Phuket holds some of the most memorable and exciting festivals any tourist destination could offer.
The festivals, which are held throughout the year, have drawn so much attention over time that they are now considered tourist destinations.
The festivals, which could be religious or just for fun, highlight the multicultural society in Thailand's largest island.
They include traditional, food and music festivals as well as sports events.
Vegetarian Festival This is probably the most distinctive event in Phuket's calendar.
The Chinese community believes that in order to remain healthy and have peace of mind, they must abstain from meat and other stimulants during the festival period.
It is believed that the festival originated from an opera group that contracted malaria during their performances on the island.
They stuck to a strict vegetarian diet and prayed to the Nine Emperor gods to guarantee their purification of the body and mind.
Food is definitely a big part of this festival, and locals that take part in the festivities restrict themselves to vegetarian food that is specially prepared.
However, it may not be so easy to distinguish the vegetarian dishes from the regular dishes.
For instance, soybean and protein substitutes are prepared in place of meat and look and taste much like meat.
You can identify the vegetarian food stalls by the yellow flags with Thai or Chinese characters on them.
Food is not the only thing featured during this 9 day festival that is held in October.
There are various spectacular ceremonies you could witness, including fire-walking and body piercing, all in an effort to invoke the gods.
The ceremonies are usually held around the six Chinese temples spread throughout the island.
Songkran The Thai New year arrives on the 13th of April.
Over the years, friends and families would gather in temples during the Songkran Festival and sprinkle water on Buddha images and on each other's hands.
However, the younger generation has developed their own interpretation of the act, and water fights have become the norm during the festivities.
Watch out for the unexpected bucket of water being thrown at you by merry makers from the back of a moving truck.
It would also be wise to leave your camera behind on this day, especially if you are in Patong.
The King's Cup Regatta This famous international yachting event is held in Phuket in December and goes on for an entire week, with some of the highlights including partying, sailing and lots of fun.
The sporting event's popularity has grown over the years, and it is now a prominent event in the international yachting scene, attracting a lot of media attention.
Some of the world's best yachtsmen and yachtswomen come with their expensive boats to Kata Beach, located off Phuket's west coast.
Por Tor Festival Also known as the 'Hungry Ghost' festival, this is one of the most important events for the traditional Chinese.
Special candles are lit and food and flowers offered to the ancestors on altars in August.
Offerings are also made to the 'ghosts without relatives' who are believed to be freed from hell during this month.
The event is held in any of the Chinese shrines located around the island.