Written by HK Cheapo
January is for making resolutions, and February is for breaking them. With the start of the Gregorian and lunar years duly marked, the city is settling into 2025 with renewed optimism and energy. Fill your weekends up with music, arts and culture, traditional festivals, and more.
Arts and Culture
Hong Kong Arts Festival 2025
From 28 February to 29 March, the Hong Kong Arts Festival brings over 125 performances to stages across the city. Expect everything from Bizet’s Carmen to a T.S. Eliot-inspired play and a rare appearance by the Shanghai Yue Opera House. Tickets start at HK$90.00, with events held at top venues like the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Festivals
Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival
The Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival, held in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, centres around the tradition of tossing wishes onto the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees using placards tied to orange, a ritual believed to make wishes come true. The festival also features a display of colourful floats from the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade and live performances by local and international artists on 30 and 31 January. The event is accessible via bus from Tai Po Market or Tai Wo Station.
Chinese New Year Night Parade
The Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade returns on January 29, marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake. There will be a pre-parade street party at 6 p.m., followed by the main parade 8 p.m. at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, proceeding along Canton Road, Haiphong Road, and Nathan Road, before concluding at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel. Expect to see elaborately designed floats and a wide variety of performances, from musical acts to juggling and more.
Spring Lantern Festival
Marking the first full moon of the lunar calendar, the Spring Lantern Festival wraps up Chinese New Year celebrations in spectacular style. This age-old tradition of lantern-making dates back thousands of years, evolving from simple bamboo and silk designs to intricate works of art.
In 2025, the Year of the Snake, expect lanterns shaped like snakes, dragons, goldfish, and other auspicious symbols on display. The Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival runs from January 23 to February 16 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. A special carnival will take place from February 7 to 12 across various areas of the centre. Lanterns will light up daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
AIA Winter Carnival
Every winter the Central Harbourfront Event Space hosts a two-month-long family-friendly carnival, complete with rides, games, performers, and huge plush toys to be won. This year’s edition promises to be as fun as ever.
Food and Beverage
Vegetarian Food Asia
Taking place from 21 to 23 February at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event features over 4,000 vegetarian and vegan products from around the world. Discover plant-based meats, allergy-friendly snacks, trending superfoods, and more.
Sports
Standard Chartered Marathon
The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon returns on 9 February, bringing runners of all levels to the city’s streets. With categories including the full marathon, half marathon, and 10K, the event offers a route through some of Hong Kong’s most iconic areas. Whether you’re running or cheering from the sidelines, it’s a key date in the city’s sporting calendar.
Hong Kong Race Week
From 11 to 16 February, Hong Kong will host its premier youth sailing event, Hong Kong Race Week. This annual regatta invites young sailors from across the Asia-Pacific region to compete and develop their skills on the water. The event includes different types of sailboats (called “classes”), like the 29er, ILCA, and Optimist, catering to sailors of varying experience levels. Races will take place in picturesque locations such as Repulse Bay, Stanley, and Beaufort Island.
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