Hong Kong Events
2025 Calendar
Lunar New Year
(Spring Festival)
Also known as the Spring Festival, Lunar New Year is the most important event in the Chinese calendar. Beginning on the first day of the first lunar month, the celebrations last for 15 days and often feature festive meals with family and the exchange of red envelopes for good luck. Popular dishes during this time include fish, dumplings and nian gao, a sweet glutinous rice cake.
Be respectful of local customs at temples, markets and neighbourhoods. Be aware of over-crowding in popular areas like Victoria Harbour, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok, especially during the fireworks and evening parade.
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival marks the first full moon of the lunar year, which also coincides with the last day of the two-week Lunar New Year celebration. The streets are lit up with colourful lanterns as people bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Glutinous rice balls known as tangyuan or yuanxiao are a common feature of the festivities.
Explore lantern displays in the lesser-known neighbourhoods and parks for a more peaceful experience. Avoid large crowds by visiting early in the day or later in the evening.
Cheung Chau Bun Festival
This week-long festival on Cheung Chau Island features lion dances, papier-mâché displays and costume parades. A highlight is the Bun Scrambling Competition, where challengers climb up bamboo towers covered with Chinese buns. Accessible by ferry from Hong Kong Island, this truly local experience showcases items, including the iconic buns, made by the community.
The festival is a great time to explore the island’s markets, food stalls and local crafts. Wear comfortable shoes if you plan to walk around the island or watch the bun-snatching competition.
Buddha's Birthday
Celebrating the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha, this important Buddhist festival involves pouring water on Buddha statues and eating vegetarian food as a way of cleansing the body and soul. This spiritual tradition is observed at various Buddhist temples across the country, including Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island.
Locals often follow a vegetarian diet during this festival and you can join in by trying vegetarian cuisine at restaurants or temples. Sites like Po Lin Monastery and Wong Tai Sin become especially busy during this time.
Dragon Boat Festival
Held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, this annual festival centres around thrilling dragon boat races that take place around Victoria Harbour. The races are accompanied by traditional drumming and dance performances, and people often enjoy zongzi, a sticky rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves.
Support local businesses by buying festive food or handmade souvenirs from local vendors and remember to bring a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste while enjoying the festivities.
Mid-Autumn Festival &
Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance
Marked by colourful lanterns and delicious treats, this popular festival takes place in the middle of autumn, when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest. The event has become synonymous with moon cakes, a traditional pastry filled with sweet bean or lotus seed paste. The fire dragon dance in Tai Hang district has become a popular tradition, dating back over a century.
Choose to buy moon cakes from neighbourhood bakeries or social enterprises, which often use traditional recipes and support local jobs. The Tai Hang area gets extremely busy during the Fire Dragon Dance, so arrive early for a good view.
Clockenflap
Bringing together an exciting line-up of artists and musicians, this three-day event is Hong Kong’s largest annual music and arts festival. Featuring a diverse range of local, regional and international talent, the acts cover a wide variety of styles and genres, including live performances, art installations and interactive displays.
Bring a reusable water bottle to minimise plastic waste and dispose of waste properly by using the recycling bins provided, ensuring food wrappers and bottles are placed in the designated areas.
