The best things to do in Hong Kong in December

Deck the halls and grab your shopping bags as the festive season gets underway this December. Carnivals, concerts and Christmas celebrations are set to make the season bright, alongside sporting events and fairs where you’ll be able to grab something truly special for your loved ones.

Discover all the best December events in Hong Kong below.

Christmas cheer

Hong Kong truly undergoes a transformation during the holiday season, with maximalist shopping mall decor and lavish Christmas menus taking over restaurants all across the city.  

We’ve put together a guide to the best places to see Christmas lights and capture your festive tree moment, alongside where to dine over the holiday in our ultimate Hong Kong Christmas guide. Your biggest problem won’t be finding holiday events this season – it'll be figuring out which ones to go to. 

Christmas events in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is always a Christmas classic, and it’ll run between 13 and 29 December. For more family entertainment, Faust is set to bring Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to life with their troupe of young actors between 5-8 December at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Hong Kong Players’ annual Christmas panto is always a highlight – this year, they’re bringing Peter Pan to raucous life on 1 December and again from 5-8 December.

In West Kowloon Cultural Park, there are ample festive events including a Christmas market which runs from 29 November – 1 December, 6-8 December and 12-29 December (Thursday to Sunday). Meanwhile, the Harbourside Lawn wil be transformed into the Hong Kong WinterFest Christmas Town, bringing cheer to the waterfront park until 1 January.

The city’s theme parks are also set to get a holiday facelift, with Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen bringing white winter vibes to the city until 1 January while Ocean Park rolls out the red and green carpet. 

New Year’s Eve events in Hong Kong

Looking for a party to ring in 2025? Over at the Mandarin Oriental, izakaya cocktail bar The Aubrey will be hosting a night to remember on 31 December complete with a lavish dinner and midnight champagne toast. A fantastic line-up of DJs will set the tone as you dance your way into the new year.  

No New Year’s Eve is complete without champagne. Get your fix at W Hotel’s Woobar! , who has partnered with Veuve Clicquot for their “Beats and Bubbles” New Year Countdown Party. 

For a front row seat to the fireworks, the Aqualuna is hosting a New Year’s Countdown Cruise for the occasion. Board the iconic red sail junk and sip on cocktails as the skies are illumiated with vibrant bursts of colour overhead –made even more beautiful by the rippling reflections in the Victoria Harbour wrapped around you.  

Over at the Four Seasons, the Pool Terrace is a prime location to watch the fireworks display before heading to Caprice Bar’ s decadent White Party to dance the night away, fuelled by caviar and champagne.

AIA Carnival

Following Clockenflap at the start of the month, the beloved AIA Carnival is returning to the Central Harbourfront from 20 December to 16 February. It’s set to be even bigger and better than ever for its tenth anniversary, with 26 rides, over 30 game booths and endless entertainment. Gandeys Circus, a British troupe, will take over the World Circus tent for the occasion, showcasing death-defying feats including motorcycling stunts, flying trapeze artistry and more. Need to take a breather after that? There’s a number of food stalls on hand, touting local favourites and street food from stars of Hong Kong’s culinary scene. 

The Big Bounce

Get back in touch with your inner child at The Big Bounce , a gigantic theme park of bouncy castles waiting to be explored. With several different play areas ranging from space-themed alien attractions to a huge inflatable sports arena, the bounce party will kick off from 21 December until 5 January on West Kowloon’s Great Lawn. You’ll be able to choose from three different sessions: a junior session for kids under 7 years old with their families; a bigger kids session for kids 15 and below; and the After Dark sessions for adults and teens 16 years old and over.

Concerts in Hong Kong 

Clockenflap charges onwards into this month with its final day on 1 December, seeing Jamie XX, Glass Animals and British rapper Central Cee closing out the event. British crooner James Blunt also is set to serenade Hong Kong this holiday season, bringing hits such as You’re Beautiful, Goodbye My Lover and more to AsiaWorld-Expo on 12 December as part of his The Who We Used To Be tour . 

Japanese duo Yoasobi will arrive on the scene just after Christmas, with two shows between 26-27 December at AsiaWorld-Expo. You’ll find them blending catchy tunes with heavier topics like depression and loneliness in tracks like Yoru Ni Kakeru . Make sure to get your tickets quickly, as they’ve garnered quite the fanbase after their popular Clockenflap appearance last year. 

Firsts: Hong Kong 

Some of the world’s rarest books will be showcased at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum this December, as Firsts Hong Kong is set to bring stunning tomes, photographs, manuscripts and more together under one roof. Running between 6-8 December, international book dealers from around the world will present their wares. It’s free admission, so bookworms and collectors should make visiting a priority. 

Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Star Ferry Pier No. 8, Man Kwong Street, Hong Kong

RedBall Hong Kong

Keep your eyes peeled for a gigantic red ball crammed into Hong Kong’s nooks and crannies, when American artist Kurt Perschke takes over the city between 6-15 December. Following tours to cities like London, Tokyo, Chicago and more, the eponymous red ball will be squished between this city’s landmarks – raising questions about our relationship with play and the environment around us, as well as providing an Instagrammable must-snap.

Macao: The NBA Legends Celebrity Game Presented by Sands China

The Venetian Arena will be transformed into a sporting hall of fame on 7 December, as NBA superstars and local music legends will come together in a high-energy extravaganza . Hall of Famers and NBA All-Stars including Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen and Tony Parker will put their skills to the test, showcasing their best slam dunks as an NBA dance team cheers them on. Tickets can be purchased here .