Beertopia

Lightweights beware. With more than 500 varieties of beer from 20-plus countries on offer, Hong Kong’s largest craft beer festival makes it hard to resist that second or third – or sixth – flagon of ale. Returning for the fifth time, this year the beer selection on offer is said to be bigger than ever. While the bulk of its craft beers have been brewed in the US, Australia and Belgium, breweries from countries as far-flung as Lithuania, Lebanon and Wales are also represented. This year’s list includes 13 Hong Kong breweries – some 65 local beers. Overall, there will be more than 100 IPAs and more than 50 porters and stouts.

Last year’s event welcomed 3,000 beer drinkers and we imagine the nearby MTR stations were, shall we say, awash with colour later that evening. As the festival wears on and the empty bottles start stacking up, hungry beer enthusiasts will not have to resort to a late-night McDonald’s run as some two-dozen food vendors will be on site. There will also be live DJs throughout the day, an outdoor shisha garden, complete with relaxing bean bag chairs, as well as the event’s ever-popular range of beer games, including Giant Beer Pong, memorably played with garbage bins and volleyballs. As always attendees are advised to drink seriously… or should that have been sensibly? Too late to worry now.

Venue: Central Harbourfront
Date: 18-19 November
Enquiries: info@beertopiahk.com
Website: http://beertopiahk.com/

The Chinese Zodiac

The Taipei Philharmonic Choir, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chorus and local actors come together in this mixed-media concert by Taiwanese composer Chien Nan-Chang.

Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Date: 11-12 November
Enquiries: 3185 1680
Website: http://www.hkco.org/en/Concerts/The-Chinese-Zodiac.html

Belgium Week in  Hong Kong

Coinciding with the birthday of the king of Belgium on 15 November, the festival will feature food by a Michelin-starred Belgian guest chef, a photo exhibition by a Belgian photographer and other elements of the European country’s culture, fashion and music. Lumme. Can’t wait.

Venue: KEE Club, 32 Wellington Street, Central
Date: 12-19 November
Enquiries: sheila@belgiumhk.com
Website: http://www.belgiumhk.com/

Arts in the Park Mardi Gras 2016

Giant illuminated puppets, carnival art stalls and performances will headline this year’s event, themed 400 Years of Shakespeare.

Venue: Central Lawn, Victoria Park
Date: 12-13 November
Enquiries: 2214 0266
Website: http://www.hkyaf.com/

Concierto de Aranjuez by Xuefei Yang

Chinese classical guitarist Xuefei Yang will perform iconic pieces by such legendary composers as Gershwin, Bizet and Rodrigo.

Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Date: 18-19 November, 8pm
Enquiries: 2734 2009
Website: http://www.hkphil.org

Superposition

This unique theatrical happening from artist Ryoji Ikeda features performers playing non-musical instruments and interacting with 21 video screens.

Venue: Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium, 1 Yuen Wo Road, Sha Tin
Date: 18-19 November
Enquiries: 2370 1044
Website: http://www.ryojiikeda.com/project/superposition/

Until the Lions

Bangladeshi choreographer Akram Khan reinterprets the classic poem, The Mahabharata, for a new audience.

Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Grand Theatre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Date: 19-20 November
Enquiries: 3185 1680