Top things to see and do in Hong Kong this November

Need a reason to step out of the house? This month is serving up all sorts of fun activities. From the annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine, the much anticipated Spartan Race, and a slew of art festivals and exhibitions to watch out for. Check out what’s on the slate for November events.

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
1 – 30 Nov
Hong Kong gourmands rejoice! One of the city’s largest and most highly anticipated culinary events returns for a month-long gastronomic experience. This year the festival brings its events closer to you, and you closer to the city, in its first-ever “City Wine Walk”, a single tasting pass to limited-time only menus at more than 400 participating restaurants and bars across the city. Once again running congruent with its physical event, a live-streamed “Tasting On-Air” programme introduces virtual visitors to a series of expert-led rare wine tasting masterclass. So, foodies and wine lovers get ready to indulge in exclusive wines, a slew of delicious delicacies and innovative eats, and a “Chinese Omakase by Masterchefs”, featuring the city’s young and talented rising stars in the F&B industry.

For more information: discoverhongkong.com

Festive Korea
Until 28 Nov
All things Korean come to town with the 11th edition of Festive Korea, organised by the Korean Cultural Centre. With “K-Connected” as the theme of this year’s exchange of art and culture, Hongkongers can delight in a wealth of Korean experiences, from browsing through a cultural bazaar and admiring beautiful ceramics to indulging in delicious Korean food and the country’s famed pop culture. Korean classical musicians also get in on the act; a performance by world-renowned violinist Zia Shin and pianist Yoonie Han is another festival highlight.

Price: Free entry
Location: 6/F, PMQ, Hollywood Road, Central
For more information: hk.korean-culture.org

Poetic Heritage
Until 21 Nov
Curated by arts and heritage practitioner Alex Tam Hok-nang and spotlighting six contemporary artists from Hong Kong and beyond, the Poetic Heritage exhibition at Tai Kwun explores the untold stories of heritage through contemporary art. Whether through the preservation of physical objects or exploring cultural identity in the context of modern-day issues, visitors can glean how the past resonates in the present and ponder concerns raised about the homogenisation of heritage.

Price: Free entry
Location: JC Contemporary, Tai Kwun, Central
For more information: taikwun.hk

Hong Kong Spartan Sprint
20 – 21 Nov
Challenge yourself this month and push your limits like never before at the return of the Hong Kong Spartan Sprint. The 5k obstacle race is divided into three competitive categories: Elite, Age Group and Open. Children can also join in the strenuous fun of Kids Weekend, with races providing a podium for the young to test themselves and learn a sense of sportsmanship.

Price: From HK$900 (HK$480 for children)
Location: Kam Tin Country Club, New Territories
For more information: spartanrace.hk

New Vision Arts Festival 2021
Until 28 Nov
The annual New Vision Arts Festival is renowned for championing cutting-edge and boundary-pushing performing arts, adhering to its vision of crossover collaborations, nurturing new talents and commissioning new works. Forced to take a back seat on its fourth principle this year – overseas outreach – it nevertheless offers a smattering of virtual performances by artists who cannot make it here in person. Local audiences can choose from a series of musical, dance, film and multi-arts performances, screenings and exhibitions throughout the month.

Price and location varies:
For more information: nvaf.gov.hk

Nine Songs
26 – 28 Nov
Internationally renowned choreographer Helen Lai is joined by Oscar winners Tan Dun and Tim Yip, along with the Hong Kong Dance Company, in the revival of one of her most celebrated works, Nine Songs. Inspired by an epic poem collection in Chinese literature, dancers honour ancient legends in contemporary form, embodying the spirits of the sky, rivers, mountains and the dead, as well as the hopes of the living. This stunning performance marks the 30th anniversary of its premiere.

