The best things to do in Phuket this weekend (October 8-11)

Brazilian DJ and producer Unfazed makes his Café del Mar Clubroom debut with a set spanning afro-house and the melodic, percussive side of contemporary house. His breakout track ‘A Gira’, built around Trio Ternura’s Brazilian classic, topped Beatport and picked up support from the likes of &ME, Adam Port and Keinemusik. He has since co-founded Beleza with fellow Brazilian producer Malive, launching the label in partnership with Tomorrowland Music. If you like your house sun-soaked, rhythmic and built for a late night rather than a polite head-nod, this should do nicely.

Oct 9. From B300; free for women with RSVP. 20+. Unfazed, Café del Mar Phuket, Kamala. 10pm-late

Still partial to smooth vocals, slow jams and the particular romantic drama of ‘90s and ‘00s R&B? The R&B Society returns to Mrs B Bar & Table for its second dining experience, pairing a two-course set menu and welcome drink with R&B all night from Lil Dew and Pele. The venue’s wood-fired kitchen means dinner is very much part of the plan rather than something to squeeze in before the music starts. There may not be a conventional dancefloor for dusting off those two-step moves, but by the time the singalong material kicks in, that might not matter. The organiser also says drink packages are available, with advance booking recommended after the previous edition sold out. 

Oct 10. Price TBC; advance booking recommended. The R&B Society Dining Experience, Mrs B Bar & Table, Cherng Talay. From 7pm

Every autumn, Phuket turns to one of Thailand’s most extraordinary religious celebrations: the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. From October 10-18, Chinese shrines across the island mark the Nine Emperor Gods Festival with purification rituals, street processions, firecrackers and strict dietary observance, while many devotees dress in white and abstain from meat, alcohol and other indulgences. 

The most arresting sights involve the ma song, spirit mediums who enter trance states and may pierce their cheeks with skewers and other objects. Firewalking and other ritual ordeals also feature at participating shrines. It can be confronting, but this is a living religious tradition rather than a spectacle staged for visitors, so watch respectfully and give processions room. For an easier introduction, follow the crowds around Phuket Town’s Chinese shrines and snack your way through the enormous spread of jay vegan food. Street processions gather pace later in the festival, with major routes including Jui Tui on October 16 and Kathu on October 17. 

Oct 10-18. Free. Phuket Vegetarian Festival, shrines and locations across Phuket. Ceremony times vary by shrine.

Fancy revisiting disco’s mirror-ball years without relying on another cookie-cutter ’70s themed night? CLC Phuket’s Disco Studio 54 combines dinner with live vocals, dancers and acrobats, backed by songs associated with Boney M., the Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer. The show starts at 8pm, with CLC open from 6pm for dinner, before the night loosens its tie and heads towards the dancefloor. Current tickets for Disco Studio 54 are listed from B2,000, with CLC adding 7% VAT and 10% service charge.

Oct 9. From B2,000, plus 7% VAT and 10% service charge. Disco Studio 54, CLC Phuket, Bang Tao. Venue from 6pm; show 8pm

Ever seen someone DJ in socks? Eelke Kleijn has – according to his own label biography – made something of a habit of it. More importantly, the Dutch producer brings an unusually broad musical CV to Café del Mar, moving between melodic house, progressive sounds and film composition. He has remixed John Legend, Pendulum and RÜFÜS DU SOL, while his screen work includes music for Batman v Superman, Rush, Parker and This Means War. His own DAYS like NIGHTS project spans a label, radio show, podcast and events, while albums including Oscillations show off the atmospheric, emotional side of his club music. In other words: less blunt-force EDM, more journey.

Oct 10. From B300; free for women with RSVP. 20+. Eelke Kleijn, Café del Mar Phuket, Kamala. 10pm-late

Oktoberfest began with a Munich royal wedding in 1810 and eventually shifted into September for warmer weather. Phuket, conveniently, has that part covered. Im En Ville, the all-day restaurant inside Porto de Phuket, is channelling Bavaria with folk dancing in lederhosen and dirndls, long-table conviviality and plates of sausages, pretzels and herb-roast chicken. Draught beer comes by the bucketful, with Helles and Chalawan among the choices.

Sep 9-Oct 10. From B459. Oktoberfest at Im En Ville, Building 1, Room 101, Porto de Phuket, Cherngtalay. 10am-10pm

Into spirits? The drinkable kind? Head to The Distillery Phuket for an insider look at how Chalong Bay Rum and other small-batch tipples are made, from raw sugarcane to snifter cup. This is no backstreet operation – this is a proper guided tour through the working distillery, with stops for tasting along the way. Sure, you can sip Chalong Bay at many bars along the beach, but sampling yet-to-be-bottled rums, gins and vodkas while learning the basics behind distilling and cocktail-making adds new ‘depth’ to the glass. Plenty of swirling and sipping happens here, and maybe a few ‘just one more’ moments to be found as well. 

 Daily. B1,290. The Distillery Phuket. 11am-10pm