Hong Kong Festivals and Events
June 2016

Front and center this June 2016 is the Dragon Boat Festival, exciting races, parades and carnivals will be held throughout the territory.

Here is a guide to the most popular spots to catch these colorful and electrifying events.

In the Cultural front, the Chinese Opera Festival is kicking off this month and will run through August 14, 2016.

June is a hot and humid month in Hong Kong, make sure to have sun protection and stay hydrated. We are also in the middle of our infamous typhoon season. Don't be alarmed, just aware, Hong Kong deals with them every year. If a warning is issued, take the precautions outlined here and stay safe.

Here's this month's line-up:

• The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival - Thursday, June 9, 2016

• Water Parade in Tai O's Dragon Boat Festival - June 9, 2016

• Dragon Boat Carnival and the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in Victoria Harbour - June 10 - 12, 2016

• Stanley Dragon Boat Short-Course Races - June 19, 2016

• Chinese Opera Festival - June 17 - August 14, 2016

• Art Pop Up Hong Kong 2016 - May 15 - June 9, 2016

• Air Supply Live On Tour - June 19, 2016

• "Mira" a special screening - June 29, 2016

Also check-out these popular ongoing events during June 2016:

• Free cultural exhibitions: Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Feng Shui

• The Symphony of Lights, Hong Kong's light and sound show

• Victoria Harbour Cruises

• Last Chance for the Horse Races at Happy Valley!

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival - June 9, 2016

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival , also known as the Tueng Ng Festival, is one of the favourite amongst the revelry of Chinese Festivals celebrated in the territory. Taking place on the 5th day of the 5th Lunar month, it is most well-known for its energetic and colorful dragon boat races.

On the day of the Festival, races are held by the several Dragon Boat Associations throughout the territory. All events are free to the public.

These are some of the most popular sites for dragon boat races in Hong Kong during the Dragon Boat Festival. Races are ongoing just about the entire day at most locations, for further details check out our main Dragon Boat Festival page.

• SunLife Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships are the "main" races known in the dragon boat circuit worldwide.
• Aberdeen Dragon Boat Festival Races
• Saikung Dragon Boat Festival Races
• Cheung Chau Dragon Boat Festival Races
• Tai O Water Parade and Dragon Boat Festival

Although there are plenty more locations to catch a race on this day, these are easy and of interest for visitors to get to and are also usually in most travellers' "must see attractions".

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Water Parade in Tai O's Dragon Boat Festival - June 9, 2016

A procession of colorfully decorated sampans, temple deities and ceremonies enmeshed in hundred-year old traditions, a beautiful coastal town with its unique characterising houses on stilts, and to top it all off, exciting action-packed dragon boat racing at its best, that's what we have to look forward to at this fascinating festival, which is held on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival.

A visit to Tai O, is a must for all travellers, and on this day, the town comes alive and you get to glimpse another facet of this otherwise sleepy and tranquil town, don't miss it if you are around. Most of the festivities will be in the morning, so you still have time to make it to the main races at Stanley or the other sites throughout Hong Kong, which normally end in the afternoon, or pay a visit to the Big Buddha which is also in Lantau Island.

When?: June 9, 2016, 8:00 a.m. - approx. 2:00 p.m.

Where?: Tai O waterfront.

Here's more on the Tai O Water Parade.

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The Dragon Boat Carnival and the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races - June 10 - 12, 2016

Sponsored by the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association, this event along with the Stanley Dragon Boat Championships, is one of the top events in the dragon boat-racing calendar. International teams as well as local and company sponsored teams compete in one of the most prestigious of tournaments.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival is a three-day event jam-packed with hot dragon boat action right on Victoria Harbour, plus live entertainment and a fabulous BeerFest.

When?: June 10 - 12, 2016
Where?: Victoria Harbour, Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade.

More on the Dragon Boat Carnival.

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Stanley Dragon Boat Short-Course Races - June 19, 2016

Celebrated a few weeks after the main races of the Tuen Ng festival, as the name suggests, the races are on a shorter course, only 200 meters.

When?: Sunday June 19, 2016, 8:00 a.m. - approx. 5:00 p.m.

Where?: Stanley Main Beach.

More Info: www.dragonboat.org.hk

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Chinese Opera Festival - June 17 - August 14, 2016

"Chinese Opera encapsulates the long history and traditional culture of China. The immaculately crafted movements of the hands, the eyes, the body and the feet of the actors are unique to a whole system of Chinese performing arts."

This art form has been around for centuries and to foster a better understanding of this ancient art, the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department brings the annual Chinese Opera Festival to the community.

