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
Record Mart
Soho casual Italian American joint Frank’s is hosting their inaugural Record Mart this May, an event that brings together a selection of local vinyl vendors including Blair, Lam Hood, Bunny Law, Jasper Spoon, Brahms and Chinatown Records under one roof. Record Mart also features personal listening stations on vintage equipment, allowing fans to enjoy great tunes and soundtracks before deciding whether they want to take home a copy. Savour quality bites and drinks while you’re there. Note that all vinyl purchases only accept cash payments.
Young Master Invitational Beer Festival
Pioneering Hong Kong craft brewery Young Master is back with its second Young Master Invitational Beer Festival. The 2019 event brings over 160 beers from 21 of the highest-rated breweries in the world to Hong Kong. Those include stalwarts like Mikkeller and Stone as well as up-and-coming names like Magpie, Great Leap and Lervig. Four three-hour-loung breakout sessions will be held over two days, letting guests experience different styles of beer, from sours and session ales to strong ales like imperial stouts, porters and more. Tickets are available for individual sessions, one-day entry or two-day entry.
Hikkomori, The Shelter
A futuristic story about fitting in and finding your place, this play uses an innovative and original sound design that offers audiences three different viewpoints while viewing the same story. Following the story about teenager Nils and his decision to withdraw from the world, Hikikomori is told from the eyes of three characters: the mother, the father or Nils himself. Using headphones, audiences can select to experience the story from their chosen perspective.
Hong Kong Spoken Word Festival
Hong Kong Stories, a popular regular event where true stories are being told and performed in front of a live audience, brings another edition of the Spoken Word Festival. Celebrating all things poetry, storytelling, comedy, writing and acting, the fest brings together various groups holding a range of live performances in venues all over the city every night for over the span of eight days. Expect amazing entertainment by the likes of HK Improv, Liar’s League, Peel Street Poetry, as well as local podcast hosts record live on stage.
Niki de Saint Phalle: Legendary Female Artist of the 20th Century and Her Wonderland
Bringing a hundred monumental artworks of Niki de Saint Phalle to the plaza and exhibition gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall, this exhibition is a rare opportunity to get acquainted with the renowned French-born sculptor and one of the most significant feminist artist of the 20th century. Vibrating colourful and fluidly shaped, these large-scale installations are a joy to discover as you venture from the indoors to outdoors of the town hall.
Joshua Kahan: Don’t Worry, I'm Here
Experience art and illustration like never before. London-born and Hong Kong-based illustrator Joshua Kahan showcases more than 400 drawings, a selection of which are brought to life by creative technology studio The Collective using their innovative in-house Augmented Reality technology. All you need is a smartphone, then you’re good to go. Sarcastic, imaginative and capturing the millennial culture with simple drawings, admire Kashan’s works as you enjoy a drink or two at The Aftermath Bar.
War Horse
The National Theatre of Great Britain brings the Tony Award-winning play War Horse to Hong Kong for the first time. Based on Michael Morpurgo’s beloved novel, War Horse is a stunning tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, following the journey of a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, set against the backdrop of the First World War. Popularised by Stephen Spielberg’s film of the same name, the stage production is particularly unique and imaginative for its ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping horses to life on stage.
Van Gogh Alive – The Experience
A multi-sensory exhibition that brings Vincent Van Gogh’s iconic and lesser-known paintings and artworks to life. Set to a classical score, this immersive experience allows you to explore more than 3,000 images projected across walls, columns, and even floors of the venue. Don’t miss the interactive drawing room filled with rows of canvas stands where visitors can try their at drawing following the projected video, as well as a real set of the Bedroom in Arles for photo-ops.
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.
Le French May
It’s that time of year again. Le French May is here and that means a raft of Gallic events, experiences and entertainment. It’s just started and runs until the end of June, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the themed events across town. Highlights this year include the photo exhibition celebrating the works of legendary photographer Willy Ronis, a dance performance based on Bach’s music choreographed by Benjamin Millepied of LA Dance Project, and the annual French Traditional Gourmet Market at PMQ.