Where to Celebrate Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong for FREE

The holiday season is finally here, and what can be an awesome idea but to have a little holiday escape overseas, for many Filipinos, the best and closest overseas destination is Hong Kong!

We scouted the internet and listed various events and pop-up holiday installations, which you can visit for free and spend time with your family, friends, or your newest beau for this Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve celebration.

Save this post, and don’t forget to bring your smartphone, camera, and your KLOOK Pass to collect festive memories!

Hong Kong Winterfest 2023

(Photo Source from: Tourism Commission / Hong Kong Tourism Board)

Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District will transform into a Christmas town with a 20-metre-tall Christmas tree, as well as charming Christmas huts and dazzling holiday decorations, all shining against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour from dusk till night. Don’t miss the Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics which will illuminate our night skies with warmth and romance. Get your camera ready and gather your loved ones to experience the festive spirit!

When: 24th November 2023 – 1st January 2024

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday: 5pm to 11pm

Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 11pm

22 December 2023 to 1 January 2024: 11am to 11pm

24, 25 and 31 December 2023: 11am to 1am

Where: Harbourside Lawn West, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, Kowloon

Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics

From 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 25 and 26 December 2023 (8 displays)

8–8:10pm (around 10 minutes)

Waters off Harbourside, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, Kowloon

New Year’s Eve Countdown at Victoria Harbour

(Photo Source from: Tourism Commission / Hong Kong Tourism Board)

When the clock strikes midnight, Victoria Harbour becomes a giant canvas filled with colorful pyrotechnics and magnificent lighting effects as cheering revellers across Hong Kong celebrate the arrival of the new year. Stay tuned for details on our next New Year Countdown Celebrations to usher in the upcoming year with your loved ones in the most unique way!

Relive all the joyous and memorable moments of the Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations.

Symphony of Lights

(Photo Source from: Tourism Commission / Hong Kong Tourism Board)

“A Symphony of Lights” (SoL) is staged every night at 8pm. At Avenue of Stars, the gentle glow of lighting inside the cladding of the balustrade which resembles a fish scale will turn into a “golden dragon”, dancing with the show music interweaving of Chinese and Western orchestras. The Show also links up buildings and attractions spanning along the harbourfronts with a myriad of searchlights, lasers, LED screens, and lighting, creating an outdoor audio-visual feast for visitors.

Show time: staged every night at 8:00pm*

Location: Waterfront outside Hong Kong Cultural Center, Avenue of Stars, the Promenade at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wanchai, and sightseeing ferries in the Victoria Harbour.

Visit Tai Kwun for its giant Christmas Trees

As an annual tradition, Tai Kwun showcases the ‘Simple Gifts of Joy’, featuring a 12-metre-tall Christmas tree and dazzling light shows on the Parade Ground. The heritage buildings’ facades are also engulfed in an enchanting glow with fairy tale lighting.

Truly bedecked with more than boughs of holly, the annual festivities will thrill Hong Kong with everything from Christmas carols to experimental contemporary circus spectacles, including comedies, a parade of giant giraffe puppets, gravity-defying acrobatics and a competitive playoff of edgy circus skills, all within the twinkling glow of the towering Christmas tree in the Parade Ground. Singers and circus performers from Hong Kong will be featured alongside brilliantly entertaining international acts such as Gregarious (from Catalonia/Sweden), Giraffes (Spain), and Funny Business (UK) as each weekend of December grows and buzzes with more excitement and joy for everyone to enjoy.

Date: 1st December 2023 to 1st January 2024

Mount Santa Paws Festive Installation

Visit the Landmark in Central and take a moment to snap your festive selfies with this gigantic Mount Santa Paws Christmas Installation. Also, a great way to cool down and avoid the outside humidity.

Location: Landmark - Central MTR Exit G

1881 Heritage Botanical Christmas

In celebration of the festive season, 1881 Heritage has staged a splendid botanical garden in the Grand Piazza to spread the joy and magic of Christmas.

The ornate structure in the style of Victorian glasshouses is flanked on either side by cast iron benches decorated with colorful flora. Visitors can rejoice in the festive atmosphere with holiday music gently playing in the background. Wander into the glasshouse with your loved ones to marvel at the towering Christmas tree and blooming mechanical flowers and create Christmas memories that will fill your hearts with joy throughout the year.

