Weekend of carnival for Patong

PATONG: The annual Patong Carnival, the opener for the tourism high season, will be extended to three days this year from November 1. Until now a one-day affair, the carnival is to grow and take in new attractions that will set Patong Municipality back about 2 million baht. Details of the 17th carnival, which will start on November 1, were announced yesterday. The schedule for Friday, November 1, begins at 7 pm with activities including an eating contest, a marathon run, the opening ceremony performed by Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi, and fireworks at midnight. From 4 pm the following day activities will include beach volleyball, body-painting and beer-drinking contests, a magic show, beach fashion, and a performance by entertainers from Simon Cabaret. An open-air concert and closing fireworks follow on November 3.