What’s on? Things to do this December in Hong Kong

A December to remember! Make it merry and bright this month with Hong Kong’s month-long of events and festivities. A Tale of Three Cities, Convergence, Heritage Roving Exhibition, Hong Kong International Darts Festival, Clockenflap and many more.

Clockenflap

The 13th edition of the Clockenflap Music and Arts Festival brings a slew of top-ranking performers to the Central Harbourfront for three days. Headlining on the Saturday is an iconic group from the Brit-pop era of the ’90s, namely Jarvis Cocker and his Pulp bandmates. Other notable performers include Australian-Japanese singer-songwriter Joji, who is the star attraction on the following day during the last leg of his world tour, plus Japanese chart-toppers Yoasobi. The festival continues its ongoing commitment to promoting leading lights from Asia, like pop sensation Wednesday Campanella, and indie-pop duo Running Youth.

When: 1-3 Dec

Where: Central Harbourfront

How much: From HK$1,280

For more information: clockenflap.com

HK International Darts

Top local darts players and their overseas counterparts flex their wrist muscles over four days in this fifth edition of the international tournament. With the Parent-Child Sports Carnival held alongside the main competition, the large-scale event on the site of the old airport has many strands to attract sporting and non-sporting folk alike. A darts charity marathon and more than 300 booths will keep everyone entertained.

When: Until 3 Dec
Where: Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
How much: Free

For more information: hkidf.com.hk

Convergence

Action and arts fans will rejoice at the spectacle brought to the stage in this magnificent performance by Hong Kong Dance Company which gets to the heart of what Chinese martial arts and dance are all about. By exploring the synergy between both forms of expression, Convergence is able to deliver new interpretations as dancers wow the audience through their athletic prowess and sinuous movement. This is the live premiere of an award-winning production conceived and choreographed by the company’s Artistic Director, Yang Yuntao.

When: 8-10 Dec
Where: The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District
How much: From HK$350

For more information: hkdance.com

Streetathon

This year sees the return of the much-praised Hong Kong Streetathon, an event that helped kick-start the local running culture. Through the organiser, RunOurCity, it is also committed to working with other charity foundations and NGOs to foster sustainable development. For the first time, a full marathon will wind its way through the city centre and round the harbour, and runners will power through 10km of the Tseung Kwan O-Lam Tin Tunnel. Other highlights: a cross-harbour half- marathon, Runners Expo and the Youth race.

When: 9-17 Dec
Where: Various venues
How much: Free viewing

For more information: streetathon.com

Herstory

Hong Kong Dance Company presents a performance that embodies the words and imagination of women. First produced in 2008, when it won two Hong Kong Dance Awards, HerStory is inspired by the 400-year-old language developed by women in China known as Nushu and brings to life the writings of two Hong Kong female authors, evoking memories through dance, music and imagery.

When: 15-17 Dec
Where: The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon Cultural District
How much: From HK$380

For more information: hkdance.com

Breaking For Gold

Dance enthusiasts are in for a treat with the Breaking for Gold World Series reaching its finale (on 15-16 December). About 200 of the best breakers from around the globe will seek to impress the judges and earn vital qualification points for the Olympic Games in Paris, while local participants will hope to draw inspiration from a supportive home crowd. Standard and Latin dancers will also compete in various championships as part of the Hong Kong Open.

When: 15-29 Dec
Where: Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wan Chai
How much: Various prices

For more information: dancesport.org.hk

A Tale of Three Cities

Three museums unite for a showcase of silk, revealing how the precious commodity was exported from China to the world in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Trade paintings, fine silks, clothing, home fabrics and accessories feature among more than 100 sets of artefacts on view from the collections of the Guangdong Museum, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Macao Museum as part of the third Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival.

When: Until 17 Dec
Where: Hong Kong Museum of Art
How much: Free

For more information: hk.art.museum

The Impossible Trial

Returning with the original star- studded cast, this superb musical touches on powerful human themes that kept packed audiences enthralled during previous performances. Greed, pride, loss of wealth and the journey travelled to gain personal redemption are all explored in Hong Kong Repertory Theatre’s magnificent production.

When: Until 17 Dec
Where: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
How much: HK$360, $520, $680

For more information: hkrep.com

Heritage Roving Exhibition

The landscaping and greening attributes of 10 declared monuments and historic buildings dotted around the territory are highlighted at an exhibition touring public libraries this month. Organised to complement the Heritage Fiesta held this autumn, which had offered free guided tours of fabulous sites like Flagstaff House, the roving displays pinpoint the work and success of various initiatives to preserve these iconic buildings and thus Hong Kong’s past.

