Phuket’s Biggest Annual Temple Festival
Wat Chalong Fair runs for about 10 days every year during the Chinese New Year. It’s a proper Thai temple fair with carnival rides, loud stage shows, firecrackers, and endless food stalls. I’ve been going for years, and it still surprises me how chaotic and fun it gets. The fair takes over the entire temple grounds at Wat Chalong, Phuket’s most famous temple. It usually starts in late January or early February, depending on the lunar calendar.
The fair draws huge crowds, mostly local Thai families, but tourists wander in too. It’s not a polished tourist event. The rides look a bit sketchy, the music is loud, and parking is a nightmare. But that’s part of the experience. You eat cheap street food, watch kids win prizes at game stalls, and maybe light some incense at the temple hall if you can push through the crowd.
Why a Buddhist Temple Hosts a Chinese Festival
Wat Chalong isn’t a Chinese temple, but its history connects deeply with Phuket’s Chinese community. In the 1800s, thousands of workers migrated from China to work the tin mines here. The population grew, gained influence, and by 1876, the miners had had enough of poor working conditions. They staged a revolt.
The temple’s abbot at the time, Luang Por Cham, helped local people during the conflict. He offered advice and helped end the rebellion. King Rama V honoured him for it, and he’s been a revered figure in Phuket ever since.
Today, descendants of those Chinese migrants and local Thais live side by side. The fair brings everyone together, a mix of Buddhist tradition and Chinese New Year celebration that feels uniquely Phuket.
What You’ll See at the Fair
Inside the temple halls, it’s calm. People light candles, offer incense and lotus flowers, and press gold leaf onto Buddha statues. It’s worth stepping inside even if you’re not Buddhist, just to escape the noise for a few minutes.
Outside is a different story. Food stalls line every path. Flower vendors sell orchids by the armload. You’ll find helium balloons, cheap toys, T-shirts, herbal medicines, and random stuff like samurai swords and pet bunnies. I once saw a stall selling nothing but underwear in massive piles.
The fried insect stalls always get a reaction from first-time visitors. Crickets, silkworms, grasshoppers. They’re crunchier than you’d expect. Most people take a photo. Some actually try one.
Kids love the bouncy castles and carnival rides. The rides look old and a bit rickety, which doesn’t seem to bother anyone. Parents can find massage stalls scattered around if they need a break from the chaos.
When to Go
The fair opens in the early afternoon but doesn’t really come alive until after dark. That’s when the stage shows start. Thai country music, shadow puppets, and traditional dancing. It goes late, sometimes past midnight. Residents nearby complain about the noise every year, but nothing changes.
I’d recommend arriving around 5 pm or 6 pm. You get to see the temple in daylight, eat dinner at the food stalls, and stay for the evening entertainment. Bring cash. Most vendors don’t take cards.
More about Wat Chalong
More Photos of Wat Chalong Fair
Wat Chalong Fair Info
Location: Wat Chalong
When: Annually during Lunar New Year (late January to mid-February)
Entry: Free
Hours: Afternoon until late night, best after 5 pm
Distance from Patong: 16 km
From Phuket Airport: 37 km
From Phuket Town: 9 km
From Bang Tao: 29 km
From the Big Buddha: 8 km
Wat Chalong Map
Get the directions on your phone: https://goo.gl/maps/u9SBmUBRDh4d5a5p9.
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