Fairs & Festivals
Hong Kong has wide range of exciting happenings, fairs & festivals and top notch events throughout the year. The Hong Kong people celebrate a lot of festivals, most of them based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Below are some important festivals celebrated by Hong Kong people.
The Hong Kong “Tuen Ng” Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon boat races are held several sites in Hong Kong region according to the lunar calendardates which falls somewhere in June of every year. Thousands of competitors and their supporters go out on various races. Paradesand entertainments are part of the race and tourists come in large numbers to watch the event.
Over the years,dragon boat racing has evolved into an international sport and subsequently Hong Kong has become the main venue for international racing competitions.
The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races The biggest of all the dragon boat races in Hong Kong. It is a three day international festival and teams from overseas also participate. There will be thousands of contestants and tens and thousands of supporters might watch along the shoreline at East Tsim Sha Tsui.
Stanley International Dragon Boat race is the 2ndbiggest dragon boat races in Hong Kong. About 200 team representing companies, schools, bars, and other various organizationsand is meant mainly for local competition. Both men and women participate in the race and the team consists of expats as well as locals.
The races are conducted according to international rules. The contestants dress up in team uniforms and run in heats. A team of twenty paddlers will be on each boat. One person sits in the front and one person sits in the back steering,beating the stroke rhythm on the drum.
The Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid Autumn Festival is the biggest traditional Chinese holiday season after Chinese New Year.It is famous not only in Hong Kong but also in southern China as well as in Vietnam.
Film Festival
Film Festival is conducted in the city at various locations. Thousands of people attend this event where films can be freely screened for showing in China. The filmmakers of China can more freely show their films here.The film makers meet and films are rated here and awards are given.
Hong Kong Arts Festival
World’s top music ensembles have performed during the Hong Kong Arts Festival, notably the Vienna Philharmonic, Balletto delTeatroalla Paris, New Japan Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and Shanghai Kun Troupe, San Francisco Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Folk Song Troupe, and Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
Chinese New Year
During Chinese New Year, a parade and entertainment extravaganza that is a big part of the annual Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong.The Hong Kong administration organizes Chinese New Year's Parade in Tsim Sha Tsui. It will be an international festival and performers from many countries participate. Large crowds are seen in the streets and make way for the parade near Victoria Harbour. The parade will pass through Avenue of Stars, Kowloon Park, and finally reaching at the Golden Mile of Nathan Road.
Dozens of floats will be in the parade with dozens of performing groups and bands. It will be followed by groups of dancers, marching bands, jugglers, children, drummers, skaters and bikers of various nationalities.
Hong Kong Winter Festival
The venue of the event changes from place to place every year and the highlights mainly include New Year Countdown and greetings of the new year.
Christmas in Hong Kong
Christmas is celebrated in full spirit everywhere in the city. Santa close, the Christmas Papa with Jingle Bans music is common in shopping malls. It is one of the world's most festive Christmases. In Hong Kong it is two-day off and people usually enjoy with high spirit.