Price: From HK$160
Location: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon
For more information: westkowloon.hk

Mini Dough Warrior Workshop
13 Nov
As part of the annual Black Box Chinese Opera Festival 2021, Xiqu Centre is staging a dough figurine sculpting workshop for anyone curious to try their hand at this traditional craft. Join veteran master craftsman Moses Law Chung-man in modelling a 10cm-high miniature warrior out of dough – with the figure inspired by the lead character in the experimental Cantonese opera production Wenguang Explores the Valley. Materials and tools are provided for this three-hour masterclass; you just need a relatively skilled eye and steady hand.

Price: HK$250 per person
Location: Studio 3, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon
For more information: westkowloon.hk

Into the Wild
Until 30 Nov
From edibles to edification, there’s more than just high tea to enjoy at the Mandarin Oriental this month. An interactive pop-up art exhibition in the East Lobby, Into the Wild, is a collaborative effort between the five-star hotel and French ethical skincare brand Chantecaille to raise awareness of endangered species and foster a better understanding of environmental conservation. In a unique and engaging experience, visitors are invited to take photographs with and of different wildlife in a safari setting via the brand’s ‘Wild Beauty’ AR app.

Price: Free entry
Location: Mandarin Oriental, Central
For more information: mandarinoriental.com

Zhang Jian-Jun: Human Traces
Until 14 Nov
K11 Art Foundation presents Chinese contemporary artist Zhang Jian-Jun’s solo show, Human Traces, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Arts. The culmination of the artist-in-residence programme in London, the travelling exhibition makes its final stop in Hong Kong, where a series of new works by the artist will be showcased. Each piece was made specifically for the city to reflect Zhang’s latest musings on the eternal themes of human beings, nature and time. Curated by Chinese scholar Wu Hung, the exhibition includes a guided tour.

Price: Free entry
Location: K11 HACC, L2, K11 Atelier King’s Road, Quarry Bay
For more information: k11artfoundation.org

We Are All Stars: Holiday Wonderland
6 Nov- 31 Dec
Charlotte Tilbury, the makeup artist to the stars, presents an instagrammable photo opportunity with London-chic vibes in the heart of Causeway Bay. The We Are All Stars pop-up bottles the magic of Tilbury’s luxury cosmetics, wrapped with Christmassy love, luck and treasures galore – play interactive games, win cute treats and feel like a star in this winter wonderland. Running till the end of December, get your hands on limited holiday edition collections, exclusive beauty gift packs – because what is Christmas without the spirit of gifting. Prior registration required.

Price: Free entry
Location: Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay
For more information: Charlotte Tilbury

Opening from 6th November to 31st December 2021 at Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay.

Also Read: Nine exciting events and exhibitions to visit in Hong Kong in October (igafencu.com)

November Events: The top acts coming to Hong Kong this month

From a family run at HK Disneyland and Arts in the Park for the little ones to musical acts like Guns N’ Roses and the Clockenflap music festival, here’s a round-up of the top November events in Hong Kong.

HK Disneyland 10K Weekend
3-4 Nov

If you’re looking for an easy way to get your kids off their digital devices and outdoors for a day, look no further than the Hong Kong Disneyland 10K Weekend. This annual event is open to participants of all ages and sees a series of Minnie (Mouse) Marathons staged within the walls of Uncle Walt’s Wonderland. While teens and above can sign up for the Incredible 10K and Monsters University 5K, littler ones might be best advised to stick to the Toy Story 3K Family Run, preferably with mum and dad in tow.

Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau Island. HK$260-550.

Arts in the Park 2018
3-4 Nov

By day, this family-friendly festival offers youngsters a chance to unleash their inner artist with a spot of mask making or a feel-good face painting or two. As darkness descends, though, the event is reinvented as a magical, moonlit parade, complete with dazzling giant-sized doppelgangers of many of the most-loved characters from fairytale favourites, including Dorothy, the Scarecrow and – of course – the Wizard of Oz himself. The Grand Finale grandly commences on Sunday night in Victoria Park, before wending its way through Causeway Bay with its comically cartoon delights.

Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. Free. admission.

Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair
8-10 Nov

Hong Kong’s alcoholic beverage boffins better book their rehab now as the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, clinking ominously all the way. This year, the international imbibery on offer comes courtesy of no less than 1,000 doughty distillers and boldly-going brewers. So, if you fancy supping on Burkina Faso’s second-best bitter or downing several shots of fine Sumatran sherry, downtown Wan Chai is the place to be for at least three days this month.

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai.

Clockenflap
9-11 Nov

The 11th iteration of Hong Kong’s best-loved – and, arguably, only – homegrown music and arts festival is set to rock Central Harbourfront this month. This year’s three-day line-up offers all true alfresco entertainment lovers a chance to enjoy live performances from such notable acts as American rapper Khalid, as well as local breakthrough talents like the Cocoonics. Actually, who are we kidding? The real rationale for risking the now-traditional Clockenflap drenching is the UK’s David Byrne, Mr- Big-Suited-Talking-Head himself. It’s a Once in a Lifetime opportunity. Ah, please yourselves.

Central Harbourfront, 9 Lung Wo Rd, Central. HK$640-1,620.

Oxfam Trailwalker
16-18 Nov

The annual Oxfam Trailwalker sees hundreds of robusty ramblers signing up for this ultimate endurance challenge every year – all 100km of the MacLehose Trail in under 48 hours. Since 1986, more than 100,000 keen trail-pounders – not all of them men amid mid-life crises with a strange love of lycra – have attempted the trail, raising some HK$572 million for Oxfam in the process. Blood, sweat and tears will be shed, but that will mainly just be among the kids dragged along to cheer their deluded dad.

Race start line: Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung.

Guns N’ Roses – Not In This Lifetime Tour
20-21 Nov

Just two months after Bob Dylan rocked the stage at AsiaWorld-Expo, another of America’s legendariest musical acts will be bawling: “Good evening Hong Kong, do you know how to rock?” If your answer is not likely to be in the affirmative, it may be best to give this outing by Guns N’ Roses – yet another dysfunctional dispenser of disco-unfriendly ditties that vowed never to reunite, then promptly did – something of a miss. In fact, unless you’re in dire need of a little Welcome to the Jungle, why not skip this entirely and spend your hard-earned Hong Kong dollars on a few hours of David Byrne time, 10 days earlier at Clockenflap? You won’t regret it. Trust us on this one.

AsiaWorld-Expo, Airport Expo Blvd, Chek Lap Kok. HK$688-2,488.

Honma Hong Kong Open 2018
22-25 Nov

Golf lovers are undoubtedly keen to get back into the swing as the Honma Hong Kong Open rolls back into town. First held way back in 1959, this teeing-off tournament claims to be the city’s oldest sporting event and has continually lured in an impressive array of golfing greats. This year is no exception with prominent putters such as Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and Tommy Fleetwood all heading Hong Kongwards for the occasion. There is even the promise of bouncy castles for your little ones.

Hong Kong Golf Club, 1 Fan Kam Rd, Sheung Shui. Free admission on Thursday and Friday, HK$400- 600 over the weekend.

Symphony Under the Stars
24 Nov

Is there any better way to take advantage of the cooling temperatures than by venturing out to Central Harbourfront for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual Symphony Under the Stars concert? Well, assuming you were a bit too late on the Clockenflap front, probably not. Led by the HK Phil’s Musical Director, Jaap van Zweden, an evening of the orchestra’s best-loved pieces set against a backdrop of synchronised skyborne pyrotechnics surely can’t be bad. Especially as admission is free.

Central Harbourfront, 9 Lung Wo Rd, Central. Free admission.

Lumières Hong Kong
29 Nov – 2 Dec

After a highly successful debut with over 500,000 attendees last year, Lumières Hong Kong is returning for its second edition with the promise of even more dazzling light installations and breathtaking art projections. The three-day Festival of Lights, inspired by and created in partnership with the rightly-famed Fête des Lumières de Lyon, will see countless historical landmarks, such as Kowloon Park and Tai Kwun transformed by luminous light displays, designed by 15 local and international artists, none of whom, sadly are David Byrne.