How to get there:

Take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui and exit the Station via Exit E. Then walk towards Salisbury Road, turn right, and walk up the pedestrian tunnel. You will find the 1881 Heritage just opposite the YMCA.

Opening Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm (Daily)

Christmas Elfventure at Times Square

With Christmas just around the corner, Times Square is introducing the Christmas Elfventure campaign featuring the adorable elf - Lumi! Inspired by the Finnish Christmas elves, Lumi is the latest character created by Japanese artist Kohei Ogawa. Lumi will greet mall patrons at his Christmas workshop at Times Square from 18th November 2023 through 1st January 2024 and is set to melt everyone's heart with his elfventure stories. Patrons will also find a Christmas Elfventure photo booth, where they can make customized Lumi-themed WhatsApp stickers. Of course, Santa Claus will make a delightful visit to celebrate this festive season with Times Square members. In addition, a Christmas carol and violin performance will await patrons on December 19, 2023. What's more, Times Square is giving out the Times Square x Kohei Ogawa 2024 calendars. Now – get ready for a sleigh-load of holiday joy!

Aligned with the usual tranquil mood of Kohei Ogawa's works, Lumi the Christmas Elf is characterized by his big sparkling eyes and cheerful demeanor that will surely capture everyone's heart. For the Christmas Elfventure campaign, Lumi has set up his Christmas workshop at Times Square, where he will be eager to showcase all the diligent efforts of his fellow Christmas elf buddies preparing for this festive season.

To share the joy and the fun, Lumi invites patrons to join his team! Simply take a headshot at the "Christmas Elf Enrolment Counter" by the workshop entrance and obtain your customized e-work pass to embark on a dream journey at the Christmas Elf workshop! Each pass comes with a unique QR code. Upon completion of designated tasks, participants will be rewarded with a secret gift!

Did you get the pass settled? It's time to check out the Christmas elves' task list on the construction blueprint. Scan the QR code on the candy cane scanner to illuminate the construction blueprint and get on with the first task – gift wrapping! While Lumi the elves are working around the clock to fill a massive gift box with Christmas ornaments, scan the QR code on the candy cane scanner by the gift box to activate the machine. The Christmas ornaments will go straight into the box, and Lumi will thank you for your kind help!

As soon as you finish working, take a tour around the Christmas workshop to say hi to the 17 Lumi the elves. You will notice that elves are elves – while most are busy working, there is a cheeky one that is hiding somewhere. All tasks will be considered complete once you find him; a Christmas tree paper craft model will be given to recognize your hard work.

Every day at noon, 3 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm, Lumi the elves will ring the Christmas bells inside the workshop to cheer for the other working elves. At the end of the Christmas workshop, patrons will find some elves busy adorning a 6-meter star podium and a 6-meter Christmas tree. Take a few snapshots with them as a way to show your support!

Drawing from Finnish Christmas elves, Japanese artist Kohei Ogawa created the “Christmas Elfventure” project to bring warm and magical experiences to everyone inside the Christmas Dream Factory. Through his series of heartwarming, large-scale interactive installations, you can immerse yourself in the healing atmosphere and share the joy of the season.

Santa Claus Meet-and-Greet Details

Date: December 3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-25, 2023

Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Location: 2/F Atrium, Times Square

On December 19, 2023, 30 students from St. Stephen's Girls' College will be caroling at Times Square, accompanied by 10 violin students from the Kalvin Chau School of Music. Their performance will no doubt enhance the Christmas delight.

Christmas Elfventure @ Times Square

Date: November 18, 2023 – January 1, 2024

Time: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Location: Open Piazza and 2/F Atrium, Times Square

Discovery Bay Christmas Wonderland

Experience the magic of Christmas at the DB North Clock Tower, which has transformed into a stunning 13-metre-tall, Italian-style church. With its intricate details and towering spire, it’s as if you are stepping into a grand cathedral in Milan. Don’t forget to snap a photo in front of this magnificent Christmas landmark!