When: Until 29 Dec
Where: Various public libraries
How much: Free

For more information: heritage.gov.hk

January Events: Highlights for Hong Kong’s upcoming month

Kick off the New Year in style by trying your hand at everything from online botanical painting classes to taking in a Brahms requiem. If retail therapy is more your thing, visit the upcoming Discovery Bay Chinese New Year Market. Read on for more events to look forward to in Hong Kong this January…

Jan 7

A Feminist’s guide to Botany: Online Botanical Painting Session

Step into the magical world of botany and try pairing your green fingers with a brush in an online water painting class dedicated to exploring the history of iconic female artists in the botanical field. The workshop will be led by the London Drawing Group, an all-female art and teaching collective that promises to deliver engaging art classes you can enjoy right in the comfort of your own home. The attendance fee, meanwhile, is on an eminently reasonable “pay what you can” basis.

Details: londondrawinggroup.com

Jing Kewen: Cloudless

Until Jan 11

Jing Kewen, a leading proponent of the Chinese avant-garde movement, is to present a selection of works he created over the course of 20 years in the first exhibition of his art to be hosted by Massimo De Carlo. The chosen pieces are said to highlight his evolution as an artist, including many deemed to be pivotal expressions of his unique vision during the period when his oeuvre was most influenced by post-modernism and globalisation.

Details: Massimo De Carlo, Central. massimodecarlo.com

Cantonese opera young talent

Until Feb 6
With the aim of breathing new life into one of the city’s few homegrown artforms, the Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong is to stage over 100 Cantonese opera performances and related outreach activities at the Yau Ma Tei Theatre. It is hoped this will help nurture new talents via a programme intended to pass on the art of Cantonese opera to a new generation.

Details: HK$100 Up at Yau Ma Tei Theatre. hkbarwoymt.com

A taste for life: The collection and connoisseurship of Mr Low Chuck-tiew

Until Feb 24
Xubaizhai is presenting a fine selection of highly acclaimed Chinese paintings and calligraphy works from the archives of the late connoisseur of the fine arts, Low Chuck-tiew. In all, the collection is said to showcase some 40 iconic works collected over a 50-year period, which both capture the zeitgeist and reflect the rarefied taste of their former owner. The selection is also accompanied by the personal story behind the acquisition of each work, providing an illuminating journey into the heart of art connoisseurship.

Details: Free admission at Xubaizhai Gallery of Chinese Painting and Calligraphy. hk.art.museum

Brahms: The German Requiem

Jan 9
A piece that will move and comfort the grieving heart, The German Requiemis the longest work composed by Deutschland’s own Johannes Brahms. Said to be a tribute to his mother and inspired by the music of Bach, this seven-movement piece will be performed by the Hong Kong Youth Choir under the lead of Christopher Cheng.

Details: HK$180 Up at Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui. up.hkphil.org.

Discovery Bay Chinese New Year Market

Jan 12
Ring in the Chinese New Year with a little retail therapy while getting ahead with your preparations for the lunar celebration. As a special edition of the ever-vibrant and lively Discovery Bay Sunday Market, the Discovery Bay Chinese New Year Market is aiming to spoil shoppers with an array of fare from dozens of artisan vendors, all selling handmade crafts and ethically-produced items from local creators.

Details: Free admission at Discovery Bay Main Plaza. handmadehongkong.com

The Impossible Trial: A Musical

Jan 24 – 31
The Impossible Trial (previously known as The Great Pretender) assembles some of Hong Kong’s leading creators and performers in the revival of this classic fable of greed, justice and redemption, all in a contemporary context in an innovative musical theatre format. Commissioned by Freespace, and co-presented and co-produced by HKRep and Freespace, the performance is said to tell a timeless tale with considerable relevance to modern day Hong Kong.

