The Phuket Peranakan Festival: A Vibrant Journey Through Time and Tradition
The Phuket Peranakan Festival is held annually to promote Peranakan culture and stimulate the tourism economy of Phuket Province. It’s held every year in the month of June and takes place over three days in Phuket’s Old Town. The event features various activities such as parade processions, carnivals, contests, and performances, as well as demonstrations of local cuisine. Additionally, the Phuket Peranakan Museum is open for visits and offers workshops on Peranakan culture throughout the year.
The highlight is the grand, spectacular, and dazzling parade procession around Phuket city, resulting from collaboration between the public and private sectors to celebrate Peranakan or Baba-Nyonya culture through the costumes, arts, and performances of the Peranakan people.
All About The Peranakan Parade
The Phuket Peranakan Festival is a celebration of the unique cultural identity of Phuket people, who are descendants of Chinese and indigenous communities. It comprises more than 20 processions from both public and private sectors and local residents of Phuket Province, featuring fashion shows, cultural performances, and costumes that reflect the Peranakan way of life and traditions.
Over the years, the Phuket Peranakan Festival has been elevated to the world stage, especially after “Kebaya” (the traditional dress of Baba-Peranakan women) was inscribed as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intangible Cultural Heritage on December 4, 2024. This represents a joint cultural heritage registration by five Southeast Asian countries: Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
What is a Kebaya?
The “Kebaya” is a traditional women’s garment in Southeast Asia and part of the Baba-Peranakan dress in Southern Thailand. It represents the shared culture of Chinese-Malay descendants from Penang and Malacca who traveled to trade and settle in the Phuket region during the reigns of King Rama III to Rama V, resulting in the blending of ethnicities and cultures between newcomers and indigenous locals. Beyond its distinctive identity and aesthetic value, the UNESCO inscription of “Kebaya” as shared cultural heritage among five countries also reflects the deep bonds and good relations between nations that have been passed down through shared culture over many years.
Siam Niramit Phuket in The Peranakan Parade
Siam Niramit Phuket, our world-class cultural show, participates in the parade procession at the Phuket Peranakan Festival celebration annually. One of Siam Niramit’s show scenes particularly presents the shared culture of Chinese-Malay descendants from Penang and Malacca who traveled to trade and settle in the Phuket region, resulting in the blending of ethnicities and cultures between newcomers and indigenous locals. This is considered one of the must-see scenes when visiting Siam Niramit Phuket.
Celebrate Years of Culture in Phuket
Beyond the stunning parade procession, you can enjoy cultural performances, music, exhibitions, handicraft displays, and mini-concerts by famous artists at this Phuket parade. If you’re visiting Thailand in June, don’t miss this festival. It’s a rare chance to see a UNESCO-recognized cultural celebration at its most colorful and authentic.
Can’t make it in June? No worries. You can still experience the beauty of Peranakan culture any time of year at Siam Niramit Phuket. With over 100 gorgeous costumes, captivating performances, and impressive stagecraft, Siam Niramit takes you on a journey through Thailand’s most treasured stories and traditions, so you won’t miss out on this remarkable culture, no matter when you visit. Book your tickets to see our award-winning show here.
