Kamala Fest 2009 activites announced

KAMALA, PHUKET: Live performances from Kangkeng and Hin Lek Fai as well as a fishing competition and a football tournament are among the highlights of the Kamala Festival 2010, set to take place next month.

Juta Dumluck, president of the Kamala Tambon Administration Organization (TAO), recently announced details of the festival, funded to the tune of three million baht.

The free event, to take place January 8 to10, will feature a mix of traditional activities and live entertainment from 8am to midnight each day.

The center of activity will be the stage area at HM The King’s Park, in front of the Kamala Public Health Office.

Activities will start with a parade at 4:30pm on January 8. Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop will declare the festival open by ringing a bell at the auspicious time of 6:39pm the same day.

During the day there will be a fishing competition using traditional bamboo fishhooks, a fishnet making demonstration and an exhibit extolling the virtues of important Kamala figures from the past.

Where possible, participants are asked to don traditional pate and batik garments and palm sun hats.

There will also be a football tournament and mountain biking competition.

After dark, students from Kamala schools will perform for the crowds before famous acts such as Bowy, Kangkeng, Hin Lek Fai, Shama and the Superdance take to the stage.

The Kamala TAO are providing a budget of one million baht for the festival.

A further two million baht will be provided by donations from local hotels, restaurants and entrepreneurs.

— Hasan Che-aware