Best things to do in Hong Kong in March
The phrase ‘March madness’ is no exaggeration when it comes to Hong Kong next month. There’s a ton of amazing events and happenings packed into the month’s 31 days. Top of the bill, Art Basel, the city’s biggest art fair, makes a grand return to the Convention Centre as part of the massive Hong Kong Arts Month. That means world-class exhibitions and numerous art events like Art Central and HK Walls will be rolling into town.
If art isn’t your thing, fear not. Foodies can rejoice with the return of Taste of Hong Kong, bringing more gourmet food and booze to the Central Harbourfront. Speaking on the waterfront, The Hong Kong ePrix is also back promising thrilling racing action. BTS, Tom Odell and Pet Shop Boys complete the exciting line-up of international pop acts coming our way. There’s no shortage of things to do to fill up your calendar in March. Enjoy!
RECOMMENDED: Keep up to date with all the best art exhibitions in Hong Kong taking place this month.
Hong Kong events highlight
Hong Kong International Film Festival 2019
It can be tough getting tickets for Asia’s oldest film festival – have those credit cards ready when booking finally opens later this year, usually around early March – but that’s because the array of films screened at HKIFF is almost always stellar. Highlights already announced for 2019 include a retrospective of pioneering Chinese actress Li Lihua – star of Storm over the Yangtze River and the first winner of two Golden Horse Best Actress Awards – and a look back at the work of the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, a group that includes the likes of Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and Zhang Junzhao.Screenings take place across the city from the likes of the HK Arts Centre in Wan Chai to The Metroplex in Kowloon Bay, so be sure to check locations as well as the times films are showing.
Kaws: Holiday
For anyone who’s been missing the presence of the colossal rubber duck, the hugely popular public art in 2013 by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, you can keep your eyes peeled for another giant float making its way to our shores. Renowned American artist and designer Kaws is bringing a 37m long, monumental inflatable sculpture of his signature character, Companion – think of it as a morbid version of Mickey Mouse – to Central Harbourfront. Reclining on its back and with Xs for eyes, the floating sculpture Kaws:Holiday, invites Hongkongers to join Companion to lie back and relax, or amuse themselves with the image of what is essentially is a gigantic dead mouse left adrift on Victoria Harbour.
HK Walls
Hong Kong’s biggest street art festival is back! Taking over the streets of Wan Chai district, HK Walls features an exciting lineup of events including live painting sessions by top local creatives and international graffiti artists, as well as a pop-up print exhibition. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates on locations and events during the festival!
Art Central
Whether it’s because of the harbourside locale, the open grass space for food or its ever-expanding diversity of works on display, Art Central’s popularity continues to be on the rise. A relaxed and less stuffy affair than Art Basel, this waterfront art fair is also known for its live performance art. This year sees four new interactive performances from leading contemporary artists from the Asia-Pacific region, including a cup noodle restaurant and conversations with a “ghost”. Also look forward to edgy, urban and contemporary artworks presented by more than 100 international galleries, as well as six specially commissioned large-scale installations.
Art Basel Hong Kong
Undeniably Hong Kong’s biggest annual art event, Art Basel returns on March 29 for its seventh edition and three-day takeover of Hong Kong Convention Center featuring masterpieces and contemporary artworks from 242 leading international galleries. People from all walks of life from first-time visitors to A-List celebrities – be on the lookout for regulars like Leonardo diCaprio or David Beckham – converge to Wan Chai to make a turn at Art Basel to admire and discover weird and wonderful works and everything in between. While it’s literally impossible to check out every piece of artwork, the fair is never boring. Last year saw Jeff Koons‘ inflatable sculptures, Jaume Plensa’s mind-bending monumental installations and bizarre live performances of actors carrying out random acts with everyday objects. Let’s see what weird and wonderful things happen this year.
Tim Yip: Blue – Art, Costumes and Memory
Acclaimed Chinese visual artist, film art director and costume designer Tim Yip, who is probably best known for his Oscar-winning contributions for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, presents his first large-scale solo exhibition in Hong Kong. The show, curated by Mark Holborn, is separated into 3 stages, bringing to life Yip’s multidisciplinary works along with his collaborations with some of the world’s best filmmakers. Marvel at stunning, over-the-top costumes presented in various settings, immersive film art and a robot named Lili.
Boyzone
Following the announcement that they’re calling it quits, members of Irish boyband Boyzone are making the rounds across the globe to bid farewell to fans and to promote their sixth and apparently, last album Thank You & Goodnight. The group’s latest album, which was released last year and marked the 25th anniversary of an impressive career, features great pop anthems like Because and Love, as well as an emotional track featuring vocals from the late Stephen Gately. Here’s your (possibly last) chance to let the foursome serenade you live in person.
Jimmy Carr
One of the hottest British comedians on the circuit, Jimmy Carr makes another return to shores as part of his The Best of Ultimate Gold Greatest Hit Tour (quite a mouthful). The cheeky-chappy-with-dark-undertones performer is hugely popular with audiences worldwide, probably down to the fact that he can deliver the most cringeworthy, offensive joke and then get away with it by flashing a quick smile and laughing like a seal with asthmatic tendencies. Expect more of the same at his one-night performance in September.
Pet Shop Boys
One of the biggest names in the UK music scene, Pet Shop Boys are known for their string of hits and their high-profile collaborations with the likes of David Bowie and Madonna. If you’re a fan of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe’s synth-pop sounds, don’t miss their show at AsiaWorld Expo in March.
Asia Contemporary Art Show
Prefer to browse artworks in a five-star hotel setting? This is just the fair for you. More than 2,000 pieces of original paintings, sculptures and photographs are displayed across four floors of the Conrad Hong Kong. The spring edition also features intimate artist dialogues for art collectors and lovers so you can have a chance to know the people behind the canvas a little better.
Don’t miss the biggest events in town
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