The Carnival brings together a diverse mix of entertainment from around the world
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is all set to present five consecutive weekend evenings of a variety street performances, music shows and X-game performances. According to a press statement by HKTB, as part of the Happy Hong Kong campaign, the Harbour Chill Carnival is perfect for a family day out, a holiday get-together with friends or a romantic date for plenty of fun and summer memories, begins July 8 along the Wan Chai harbourfront.
“The Harbour Chill Carnival is one of the programmes in the Happy Hong Kong campaign. The Carnival brings together a diverse mix of entertainment from around the world, including pop culture, sports, music and street performances. It will bring together a fresh and exciting series of weekend events for the public to enjoy summer. At the same time, the Carnival will add a vibrant new look to the popular Victoria Harbour, showcasing Hong Kong’s diverse offerings and enriching visitors’ experience,” says Dane Cheng, HKTB Executive Director.
According to HKTB, the Water Sports and Recreation Precinct, Harbour Chill, Wan Chai, and Wan Chai Temporary Promenade will all host the Harbour Chill Carnival over the course of 10 days over five weekends, occupying an area of more than 30,000 sqm and offering a variety of exciting programmes for the general public to enjoy.
Highlights of the performances include street acts with a variety of styles from 25 local and international performing groups, says HKTB, adding that weekly performances along the Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade will feature a different theme, ranging from European-inspired acrobatics and juggling to energetic and impassioned Samba drumming to time-honoured kung fu and diabolo displays.
Among them are the former Australian artistic gymnastics champions, whose hula hoop show will dazzle across Hong Kong’s nighttime streetscapes. Also, an elephant art installation that has toured Australia will be unveiled for the first time in Hong Kong with a life-like installation inspired by African forest elephants. The local lion dance will also combine the traditional art and LED lighting, adding to the lively atmosphere of the Carnival.
Widely popular, the X-Games have been incorporated into Olympic competition, says the statement. As such, the HKTB set up an outdoor X-Games performance area at the Harbour Chill Carnival. Local, Mainland and Japanese BMX and skateboarders and Hong Kong’s top skateboarder ‘Chun Chai’ Luk Chun-yin, will be invited to showcase their deft tricks and bring the carnival to life.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will include breakdancing, so local break dancers and street dancers from Hong Kong, including Olympic breakdancing Hong Kong team member Bboy Think, local breakdancing troupe Good Job Brother, and Hong Kong’s first children’s street dance troupe ‘Funky Heroes’, will perform at the carnival, adds HKTB.
According to HKTB, 20 music performances will take place on a water stage, fusing music with the breathtaking harborside environment to create a sensory feast. The five weekend music events feature a variety of music from more than 40 groups of musicians from Hong Kong, the Mainland, Taiwan, and beyond. The events are themed ‘Asia Power’, ‘Fresh Finds’, ‘Indie Rocks’, ‘Cantopop Hits’, and ‘DJ Nights’.
The season will start with Cantopop queen Kelly Chen, and the star-studded lineup also includes Ivana Wong, Tyson Yoshi, Ng Lam-fung, and Lolly Talk, as well as singer-songwriter Jay Fung. Each music show is expected to accommodate an audience of 2,500.
For one month from July 8, ‘A Symphony of Lights’ will be staged every night with enhanced lighting effects. During the 10 days of the Carnival, Victoria Harbour will host a waterfront pyrotechnic edition of the multimedia show, lighting up the harbour with a vibrant summer scene, adds the statement.
