games and activities from 3 pm to 5 pm and put on a traditional Thai mini-concert at the Viva Bangkok Stage Theater in front of the Similan entertainment center. The day will also mark the opening of a new themed attraction, the Tiger Jungle Adventure. For more information call 076-385000.

Cherng Talay: Laguna Phuket will hold activities from 1 pm to 4 pm under the theme “Laguna Party Be good guys for the King”.

Other activities will include shows, games and quizzes with prizes. Stalls will be selling second-hand items, the proceeds from which will be donated to the Vachira Phuket Hospital AIDS-elimination campaign.

Karon: Some 80 scholarships will be handed out by the Mayor of Karon at Karon Circle to begin Children’s Day activities. Students from Baan Kata School and other Karon schools will be performing with dancing and other live entertainment.

Thirty lucky children will ride away on bicycles from a lucky draw. There will be games during the day with free snacks available. For more information call Karon Municipality at Tel: 076-330478.

Kathu: Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Phuket campus students will be holding activities, including a lucky draw and free snacks. For more information call Kathu Municipality at 076-321500.