Details: HK$180 Up at Hong Kong Cultural Centre. westkowloon.hk

September Events: A round-up of the best happenings in HK this month

A round-up of the can’t-miss happenings in HK this month. From musical act The 1975, theater production Matilda the Musical and Mid-Autumn Festival…

3–7 Sept

HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair

With the timely opening of its 38th edition this month, the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair is back. This year, the event – said to be the world’s most comprehensive chronograph expo – is set to welcome 800 high-end exhibitors and 21,000 eager buyers. For 2019, the show floor has been divided into five themed zones – World Brand Piazza, Chic & Trendy, Craft Treasure, Renaissance Moment and Wearable Tech. This is certainly one summer event that guarantees a good time. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai. hkwatchfair.hktdc.com

8 Sept

The 1975 Live in Hong Kong

Manchester pop-rock musicians, The 1975, are set to land in Hong Kong this month nearly four years after their last visit. Newly minted as the Brit Award’s best British Group and winners of the British Album of the Year for their latest release – A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships – the Manc musos are currently on something of a roll. With the release of their fourth album – Notes on a Conditional Form – scheduled for early 2020, there’s every chance that Hong Kong concertgoers might get a sneak preview of what the lads have in store. AsiaWorld-Expo, Airport Expo Blvd, Chek Lap Kok. HK$988–1,188. venue.cityline.com

12–14 Sept

Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance

Arriving the day before this year’s Mid- Autumn Festival, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is back for its ever-thrilling annual parade. Starting and ending in Causeway Bay, the parade dials back a few centuries, as the spectacular terpsichorean tradition commemorates the dying days of the 1880’s Tai Hang plague. With firecrackers and a 67m-long dragon high in the mix, it’s an event that really just can’t go wrong. Tai Hang, Causeway Bay. discoverhongkong.com

13 Sept

Mid-Autumn Festival and Lantern Carnival

It’s once again time for every mooncake muncher’s favourite Hong Kong holiday – the Mid-Autumn Festival. This annual escape from the workaday week brings locals and mainlanders together for the timeless tradition of thanking the moon for the splendiferous nature of the seasonal harvest. In its modern incarnation, this translates into a day of family fun, complete with magic lantern displays, lion dances and a distinctly carnival atmosphere. Best take a minute or two out for a little lunar appreciation too, because… well, you never really know, do you? Locations vary. discoverhongkong.com

20 Sept–20 Oct

Matilda the Musical

Sure to excite mischievous munchkins and overly-nostalgic millennials – courtesy of Lunchbox Theatrical Production and GWB Entertainment – is the upcoming opening night of Matilda The Musical. Inspired by Roald Dahl’s evergreen children’s tale, composer Tim Minchin, scriptwriter Dennis Kelly and director Matthew Warchus promise a raucous singalong take on the adventures of Matilda, a very special little girl who deploys her secret superpowers to help her get through the everyday challenges of school and family life. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai. HK$445–2,980. premier. hkticketing.com

21 Sept

Sake Walk 2019

With Hong Kong being one of the major importers of sake, Japan’s signature rice wine, a citywide celebration was clearly due. Accordingly, making its debut this month is the Sake Walk, an occasion set to showcase 80 of the finest incarnations of this particular intoxicant. Hosted within the plush heritage hotel, House 1881, the event will see participation from 14 of Japan’s most distinguished distillers – including such luminaries as Hakuko and Manotsur. Festivalgoers can also grab a bite or two from an array of high-end food vendors, while basking in the beats of a variety of imported funkmeisters… House 1881, 2A Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui. HK$100–280. jebsenfinewines.com/sake-walk-hk

22, 24–25 Sept

London Symphony Orchestra

As part of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra will be arriving in the city to initiate the formal festivities with a three-night journey through classical music. With Grammy-winning, Hong Kong-born pianist Colleen Lee joining them on stage, two hours may well not
be long enough to truly showcase the assembled talent. Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui. HK$380–1,880. lcsd.gov.hk

24–2 Sept

Shakespeare’s Globe

Bardophiles rejoice! Shakespeare’s Globe makes its much-anticipated return to the city at the end of the month, with the promise of staging three plays that offer truly timeless takes on such burning contemporary issues as refugees, personal freedom and ill fitting yellow breeches. Indeed, with Twelfth Night, Pericles and The Comedy of Errors all on the bill, it’s a chance to experience Shakespeare’s unmatched ability to convey and capture the full range of human emotions, from joy and laughter to despair and surrender. You won’t get that on TVB. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai. HK$395–795. premier.hkticketing.com

July Events: A round-up of the can’t-miss happenings in HK this month

The month of July has an array of celebrations, festivals and gigs up its sleeve to help you beat the notorious Hong Kong heat. Whether you’re looking to have some fun in the sun, or keep cool indoors – we’ve rounded up 9 must-see-and-do July events that are worth penciling into your diary.