Location: Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

Date: available until 1st January 2024

Merry Spacemas at Harbour City

From 17 November 2023 to 1 January 2024, friends from "Bear Planet" have landed at the Ocean Terminal Forecourt in Harbour City, arriving aboard the magnificent "Bear Rocket Launch Station". The cutting-edge design of the launch station creates a magical atmosphere filled with vibrant colors and a futuristic sci-fi vibe. Over 30 delightful Bear Astronauts, Christmas Tree Robots, and Alien Friends are placed across three distinct zones. A total of 10 photo check-in spots offer a truly unforgettable experience, allowing you and your loved ones to capture precious moments here.

Begin an extraordinary space journey by entering the open-air zone of the Station through the 5-meter-tall "Merry Spacemas" rainbow neon arch! Bear Astronauts are ready to greet you to board the spacecraft and begin the adventure. You can experience the breathtaking sensation of high-speed flight in the "Lightspeed Elevator", and immerse yourself in an enchanting spacewalk adventure in the captivating "Zero Gravity Cabin". The friends from "Bear Planet" have transformed the "Exploration Shuttle" into a Party Room and also stepped onto the futuristic "Interstellar Transport Belt". A 3-meter-tall Bear Astronaut is ready to lead everyone to ascend the majestic 10-meter-tall "Christmas Tree Rocket"!

A captivating tunnel next to the harbour is the indoor special training zone of the Station, which offers you a unique opportunity to marvel at the beauty of outer space and the mesmerizing panorama of Victoria Harbour. Step through "Christmas Tree Gate" and immerse yourself in the luminous ambiance of the "Neon Space Station". Traverse the enchanting "Rainbow Corridor" and experience the exhilaration of the "Cosmic Planets". Lastly, you can lead the friends from "Bear Planet" to the "Galaxy Entrance" at the Main Staircase connecting to the mall, and indulge in Christmas gift shopping together.

Date: available until 1 January 2024

Time: 10am – 10pm

Venue: Harbour City Marine Building Open-air Plaza

Disney100 CHRISTMAS LOVE 2000% BE@RBRICK UP

BE@RBRICK by MEDICOM TOY is a beloved collectible among many trendsetters, while Disney has captured the hearts of both young and old. This year, in celebration of Disney’s 100th anniversary, Harbour City is teaming up with MEDICOM TOY to present the Disney-themed Christmas event “Disney100 CHRISTMAS LOVE 2000% BE@RBRICK UP” from now until 1 January 2024 to delight all trendy individuals, children and adults alike. This extraordinary event introduces a stunning collection of 100 unique 2000% Disney characters BE@RBRICK figurines (approx. 140cm tall), displayed at various locations throughout the mall, from Gateway Arcade to the Atrium of Ocean Terminal and “Gallery by the Harbour”. From the iconic Mickey and Friends series to the timeless Disney Classics and Disney Princess series, this collection also includes popular characters from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Among them, 53 figurines are in brand-new designs, including the adorable BE@RBRICK Gingerbread Mickey Mouse and BE@RBRICK Olaf.

In addition to the remarkable 2000% BE@RBRICK figurines, Harbour City will delight fans by offering exclusive merchandise. Keep an eye out for the highly anticipated special release of 100% BE@RBRICK Olaf, as well as the BE@RBRICK Gingerbread Mickey Mouse in 100%, 400%, and 1000% sizes. There are also totes, t-shirts, socks, cushions, rugs, butter cookies, and calendar cards. Harbour City will donate all proceeds from the project after the deduction of costs to “The Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation”, continuing the cherished Christmas tradition.

Location: Atrium I and Corridor, Gateway Arcade Harbour City

A world-class multimedia artwork by Rupert Newman

“In-Between the Sky: A Festive Beacon” will transform the Sino LuminArt Façade into a world-class multimedia artwork filled with Christmas cheer, and it will enchant both sides of Victoria Harbour with unique digital art between 28 November 2023 and 2 January 2024. In addition, Newman has invited renowned musical composer Sarah Warne to create music for the show. Members of the public can simply scan the QR code at viewing points and enjoy this immersive show set against the score. To elevate the festive atmosphere, musical effects will be added for the first time for the Christmas lights at Mody Lane.

Date: 28 November 2023 to 2 January 2024

Time: 5:30pm to 11pm

Location: Sino LuminArt Façade at Tsim Shal Tsui Centre and Empire Centre as plus Mody Lane

Save this post, and don’t forget to bring your smartphone and camera, to collect festive memories!