When the traffic to Causeway Bay gets bad and taxi drivers get choosy, you know Hong Kong is getting back to some kind of normality. That also means activities and events are coming back.
If you need a break from the beach or coming up with things to exhaust your summer holidaying children, here are some of the coolest activities to do this August. This month features a range of inviting art events, a massive-scale dinosaur show, a belated street water fight and more.
Side note: For those who believe in the underworld, it’s the month to pay respect to the spirits and restore peace as it’s the month of the Hungry Ghost Festival.
Science
The Big Eight – Dinosaur Revelation (July 8- November 16)
Free family-friendly indoor activity doesn’t get much better than this. “The Big Eight – Dinosaur revelation” is a large-scale dinosaur exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum.
Meet Willard the Triceratops, one of the largest Ceratopsians – herbivorous, beaked dinosaurs – documented, on its world premiere tour. Together with seven other dinosaur skeletons, the Big Eight are some of the most iconic and complete fossil skeletons of these prehistoric creatures you could see.
If your young humans are dinophiles, sign up for one of the “A Night with Dinosaurs” sleepovers.
Play
Songkran Hong Kong (August 5-9)
It’s a few months behind the actual Thai Songkran festival (April) – but who could say no to a water fight and a chance to appreciate Thai culture?
Cancelled due to Covid-19 in April, D2 Place is bringing back Songkran Hong Kong this month. With street water fights, Thai market and a “Bathing Buddha Ceremony” hosted by Thai monks, it will certainly make you feel like you’re travelling in Thailand.
Songkran HK
Bethanie Museum (August)
You can book a tour to see Bethanie, the 147-year-old French Mission Sanatorium in Pok Fu Lam, now.
Home to the Hong Kong Academy for Performance Arts’ School of Film and Television, the historic architecture is usually closed to the public, except for occasional wedding guests when its chapel is booked as a ceremonial venue. The tour takes visitors around the premises including Bethanie Theatre — made up of former dairy farm cowsheds and Bethanie Chapel.
Tours are in Cantonese only. Tickets (HK$25.00) are available on HKTicketing.
Art
New Oil Street Art Space extension opens (August)
The new, uber-airy extension of Oil Street Art Space is a must-visit, if you haven’t already.
To celebrate a new beginnning, the art space re-launches with some new large-scale art installations. “Joyful Trees” are tilted trees on rotating turntables by American architectural group Diller Scofidio + Renfro. There’s also a mesmerizing three-dimensional digital art exhibition “D’strict Remix” by the Korean art group D’strict.
Don’t forget to visit “Out Living Library” where artists and creative groups connect the public with the community with their arts and performances.
Check out Oil Street Art Space’s Facebook for information on their latest happenings.
Affordable Art Fair (August 4-7)
The art fair that showcases relatively-affordable artworks returns. Without the intimidating atmosphere of some of the other art fairs, the Affordable Art Fair is a playful and welcoming event for any art lover. Find your next favourite up-and-coming artists from around the world here.
Affordable Art Fair
Tai Kwun Movie Steps/Moonlight Cinema (August)
If you can withstand the heat, outdoor cinemas offer the relaxing and romantic vibes that indoor theatres can’t match.
This summer, Tai Kwun offers movie lovers two outdoor cinema experiences.
Every Sunday at 4pm in August, Tai Kwun will be screening old-time musical movies at its Laundry Steps. Admission is free.
At night, the Parade Ground will be turned into a cozy cinema, showing 10 Hong Kong films from the 1960s to the post millennium era. The ticket price is set at HK$150.00. You can find the programme here.
Food
Hong Kong Food Expo (August 11-15)
While it’s less about discovering the latest food trends and more about finding products at a crazy discount, Hong Kong Food Expo is still a fun and intense way to spend a day and feed your stomach.
As usual, there will be a few thematic zones in the Gourmet Zone: Asian Cuisine, Western Delicacy, Sweet Delight, Green Palate, Coffee Avenue and – new this year – Beer Cheers. There is also an International Tea Fair happening at the Expo.
Hong Kong Food Expo
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