Hong Kong Festivals and Events
January 2015

We kick off 2015 with the New Year's Countdown and Fireworks and an array of events to welcome the new year on January 1st.

The Winterfest and Christmas celebrations will be wrapping up the first week of the month and after the frenzy of the holiday season, the first half of January is a slow time in the city as the tempo picks up later in the month in preparation for the most anticipated event in the calendar, Chinese New Year.

With pleasant cooler temperatures, days can be cloudy but dry, a light jacket will definitely come in handy but leave your heavy stuff at home.

Here's this months line-up:

• New Year's Eve Countdown and Fireworks January 1st, 2015 0:00 hours

• Dragon and Lion Dance Festival - January 1st, 2015

• New Year's Day Race Meeting (Horse Racing) - January 1st, 2015

• Disneyland Sparkling Christmas November 13, 2014 until January 4, 2015.

• The Phantom of the Opera - December 21, 2014 to January 4, 2015

• The Hong Kong Marathon - January 25, 2015 - various times

And let's get ready to welcome the Year of the Sheep! Preparations are underway for this year's Chinese New Year celebrations next month, Chinese New Year's Day is on February 19, 2015.

More on this year's Chinese New Year Year of the Sheep Celebrations.

Also check-out these popular ongoing events during January 2015:

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

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

• Victoria Harbour Cruises

• It's race time! The Horse Races at Happy Valley are on!

Hong Kong's New Year's Countdown - January 1, 2015 0:00 hours

Wave goodbye to 2014 and welcome the new year with a bang! Hong Kong's New Year's Countdown to 2015 and fireworks display on the Harbour is one of the territories signature events of the year.

Stay tuned for this year's focal point. Last year's limelight was on the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre as it was the prior year. The fireworks displays lasted about eight minutes, and were launched from both the skyscrapers and the harbour barges. The scope and range of view is massive but you still want to stake out your position well ahead of midnight!

We are looking forward to this year's celebration!

When? January 1, 2015 0:00 hours

Where? Many vantage points, this year's focal point is the HK Convention Centre.

How Much? Free!

More Info: Hong Kong's New Year's Countdown to 2015

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Dragon and Lion Dance Festival - January 1, 2015

Hundreds of colorful dragons, lions, happy Buddhas, acrobats, celestial guardians... running and parading through the streets of Hong Kong in one of the most colorful, thrilling and noisy events to welcome the new year. Truly a feast for the eyes!

Themes vary from year to year, but are always accompanied by the usual troupes of acrobats and over 500 mascots and lucky animals.

When?: January 1st, 2015

Where?: Several venues and performances throughout Hong Kong with the center of the celebrations at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza.

How Much?: Free!

More Info and Parade Route here.

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New Year's Day Race Meeting - January 1st, 2015

This is one of eight "Magnificent Race Days" being waged in the Sha Tin Race Course during the racing calendar. This New Year's Day Race is full of excitement with the Chinese Club Challenge Cup a HK G3 race, being the highlight of the event.

Good luck on this very first day of the year!

When?:January 1st, 2015 - Noon - 6pm (Gates open at 11am)

Where?: Sha Tin Race Course

How Much?: General Admission at Public Enclosure HK10 or Members' Enclosure with Tourist Badge HK130 (must bring passport)

More Info: Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Hong Kong Disneyland Sparkling Christmas

Parades, Carols, Christmas Trees...The entire park is transformed into a wonderland full of the holiday cheer, shiny ornaments, dazzling lights, fluffy snow, bows, balls and garlands, holiday wreaths... all decorate every corner of this magical world and make it even merrier...

You don't want to miss the magnificent Christmas Tree, the parties, the parades, and of course the fireworks.

When?: November 13, 2014 until January 4, 2015.

Where?: Disneyland Hong Kong

How Much?: Included with Admission Ticket

More info:Disneyland Hong Kong Sparkling Christmas.

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The Phantom of the Opera - December 21, 2014 to January 4, 2015

The classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that needs no introduction.

When?: Several performances from December 21, 2014 to January 4, 2015

Where?: AsiaWorld Expo

How Much?: HK$295+

More information and tickets at the Lunchbox Productions site.

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Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon - January 25, 2015

This is a signature international sporting event in Hong Kong attracting some 70,000 participants and a total prize money for the Marathon of US$ 300,000.

The 42-kilometer Marathon Route starts in Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui and ends in Victoria Park in Hong Kong Island. There is also a Half-Marathon, a 10km Race, a Half-Marathon Wheelchair Race and a 3km Wheelchair Race.

Events held throughout the day. More Info: www.hkmarathon.com

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Ongoing Hong Kong Events for January, 2015

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

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