Phuket celebrates Songkran with “Icy Road’ and Pod of Modern Dog

PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is celebrating Songkran (Thai New Year) with a host of activities and stage performances in front of the TAT office at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town.

The celebrations, from today through Friday, are part of an island-wide program of events expected to draw an estimated 60,000 tourists to Phuket and generate about 800 million baht, says the office’s director, Bangonrat Shinaprayoon.

“The event [at Queen Sirikit Park] will be held under the theme ‘Icy Road’. There will be ice chairs for people to try sitting on for photographs as well as ice-carving demonstrations,” she said. (See below for full program of events.)

“Water tanks will be set up near the TAT office so people can refill their water-throwing equipment,” Director Bangornrat said.

However, she stipulated that water throwing will be restricted to the road. “The park will be a designated safe zone,” she said.

Meanwhile, Thai artist Thanachai “Pod” Ujjin from Modern Dog will perform a free concert this afternoon at the Sarasin Bridge Festival. The event is literally on the old Sarasin Bridge, which is closed to traffic while a new replacement span is under construction beside it.

The main stage is on land, at the Phuket end of the bridge.

The bridge festival is a collaboration by authorities on both sides of the bridge, with the Provincial Administration Organizations (OrBorJor) for Phuket and Phang Nga joining forces, along with the Tambon Administration Organizations (OrBorTor) for Mai Khao in Phuket and Kok Kloy in Phang Nga.

This afternoon there will also be a traditional Thai “Oily pole” climbing competition at 2pm, followed by Muay Talay (“sea boxing”) and boat races for blind and deaf rowers at 2:30pm. The finals of the “longboat races”, akin to the Chinese dragon boat races, will start at 3pm.

Back on stage, Babymime will perform their popular pantomime show from 1pm-1:20pm, followed by a Li-Kae Hulu – traditional Southern Thai Muslim acappella singing and clapping – from 1:20-1:30pm.

And the Ukelele band Ukucafe will perform a free concert from 1:30pm-2pm, with Pod of Thai Indy band Modern Dog taking to the stage from 2pm-3pm.

Schedule of Events in Phuket Town:

April 13
6:30pm Opening ceremony
6:45pm Water pouring ceremony
7pm Concert by Thai band Taksila (main stage in Queen Sirikit Park)
7:45pm Games with prizes (minor stage in front of TAT office)
8pm Concert by Black Room (main stage)
8:45pm Games with prizes (minor stage)
9pm DJ concert (main stage)
10pm End of night’s entertainment

April 14
6:30pm Concert by M&M (main stage)
7:15pm Games with prizes (minor stage)
7:30pm Dance performance by Danz Step Studio (main stage)
7:50pm Games with prizes (minor stage)
8:15pm Concert by Black Room (main stage)
9pm DJ concert (main stage)
10pm End of night’s entertainment

April 15
6:30pm Concert by Bank Nonthawat (main stage)
7:15pm Games with prizes (minor stage)
7:30pm Concert by Apple Ranger (main stage)
8pm Games with prizes (minor stage)
8:15pm Concert by Black Room (main stage)
9pm DJ concert (main stage)
10pm End of event