1 July

22nd Anniversary of the HKSAR

Taking place at the beginning of the month is the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or, in layman’s terms, The Handover. While celebrations have had a tendencyto vary over the years, it’s a safe bet to expect the ceremonial fanfare to be turned up to 11. Expect parades, flag-raising ceremonies, cultural performances, sports matches and, of course, a whole night’s sky worth of fireworks. Locations vary. gov.hk

4 Jul

Alexander Shtarkman Piano Recital

Renowned for his piano recitals in the Americas, Europe and Russia, Alexander Shtarkman will be heading to Hong Kong this month to treat the more refined to his repertoire of recitals from Bach, Schumann and Ravel. Awarded the First Prize at the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy, and now a member of the piano faculty at Peabody Institute, Shtarkman’s visit to Hong Kong is sure to be truly classic. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai. HK$130–480. hkticketing.com

5 Jul–18 Aug

International Arts Carnival 2019

With events taking place throughout much of the summer season, the International Arts Carnival is back in action, just in time to keep your kids busy during the long school-less months ahead. The wide assortment of events on offer include puppetry, interactive theatre, magic shows and, apparently, far more. Billed as ‘Fun for the Whole Family’, there may be no better way for the kids to beat the summer heat and learn a thing or two about culture and the arts, while giving parents a fighting chance to preserve their sanity. Locations vary. HK$35–580. hkiac.gov.hk

5–8 Jul

Hong Kong Bakery Carnival

The Hong Kong Bakery Carnival is being billed as the city’s first-ever public bakery show, with its organisers hoping to build on the success of the Hong Kong International Bakery Expo, an event that has delighted the city’s more sweet-toothed residents since 2012. Would-be pastry partakers may want to loosen their belts as the event will comprise bakery workshops, competitions, on-site demonstrations by celebrity chefs and, of course, lots and lots of food tasting. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai. hkbakerycarnival.com

6 Jul

LUMIERE International Fashion Event

Hong Kong’s fashionistas will be out in full force as Meler Productions presents Hong Kong: Lumiere, an event that will kick off its high-end fashion show and summer party this month. Showcasing an array of international designers from Japan, Hong Kong, USA, France and Sweden, this highly fashionable fiesta won’t be strictly fun and games, with five percent of all profits being donated to Redress, a Hong Kong-based NGO dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability in the fashion industry. The Annex, 173 Des Voeux Rd, Central. HK$370. eventbrite.com

6–28 Jul

Big Resign Day

They say life imitates art more than art imitates life. This, however, may not hold true from the upcoming local production of Big Resign Day. A laugh-out loud comedy, it follows the lives of several stressed-out Hong Kong office workers and dives deep into the darker side of the city’s work culture. The show’s three-week run features a number of homegrown stars, including actress Jessica Hsuan and former DJ and multimedia personality Lam1Hey. This eminently comic cast is sure to make the crowds chortle while touching on subjects that are certain to have real resonance. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai. HK$380–580. premier.hkticketing.com

23 Jul

Clockenflap presents: Yaeji, live in HK

In order to excite concertgoers before the event proper in November, festival organisers Clockenflap are making the summer sizzle with an array of international talents, including New York-based singer and producer DJ Yaeji. From humble beginnings at her college’s radio station, the Korean-American sensation soared out of the underground scene to become a fullfledged international superstar on the back of such hits as Raingurl and Drink I’m Sippin On. Yaeji’s Hong Kong debut is all but guaranteed to be an eclectic, electric night of avant-pop. This Town Needs, 6 Shung Shun St, Yau Tong. HK$420. ticketflap.com

24 Jul

Clockenflap presents: Alvvays

Hailed as Canada’s new indie champs (with Tegan and Sara now decidedly mainstream), Alvvays is back in Hong Kong after wooing crowds at last year’s Clockenflap Festival. Their latest album, Antisocialites, may be the most un- Hong Kong name around, but this won’t stop these mighty alt-rockers from delivering one of the more unique concert experiences on offer to 852 hipsters this year. Beg, steal or borrow a ticket and bop along to such peerless dreamy pop as Not My Baby, Dreams Tonite and Archie Marry Me. Go on. You know you want to. This Town Needs, 6 Shung Shun St, Yau Tong. HK$470. ticketflap.com

26–28 Jul

2019 e-Sports and Music Festival

Gaming fans, for once, will want to put down their controllers and head outside for the weekend when the e-Sports and Music Festival arrives in Hong Kong at the end of the month. Besides many of the homegrown top talents, there will be an impressive assembly of gamers from across the globe, all of whom will be competing for the HK$3.5 million inprize money on offer. Last year’s festival attracted more than 80,000 fans, but organisers are confident that the 2019 event will be bigger yet. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai. HK$50-250. emfhk.com