Cover ‘The Nutcracker’ by the Hong Kong Ballet (Photo: courtesy of HKBallet)
‘The Nutcracker’ by the Hong Kong Ballet (Photo: courtesy of HKBallet)
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Spend your Christmas the artsy way with concerts, ballets operas and exhibitions that add a dash of magic, royal splendour and festive fun to your oh-so-cultural December
While Hong Kong doesn’t have a white Christmas like Paris or New York, it certainly doesn’t lack festiveness. There are plenty of cultural happenings around town for those who are looking to spend the holiday seasons the artsy way—be that through a spectacular Nutcracker show by the Hong Kong Ballet, magical Christmas concerts at Disneyland where you’ll be covered in “snow”, or Christmas pantos where you can take flight with Peter Pan to Neverland.
Beyond the Christmas cheer, several other exhibitions and art events are taking place in December: a Versailles and Forbidden City exhibition, or an outdoor puppet performance at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, for instance.
Read on to find out more about everything that’s happening in December.
Read more: The Hong Kong Ballet premieres the world’s first Hong Kong-inspired Nutcracker this Christmas
1. ‘The Nutcracker’
Above Nana Sakai and Jeremy Chan as Clara and her brother (Photo: courtesy of Conrad Dy-Liacco and HKBallet)
Nana Sakai and Jeremy Chan as Clara and her brother (Photo: courtesy of Conrad Dy-Liacco and HKBallet)
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When: December 13-29, 2024
Where: Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui
What: Hong Kong Ballet’s annual Christmas staple is an adaptation by the company’s artistic director September Webre and famed local playwright Yan Pat To, who bring the audience to mid-twentieth-century Hong Kong, where Clara and the Nutcracker go on an adventure and meet dim sum and local flora and fauna characters to defeat the evil Rat King. Expect to be dazzled by elaborate costumes by Gabriela Tylesova and Tchaikovsky’s beloved music performed by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
2. Handel’s ‘Messiah’ by Mozart
Above Valentina Farcas (Photo: courtesy of Dario Acosta)
Valentina Farcas (Photo: courtesy of Dario Acosta)
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When: December 20-21, 2024
Where: Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui
What: Handel composed the celebrated English-language oratorio Messiah in 1741 by compiling the text and scenes from the King James Bible and the Coverdale Psalter by Charles Jennens. Four decades later, Mozart, who loved Messiah, created a German-language version. Fast forward to 2024, the Hong Kong Philharmonic orchestra will perform Mozart’s piece together with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus and four established vocalists: Valentina Farcas, Catriona Morison, Nicholas Phan and Thomas E Bauer.
In case you missed: What Tarmo Peltokoski, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s youngest music director, is hoping to bring to the company
3. Disney Christmas Live in Concert
Above Disney Christmas Live in Concert (Image: courtesy of Hong Kong Disneyland)
Disney Christmas Live in Concert (Image: courtesy of Hong Kong Disneyland)
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When: Until December 8, 2024
Where: Castle of Dreams, Hong Kong Disneyland, Lantau
What: Singers Gin Lee, Morisette and Janice Yan join Mickey and his friends onstage at the Castle of Dreams at Hong Kong Disneyland to bring in the Christmas cheer. As well as holiday favourites, they will be performing songs from Enchanted (2007), Tangled (2010), Coco (2017) and other Disney films that celebrate love, friendship and family. During the concert, you’ll also see the fireworks display—and don’t be surprised if there’s “snow”fall.
4. Arts in the Park
Above Arts in the Park (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board)
Arts in the Park (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Tourism Board)
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When: Until December 1, 2024
Where: Victoria Park, Causeway Bay
What: Hong Kong’s outdoor youth arts festival this year takes inspiration from French writer Jules Verne’s acclaimed tale of adventure Around the World in 80 Days (1872) and fills the streets and Victoria Park of Causeway Bay with a puppet parade, 15 creative arts booths, live performances, African drumming workshops, live storytelling, and a display of over 1,000 pieces of artwork.
In case you missed it: 7 unmissable shows at Hong Kong Arts Festival 2025: Geisha performance, ‘Carmen’ and more
5. Carolling in a chapel and cathedral
Above The Cecilian Singers (Photo: Instagram/@the.ceciliansingers)
The Cecilian Singers (Photo: Instagram/@the.ceciliansingers)
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When: December 6 and 10, 2024
Where: St Stephen’s Chapel and St John’s Cathedral
What: If you’re looking for something atmospheric, why not head to St Stephen’s Chapel and St John’s Cathedral for The Cecilian Singers’ Christmas concerts? Founded in 1962, this is the oldest mixed choir group in the city. This year, they will perform festive music and songs from movies. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Bethune House, a community-driven emergency shelter that supports migrant women workers in Hong Kong.
6. Peter Pan the Panto
Above ‘Peter Pan the Panto’ (Photo: Instagram/@hkplayers)
‘Peter Pan the Panto’ (Photo: Instagram/@hkplayers)
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When: Until December 8, 2024
Where: Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wan Chai
What: Hong Kong Players will stage Peter Pan the Panto, in which Peter Pan, Wendy and their friends go on an adventure and battle Captain Hook and his pirates. Based on Scottish novelist and playwright JM Barrie’s play, this production directed by Jodi Gilchrist and Arvin Robles offers exciting stage combat, thrilling dance moves and dazzling songs from the group’s live band.
7. The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles
Above ‘The Qianlong Emperor in Court Attire’ (1736–1795) by court painters (Image: courtesy of The Palace Museum)
Above ‘Louis XIV in Coronation Robe’ (1701-1712) by Hyacinthe Rigaud (Image: courtesy of The Palace of Versailles and Christophe Fouin)
‘The Qianlong Emperor in Court Attire’ (1736–1795) by court painters (Image: courtesy of The Palace Museum)
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When: From December 18, 2024 to May 4, 2025
Where: Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon Cultural District
What: Here’s an exhibition that you shouldn’t miss, regardless of whether you’re a whovillain or not. The Hong Kong Palace Museum will showcase 150 spectacular treasures from the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Palace of Versailles in the exhibition The Forbidden City and the Palace of Versailles. There were studies suggesting that the Chinese and French courts had keen interest in one another, and the two cultural landmarks remained significant to the artistic and political identities of the two countries. This exhibition explores the encounters between China and France in science, technology, arts, culture, and philosophy during the seventeenth to the eighteenth centuries.
8. The RedBall Project
Above The RedBall Project (Photo: courtesy of Kurt Perschke)
The RedBall Project (Photo: courtesy of Kurt Perschke)
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When: December 6-15, 2024
Where: various locations
What: American artist Kurt Perschke’s iconic RedBall Project, which involves a giant red ball installation being set up at various city’s landmarks since 2001, has captured the hearts of many with its fun message and curious visual effects. It is on its way to Hong Kong for the first time and will bring refreshing perspectives to the design of the Central Pier, Hong Kong Museum of Art, West Kowloon, Victoria Park and other venues, where it will be exhibited.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