Leisure and Pleasure: Events in Hong Kong this November

Whether you’re a music lover, ballet aficionado, avid reader or artist at heart, Hong Kong has something for everyone to enjoy this month. Here are some exciting events happening this November.

Clockenflap

Hong Kong’s biggest music and arts festival is going all out for its 10th anniversary along the waterfront. This year’s line-up is headlined by international acts including Massive Attack (UK), Feist (Canada) and MØ (Denmark). “Festivals like Clockenflap occupy a very important place in the cultural and creative landscape of the city,” says founder Justin Sweeting. “This is our 10th year and we’re very much staying true to our vision and spirit as always. You’ll have to come to see for yourself – the only way to experience the magic.”

17-19 November
Central Harbourfront Event Space
9 Lung Wo Road, Central
HK$570-1,720
clockenflap.com

Arts in the Park

Calling all kids and kids at heart – this popular annual outdoor youth arts festival and puppet parade is back, this time celebrating all things Roald Dahl. The British novelist’s works (Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) will come alive in the form of giant characters and storytelling sessions. Interactive activities like the African Drum Jam and free art stalls will allow youngsters to unleash their creative energy in projects like mask and headdress making or face painting.

11-12 November
Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
Free
hkyaf.com

Rugby Charity Ball

Now in its 16th year, the prestigious Hong Kong Rugby Union Charity Ball continues its gala-for-a-cause. This year’s event will be headlined by World Classic Rockers, a supergroup composed of former members of Santana, Kansas, Boston and other legendary bands. The annual fundraiser has contributed over HK$88 million to education and rugby programmes serving underprivileged children since 2002. The black tie affair includes pre-dinner cocktails, a four-course dinner, a live concert and an auction (starring a custom-painted Harley- Davidson bike!) to cap off the night.

11 November
Convention Hall, Hong Kong Convention
& Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. 6pm
HK$2,488
hkrucharityball.org

World Cultures Festival

Thumping beats and tribal arts travel to Hong Kong from the cradle of civilisation: Africa. The colourful World Cultures Festival is set to showcase the continent’s most distinctive music, dance and theatre acts in a line-up opened by none other than “African artist of the century” Youssou N’Dour (Senegal). The closing performance by Cape Town Opera pays tribute to South Africa’s first black president in a stirring folk opera entitled Mandela Trilogy.

Until 19 November
Schedule and venues vary
HK$80-$580
worldfestival.gov.hk/2017

Secret Theatre’s Project Mayhem

If you’ve been bemoaning the lack of an edgy arts scene in the 852 reminiscent of London and New York, maybe you haven’t been looking hard enough. Secret Theatre – which got its start with a production of Edward Scissorhands in an abandoned New York City factory – is in town for another round of immersive storytelling. While details on this experiential dinner and theatre show are intentionally scant, audiences can expect to be placed in a warehouse with devious characters who will act out “one of modern history’s most twisted tales of fraternity, violence and all-out psychological warfare”. You’ve been warned!

3 November – 10 December
Location to be announced upon ticket purchase
From HK$850
secretstudiolab.com, ticketflap.com/projectmayhemhk

Hong Kong International Literary Festival

Established and emerging writers from around the world come to Hong Kong for a 10-day programme of discussions, literary-themed lunches, workshops, debates, book signings, lectures and readings. The annual festival embraces creative writing in English, with an emphasis on connections to Asia. Look out for Amy Tan (author of The Joy Luck Club) at the gala dinner.

3-12 November
Venues and prices vary
festival.org.hk

Le Corsaire

Emmy Award-winning choreographer Anna-Marie Holmes is the creative force behind Hong Kong Ballet’s premiere of Le Corsaire. This staging stars Moscow-born Maria Kochetkova (San Francisco Ballet) and Canadian Matthew Golding (The Royal Ballet). Audiences can follow the romance between a dashing pirate and the beautiful harem girl he rescues – a classic adventure with a side of pas de trois.

3-12 November
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
2:30pm & 7:30pm
HK$140-$1,000
hkballet.com