This month, Hong Kong kicks off with a public holiday and some spectacular fireworks, celebrates Oktoberfest and plays host to some international sporting competitions. All this and more in our round-up of must-see October events to pencil into your calendar.
National Day Fireworks
1 October
October starts in fine style with the National Day celebrations for the People’s Republic of China’s 69th birthday. Not only does the occasion grant over-worked locals a day away from the office, the night’s festivities culminate in the now traditionally-splendid fireworks that light up the sky above Victoria Harbour. Every year, both sides of the harbour are packed to the gunnels with patriotic partygoers as they jockey to secure the perfect spot to capture the pyrotechnics with all the splendour their smartphones will allow. So head out early or you’ll just end up with an out-of-focus snap of the tall bald man in front of you.
Victoria Harbour between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui. lcsd.gov.hk/eo
Beertopia 2018
5-6 Oct
Just five years ago, the very first Beertopia festival opened its doors and Hongkongers have seldom looked sober ever since. Over that time, Hong Kong’s home-grown beer festival has become so popular that CNN has dubbed it ‘Asia’s biggest craft beer event’, while broadcasting thousands of the city’s imbibers looking distinctly the worse for wear. The two-day quaffathon is also accompanied by a wide array of entertainments, including live bands, food trucks and more pub games than you can shake a soggy mole at. Interested parties should book ASAP, as tickets tend to sell out well in advance.
Central Harbourfront. HK$200-485. beertopiahk.com
Hong Kong Tennis Open
9-14 Oct
Some of the biggest names in women’s tennis will be landing in Hong Kong this month in search of on-court victory at the 2018 Hong Kong Tennis Open. Among the 50-odd ladies hoping to rocket to racket-related victory are 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, World No.7 Elina Svitolina and China’s top players Zhang Shuai and Wang Qiang. Not only will the winner gain much-valued Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking points, they’ll also get to take home US$500,000 in prize money. Love all? You bet.
Victoria Park Tennis Stadium, Causeway Bay. HK$160-880. hktennisopen.hk/
Puccini’s Turandot
10-14 Oct
While the legendary Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) famously penned some of the greatest and most enduring operas of our times – La Bohème and Madame Butterfly spring to mind – perhaps his most intriguing work may just be his last, unfinished composition – Turandot. Now, Hongkongers will have the chance to judge for themselves as this missing-a-few-bits masterpiece – an intricate love story featuring an ancient Chinese emperor and a lovelorn prince who must solve three riddles to win his princess and find true love – makes its SAR debut.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui. HK$150-1,080. ticket.urbtix.hk/
Joy of Music Festival
15-25 Oct
For 10 whole days, the city’s music lovers will be treated to a wide array of performances, master classes and workshops courtesy of the annual Joy of Music Festival. Organised by The Chopin Society of Hong Kong, the event will welcome several internationally-renowned musicians, including guitarist Alvaro Pierri, composer and guitarist Carlo Domeniconi and pianist Giuseppe Andaloro. Attendees will also be treated to live renditions of famous works from some of history’s greatest composers, including Ludvig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Sergei Rachmaninov and Joseph Haydn.
Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central. HK$100. ticket.urbtix.hk/
New Vision Arts Festival
19 Oct-18 Nov
The worlds of visual, musical and performing arts look set to converge in one massive cultural amalgam over the month-long New Vision Arts Festival, which promises ‘a rich array of pioneering artistic endeavours certain to extend your cultural horizons’, if its website is to be believed. Kicking off the itinerary is Tree of Codes, a multi-sensory, multimedia production that blends sculpture and literature with architecture and dance. Fancy. Other highlights include Aqua Sonic, a novel integration of arts and science, and Angel’s Bone, a rock-opera-caberet-chamber music mash-up from China’s first female Pulitzer Prize winner, Du Yun.
Locations vary. HK$100-580. newvisionfestival.gov.hk
Moontrekker 2018
19-20 Oct
The aptly named Barclay’s Moontrekker trail race doesn’t just challenge participants to cross difficult terrain, it also insists that they do so in almost complete darkness. Fiendish. Runners can choose from two distances – the Moonlit 30km and the Sunrise 43km – with only more experienced athletes encouraged to take on the inaugural Phoenix 50km. All cover roughly the same route and the goal is to reach the summit of the 934-metre Lantau Peak in time to enjoy a glorious sunrise. It’s not uncommon for spaces to fill up fast, so register now. As it’s in the dark and set somewhere inaccessible, it may not be the most spectator-friendly of events.
Race start line: Mui Wo, Lantau. barclaysmoontrekker.com/
Giselle
26-28 Oct
This October, the Hong Kong Ballet revisits one of the best loved classical dance productions to ever grace a Fragrant Harbour stage – Giselle. Hailed as among the most challenging ballets ever devised, this particular interpretation pays homage to the original 1841 choreography as laid down by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot in France. It will also see several internationally renowned terpsichoreans performing alongside the ever-talented Hong Kong Ballet troupe, while musical duties fall to the Hong Kong Sinfonietta Orchestra.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui. HK$140-1,000. hkballet.com
Hong Kong World Sixes 2018
26-28 Oct
Two decades after making its global debut – and five years after its last iteration – the Hong Kong Sixes returns for its 20th edition, promising even more action and entertainment for the city’s cricket enthusiasts. Over the course of three days, 12 teams will battle it out across the course of 28 games to see exactly which side will be awarded the Kowloon Cricket Club’s highest accolade. With discounted children’s tickets available for HK$16 and specially-priced family packages up for grabs, this may just be the perfect activity for the entire family.
Kowloon Cricket Club, 10 Cox’s Rd, Jordan. HK$160-2,600. ticketflap.com/hksixes2018