Things to do in Hong Kong this weekend
Make the most of that sweet, sweet downtime with our pick of the top Hong Kong events, things to do, concerts, festivals and more
No plans for the weekend yet? Don’t worry! Here you’ll find the best events taking place from Friday night through to Sunday, along with the finest art galleries, museums and our ultimate guide to the best things to do in Hong Kong.
The best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend
Beer We Go
Hong Kong has had plenty of great concerts with boring beers over the years, not to mention some tremendous beer festivals with less-than-stellar music. This summer, Beer We Go hopes to finally give you both at the same time. Beers from 15 different craft breweries – including many that have never before been available in Hong Kong – are being paired with the sound and style of 10 bands playing live over four different sessions. On the bill are local indie acts Jonathan Yang (the bassist in David Boring, one of the best known bands on the indie scene) and Raw Track, as well as emerging artists from Japan and Taiwan, like Stuts and Mary See The Future. Each four-hour-long session is dedicated to a different genre of music (loosely categorised here as pop rock, hip hop, electronic and noise rock, and punk). While the bands play, brewers pour the beers they believe are best suited to the tunes.
Diageo Whisky Academy
Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, is dedicated to building the Diageo Whisky Academy. DWA is a worldwide professional whisky education course that consists of a three-level course and examination. This July will be the first official launch of DWA in Hong Kong, beginning with the Level 1 course ($1500) at Tai Kwun. Level 1 course: The Whisky Crawls is an entry-level course for the general public. Participants will be able to explore the origins and basic categories of whiskies, and experience the different styles and flavours. If your interests run the gamut from whisky to gin to tequila to wine to sake, check out the best specialist bars in Hong Kong.
Audrey by Bob Willoughby
Audrey Hepburn is undeniably one of the greatest Hollywood icons of all time, and while we can still experience and witness her beauty and talent on film, Hollywood photographer Bob Willoughby has managed to capture her effervescent charm and shows an intimate side to her life. Celebrating what would have been Hepburn’s 90th birthday and marking a decade since the passing of Willoughby, this rare photography exhibition (and a first in Hong Kong) features an outstanding selection of some of Willoughby’s most memorable photos of Hepburn.
Hong Kong Book Fair
The city's annual literature extravaganza is back again this July. Head down to pick up the latest popular fictions or catch up on your summer reading and purchase books in bulk. As usual, there’s a theme of this big calendar event and this year is no different. The festival is diving into the world of sci-fi and mystery this year, and will feature multiple lectures and book signings throughout the week-long event, as well as appearances by internationally renowned writers and literary heavyweights including bestselling Canadian author Steven Erikson (July 18; 3pm-4.30pm), emerging British author Will Dean (July 19; 3pm-4.30pm), World Fantasy Awards-nominated young British author Emma Newman (July 19; 6pm-7.30pm) and Swedish author Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin (July 20; 6pm-7.30pm). Make sure you register for a seat here ahead of time! Other highlights include seminars Speculative Fiction with Natasha Pulley (July 17; 7pm-8.30pm), Reality vs Fantasy: How to Develop Imagination? with Bernard Werber (July 21, 6pm-7.30pm) and How South Asians Helped to make Hong Kong with Mark O’Neill (July 22; 6pm-7.30pm).
Sergey Melnitchenko: From Dusk Till Dawn
Sergey Melnitchenko previously worked in China as a nightclub dancer. During his time there, he created a body of documentary and conceptual art photography and almost 100 of which, will be showcased at this exhibition. Capturing an intimate view of Chinese society from the perspective of an outsider and fleeting moments of the everyday life of the average people, Melnitchenko’s award-winning series provides a rare glimpse of the world behind the backstage of a nightclub.
Our Toy Stories
Woody and the rest of the gang of Toy Story 4 has taken over Harbour City! In celebration of the latest instalment of the Pixar series, the popular Tsim Sha Tsui is bringing the toys to life with a themed carnival featuring game booths and challenges, a mini art exhibition, kids’ workshops, an interactive digital game, as well as a pop-up store. Also be on the lookout for a Toy Story themed pop-up dessert store and photo spot presented by Hong Kong Disneyland.
The Pansodan pop-up
From May through July, Sai Ying Pun is getting a proper Burmese pop-up, courtesy of Hong Kong-born restaurateur Ivan Pun. The Pansodan, an outpost of the same restaurant in Yangon named after the bustling street in the former capital, brings the vibrant flavours of Myanmar to Hong Kong — a rarity in these parts. Expect a range of tangy, funky, spicy and bright dishes, from salads to noodles to grilled meats and seafood specialties. Top it off with botanical-driven cocktails, and you've got a meal unlike any other you'll have in Hong Kong.
Fuerza Bruta Wayra
The internationally-acclaimed immersive theatre experience, Fuerza Bruta Wayra, heads to MGM Cotai this summer. The show famously throws out the rulebook, boasting no seats, no fixed stage and photos are absolutely encouraged, audience members are as much a part of the event as the performing troupe. Combining the acrobatic agility of Cirque du Soleil with the electric energy of an EDM festival, Fuerza Bruta Wayra promises a high-octane evening unlike any other night at the theatre you’ve had before.
Chinese Opera Festival
Cantonese opera was once the most popular art form in our city and our greatest cultural export. This two-month-long festival pays tribute to that. The celebration brings to Hong Kong a diverse range of performers including theChina National Peking Opera Company and Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company, who will showcase the different styles and unique charms of regional Chinese opera.
International Arts Carnival 2019
The annual family-friendly festival is back again. The carnival puts on an array of performances all over town, providing great opportunities for family bonding. Expect everything from a stage production of The Little Mermaid featuring whimsical sets and puppets and a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde's short story, The Nightingale and the Rose. Perfect to keep the kids busy this summer.