Best things to do during the Hong Kong Sevens Festival
There’s no denying it. Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is not only one of the biggest tournaments in the World Rugby Sevens Series, with 40 teams from 34 international rugby unions competing for the championship title, but it also happens to be Hong Kong’s rowdiest and most rambunctious calendar event. Taking place on April 5-7, the major sporting event sees thousands of rugby fans and revellers descend onto Causeway Bay’s Hong Kong Stadium over the three-day weekend. Throw in some outrageous costumes, plenty of beer and Pimm’s, heart-palpitating action on the field (come on, Hong Kong team!), and a streaker or two (there’s always one every year), and you have all the ingredients to a great Hong Kong Sevens.
But the fun and action isn’t just confined to the stadium. This year, the Hong Kong Sevens Festival will be spilling out and taking over Central Harbourfront and Lee Gardens, meaning the whole city can join in the fun, even the kids. If you’re looking to make the most out of the Sevens’ party atmosphere, here’s how.
Rock out with Gwen Stefani at the biggest kickoff concert
Forget about the usual pre-kickoff concert ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens tournament. This year, Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is taking things to the next level with the unprecedented launch of the Hong Kong Sevens Festival at Central Harbourfront. And the headliner is none other than Grammy award-winner (and former The Voice judge) Gwen Stefani. The blonde songstress will be taking centre stage on April 5, performing all her catchy hits from her pop career, such as Hollaback Girl and The Sweet Escape, as well as tracks from her No Doubt days – we have no doubt the crowd to go wild for Don’t Speak. Gates for the harbourside gig will open at 5pm, so audiences can chill, knock back a couple of drinks and find a good spot before cheering Stefani on. If you couldn’t get tickets to the Friday night revelry in Causeway Bay, be sure to snap up tickets to this concert, which is sure to be just as fun. Tickets are priced at $780 and are available via ticketflap.com.
Join in the revelry at Sevens Central
The fun doesn’t stop there. Following Gwen Stefani’s performance, the Central Harbourfront event space will transform into Sevens Central during the Hong Kong Sevens weekend on April 6 and 7. The party central will bring live music, entertainment and also live screenings of the rugby tournament on a giant screen, so no one has to miss the same festivities and celebrations that make the rugby sevens so popular. Plus, it’s free entry. We call that a real bargain.
Keep the kids entertained
It’s not all about booze and partying. There’s a wealth of kid-friendly hijinks over the weekend at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC FanWalk at Lee Gardens – conveniently located on the way to the games at Hong Kong Stadium. Over the span of the three days between 11am-7pm, there’ll be roving street performers, generous amounts of food and drink stalls, a ninja course and more.
Win tickets to the Hong Kong Sevens
Okay, at the end of the day, it’s tough to beat the real deal. And lucky for you Time Out Hong Kong readers, we’re giving out two three-day passes to the 2019 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens tournament – seriously, these tickets are like the stuff of legends. That’s not all, two tickets (valued at $780 each) to Gwen Stefani’s concert are also up for grabs. Click here to find out more!