If you have never experienced this unique kind of traditional art, this is your chance! The festival will offer daily stage performances by some of the leading Companies in the genre. Besides the stage performances, the festival also puts together an array of events from symposiums, Chinese Opera film screenings and exhibitions.

When?: June 17 - August 14, 2016

Where?: Stage Performances at various venues including a couple of locations very convenient to visitors:

• The Grand Theatre at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade
• The Hong Kong City Hall in Central
• The Hong Kong Space Museum

How Much? Ticket prices vary depending on event.

• Tickets for a stage performance at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre for example range from HK 100- HK 350.
• Tickets for a Chinese Opera Film Show at the Hong Kong Space Museum are HK 30.
• Discounts are available to students and seniors.

More Info: Visit the official site of the Chinese Opera Festival.

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Art Pop Up Hong Kong 2016 - May 15 - June 9, 2016

Copntemporary artist and collector Ng Lung Wai is back this year with another incredibly unique exhibition.

His artworks are created with authentic items from the artist's own private collection of vintage items and antiques, such as more than 20,000 European stickpin badges, thousands of Hong Kong generic stamps, mosaics, tokens, clothespins, etc.

This year's event themed "Out of Dream" features Dazzled, a whole room covered with Hong Kong bank notes, the artist's collection of over 1000 nostalgic Hong Kong matchboxes from the 1930s - 1090s, many from restaurants, nightclubs and brands that no longer exist, and a giant Euro relief display.

Also on display will be the celebrity portraits made with thousands of stickpin badges: Audrey Hepburn, the Queen, Mao Zedong...

Tips for viewing: The recommended distance to enjoy most of the portraits is standing 20 metres from the artworks, then get close to appreciate the details of the components, the stickpin badges, mosaics, stamps, etc.

When? May 15 - June 9, 2016 - 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Where? 3F Exhibition Venue, Comix Home Base, 7 Mallory Street, Wanchai

How Much? FREE! Please consider a donation through their crowdfunding page so more exhibitions like this can be made possible in the future!

More Info: www.artpopuphongkong.com

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Air Supply Live On Tour - Sunday, June 19, 2016

When?: Sunday June 19, 2016 - 8:00 pm

Where?: Star Hall (KITEC) in Kowloon Bay, how to get there

How Much? HK$900 +

More Info and Tickets

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Mira - A Special Screening - Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Gone Running is delighted to host a special screening of "Mira", a pretty incredible story of a Nepalese village girl and her journey to international trail running stardom.

Mira Rai and this film are special to many Hong Kongers, for many of those met or raced with Mira on her journey to trail running success.

At the screening, the film maker, Lloyd Belcher, will be present and available for questions. There will also be a live feed to Italy with Mira Rai herself.

Screening proceeds will be shared between the Nepal Fund for Mobile Cinemas and Girls Fund as well as Free to Run (Helping refugees through running).

The screening will be shown with English and Chinese subtitles.

When?: Wednesday June 29, 2016 - 7:00 pm

Where?: The Vine Centre - 29 Burrows Street, Wanchai

How Much? General Admission HK$90, Concession HK$60

More Info and Tickets: Eventbrite HK and the organiser's FB page: Gone Running on FB

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Ongoing Hong Kong Events for June 2016

These are some popular ongoing events that are worth checking out, specially since they are FREE or offered for a very low fee!

These events feature some of the great and ancient traditions of the territory and are offered by experts in their corresponding fields:

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The Symphony of Lights

The Symphony of Lights is Hong Kong's light and sound show, a tribute to the city and its people, their diversity, energy and vitality.

The stage is the entire city, which is what makes it so unique, you can watch the lights from just about anywhere in the waterfront. This free show offered by the city, takes place every night at 8:00 pm and lasts aboout 15 minutes.

When?: Every Night

Where?: Can be seen from both sides of Victoria Harbour

How Much? Free

Click here for more on Hong Kong's Symphony of Lights and best spots to watch.

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The Happy Valley Horse Races are On!

Happy Valley Hong Kong whether or not you are a horse racing enthusiast is an experience not to be missed!

The beautiful horses, the skillful jockeys, the crowds going wild, they all add up to an exciting, fun-filled, thrilling atmosphere in a world-class venue.

The Happy Valley race course itself is a sight in itself, the city has built around it through the years and it is now practically surrounded by skyscrapers, an awesome experience specially at night when the city is illuminated.

When?: Wednesday Nights. First race starts at 7:15 p.m. and the gates open at 5:15 p.m. The races are done by 11:00 p.m.

Where?: Happy Valley Race Course

How Much? Depends, there are many ways to experience the races, from General Stand to Private Boxes and special packages including dinner and drinks. General Stand entrance starts at HK10.

Click here for more on Happy Valley Horse Racing, how to get there and options for viewing the races.

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Hong Kong Events