5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, December 26-28

Whether you are drawn to the buzz of harbourside markets, the tranquillity of nature or the wonder of a curated exhibition space, Hong Kong offers a wide range of options to help you embrace the festive season’s spirit. Here are five things to do in the city this weekend. 1. AIA Carnival The AIA Carnival returns to Central Harbourfront this season, celebrating its 11th year and running until March 1. In addition to its extensive line-up of rides and games, which include new attractions like an 80-metre-high (262-foot) Big Ben Tower swing ride, the event incorporates a wider festive programme. Visitors can enjoy a winter market hosting food stalls from heritage brands and local favourites, watch acrobats from around the world at a winter-themed circus, and listen to live music at themed pop-ups such as Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong. The carnival grounds will also host interactive art installations, wellness workshops and a quiet sensory space specifically for the neurodivergent community. Tickets and further details are available through the official website. 2. WestK Christmas Lane View this post on Instagram A post shared by WestK 西九文化區 (@westk.hk) While WestK Christmas Town is offering a long list of festive events and performances, food definitely takes centre stage. The pet-friendly Christmas Lane on Harbourside East Lawn has set up 30 local food and retail stalls, making it the perfect opportunity to savour seasonal gourmet specials against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour. The offerings include Mother of Pizzas, Pane e Latte, PostCoffee and local selections such as Ah Jeng’s Coffee Club. Several vendors will also provide pet-friendly treats and photography services. While the overall Christmas Town will run until January 11, Christmas Lane will only be available until December 31. 3. Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden For families looking for festivity outside the city, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden is offering a natural escape this holiday season. The conservation centre is offering free admission for children aged 11 and under until December 31, providing a perfect opportunity for a gentle retreat into nature. Visitors can explore the newly renovated Piers Jacobs Wildlife Sanctuary to see rescued animals like barking deer and leopard cats in enriched habitats, as well as a botanical art exhibition showcasing Hong Kong’s native flora through illustrations and Chinese paintings. For hands-on fun, families can join interactive workshops such as a Fine Brush Plant Painting session for ages six and up, or become nature detectives in the Plant Encounters garden activity. For more information and ticketing, click here. 4. FutureScope View this post on Instagram A post shared by FutureScope (@futurescope.dome) Hong Kong’s first large-scale art dome, FutureScope, debuted at Kai Tak Sports Park this month. Situated outdoors near Victoria Harbour, the hemispherical theatre immerses visitors in 360-degree sight and sound. FutureScope will house three immersive multidisciplinary experiences from December 2025 to April 2026, titled Perpetual Records, Resonance Aura and Waving Script. The experiences feature Hong Kong media artist Chris Cheung and his collectives Xcept and Xceed with international creators like Japanese new media artist Daito Manabe and experimental vocalist Sainkho Namtchylak. The exhibitions will be free and open daily from 2pm to 8pm, with extended hours on weekends and public holidays from 11am to 10pm. Performance tickets and scheduling can be accessed here. 5. Pass and Goal The prospect of Pass and Goal is not immediately appealing. A football-themed comedy with an old-fashioned premise about staying true to oneself, it features a modest cast that includes several inexperienced child actors and is directed by the filmmaker behind abysmal comedies like Lucky Fat Man (2017) and Love Detective (2015). Yet, to echo a key message from this latest film from Jil Wong Pak-kei, a match is seldom won or lost in the first half. And so it proves here, as this feel-good, family-friendly offering defies expectations with its infectious positivity and cheeky humour. While Gigi Leung Wing-kei, hamming it up as an egoist who must rediscover her moral compass, displays a genuine sense of humour that is not always apparent in her comedy outings, it is newcomer Chau Tsz-yuet – a real-life member of the Hong Kong women’s under-16 squad – who proves the real find as the teenage protagonist. Some may even call Pass and Goal one of the most surprisingly wholesome Hong Kong films in recent memory. Read our full review Pass and Goal is now showing in Hong Kong cinemas.

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, December 26-28

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Check out the food scene at a Christmas market, hop on a thrilling ride at a harbourfront carnival and bask in nature this weekend

1. AIA Carnival

Check out the food scene at a Christmas market, hop on a thrilling ride at a harbourfront carnival and bask in nature this weekend