The month of July has an array of celebrations, festivals and gigs up its sleeve to help you beat the notorious Hong Kong heat. Whether you’re looking to have some fun in the sun, or keep cool indoors – we’ve rounded up 9 must-see-and-do July events that are worth penciling into your diary.

1 July

22nd Anniversary of the HKSAR

Taking place at the beginning of the month is the commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or, in layman’s terms, The Handover. While celebrations have had a tendencyto vary over the years, it’s a safe bet to expect the ceremonial fanfare to be turned up to 11. Expect parades, flag-raising ceremonies, cultural performances, sports matches and, of course, a whole night’s sky worth of fireworks. Locations vary. gov.hk

4 Jul

Alexander Shtarkman Piano Recital

Renowned for his piano recitals in the Americas, Europe and Russia, Alexander Shtarkman will be heading to Hong Kong this month to treat the more refined to his repertoire of recitals from Bach, Schumann and Ravel. Awarded the First Prize at the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy, and now a member of the piano faculty at Peabody Institute, Shtarkman’s visit to Hong Kong is sure to be truly classic. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai. HK$130–480. hkticketing.com

5 Jul–18 Aug 

International Arts Carnival 2019

With events taking place throughout much of the summer season, the  International Arts Carnival is back in action, just in time to keep your kids busy during the long school-less months ahead. The wide assortment of events on offer include puppetry, interactive theatre, magic shows and, apparently, far more. Billed as ‘Fun for the Whole Family’, there may be no better way for the kids to beat the summer heat and learn a thing or two about culture and the arts, while giving parents a fighting chance to preserve their sanity. Locations vary. HK$35–580. hkiac.gov.hk

5–8 Jul 

Hong Kong Bakery Carnival

The Hong Kong Bakery Carnival is being billed as the city’s first-ever public bakery show, with its organisers hoping to build on the success of the Hong Kong International Bakery Expo, an event that has delighted the city’s more sweet-toothed residents since 2012. Would-be pastry partakers may want to loosen their belts as the event will comprise bakery workshops, competitions, on-site demonstrations by celebrity chefs and, of course, lots and lots of food tasting. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai. hkbakerycarnival.com

 

6 Jul

LUMIERE International Fashion Event

Hong Kong’s fashionistas will be out in full force as Meler Productions presents Hong Kong: Lumiere, an event that will kick off its high-end fashion show and summer party this month. Showcasing an array of international designers from Japan, Hong Kong, USA, France and Sweden, this highly fashionable fiesta won’t be strictly fun and games, with five percent of all profits being donated to Redress, a Hong Kong-based NGO dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability in the fashion industry. The Annex, 173 Des Voeux Rd, Central. HK$370. eventbrite.com

6–28 Jul

Big Resign Day

They say life imitates art more than art imitates life. This, however, may not hold true from the upcoming local production of Big Resign Day. A laugh-out loud comedy, it follows the lives of several stressed-out Hong Kong office workers and dives deep into the darker side of the city’s work culture. The show’s three-week run features a number of homegrown stars, including actress Jessica Hsuan and former DJ and multimedia personality Lam1Hey. This eminently comic cast is sure to make the crowds chortle while touching on subjects that are certain to have real resonance. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Rd, Wan Chai. HK$380–580. premier.hkticketing.com

23 Jul

Clockenflap presents: Yaeji, live in HK

In order to excite concertgoers before the event proper in November, festival organisers Clockenflap are making the summer sizzle with an array of international talents, including New York-based singer and producer DJ Yaeji. From humble beginnings at her college’s radio station, the Korean-American sensation soared out of the underground scene to become a fullfledged international superstar on the back of such hits as Raingurl and Drink I’m Sippin On. Yaeji’s Hong Kong debut is all but guaranteed to be an eclectic, electric night of avant-pop. This Town Needs, 6  Shung Shun St, Yau Tong. HK$420. ticketflap.com

24 Jul

Clockenflap presents: Alvvays

Hailed as Canada’s new indie champs (with Tegan and Sara now decidedly mainstream), Alvvays is back in Hong Kong after wooing crowds at last year’s Clockenflap Festival. Their latest album, Antisocialites, may be the most un- Hong Kong name around, but this won’t stop these mighty alt-rockers from delivering one of the more unique concert experiences on offer to 852 hipsters this year. Beg, steal or borrow a ticket and bop along to such peerless dreamy pop as Not My Baby, Dreams Tonite and Archie Marry Me. Go on. You know you want to. This Town Needs, 6 Shung Shun St, Yau Tong. HK$470. ticketflap.com

26–28 Jul

2019 e-Sports and Music Festival

Gaming fans, for once, will want to put down their controllers and head outside for the weekend when the e-Sports and Music Festival arrives in Hong Kong at the end of the month. Besides many of the homegrown top talents, there will be an impressive assembly of gamers from across the globe, all of whom will be competing for the HK$3.5 million inprize money on offer. Last year’s festival attracted more than 80,000 fans, but organisers are confident that the 2019 event will be bigger yet. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Expo Dr, Wan Chai. HK$50-250. emfhk.com