- This event has passed.
EVENT DESCRIPTION
This month, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and Tai Kwun have invited friends, families, and seasonal wanderers alike to rediscover the simple joys of giving and togetherness with HKJC x Tai Kwun – Simple Gifts of Joy 2025. Supported by HKJC, the historic site has come alive as the city’s cultural winter playground, intertwining arts, heritage, and community spirit intertwine in a month-long celebration of light, laughter, and imagination.
From the 12-metre-tall Christmas tree and interactive playground to awe-inspiring contemporary circus spectacles and live music performances, Tai Kwun is now a living advent calendar of joyful surprises – each day sparking the same sense of anticipation and wonder that once made the holidays feel endless. Alongside the festive highlights, visitors can explore seasonal dining menus, artisanal pop-up stalls, and creative workshops, while TK FANs can enjoy exclusive campaigns and limited-edition festive rewards designed to make every visit even more special.
At the heart of this year’s celebration is the theme that the greatest gifts are simple – a smile, a shared moment, a sense of connection. HKJC x Tai Kwun – Simple Gifts of Joy 2025 embodies the spirit of joy, giving, and togetherness, reminding all that art and community are inseparable.
Visitors of every generation are invited to wander through Tai Kwun’s courtyards and soak in the holiday atmosphere, where performances, installations, and seasonal experiences create a wintry dreamscape (Hong Kong-style, without the snow but every bit the sparkle) where performances, installations, and seasonal experiences bring the holiday spirit to life. It’s a full-day celebration worth returning for, where every visit reveals something new to see, taste, and celebrate.
HKJC x Tai Kwun – Simple Gifts of Joy 2025
Date: 4 Dec 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
Time: 8am – 11pm
Venue: Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Road, Central
Price Free admission (Ticket purchase required for selected programmes).
The Festive Setting: A Playground of Joy
The Parade Ground has taken on a new shape as a twinkling winter scene anchored by a 12-metre Christmas tree, its glimmering ornaments and gentle glow casting warmth across Tai Kwun’s historic façades. Surrounding it, a playful landscape of art and light invites families and friends to pause, play, and reconnect – a place where imagination feels newly possible and every corner holds a moment to remember.
This immersive transformation captures the essence of Tai Kwun’s mission: to blend heritage and contemporary culture into experiences that belong to everyone.
Circus Plays: A Global Stage for Immersive and Fun-filled Contemporary Circus
Returning as the shining star of Tai Kwun’s holiday line-up, Circus Plays continues to elevate Hong Kong’s festive calendar with international artistry and boundary-pushing performance. This pioneering platform brings international, high-calibre circus companies to Hong Kong, with Asia premieres, offering audiences rare access to the global contemporary circus scene. Beyond the stage, Circus Plays is also deeply rooted in talent development, nurturing Hong Kong’s emerging performers and fostering cross-cultural exchange that strengthens Asia’s growing circus community.
Circus Plays
Date: From 12 Dec 2025 – 1 Jan 2026
Venue: Site-wide, Tai Kwun
Price Free admission (Ticket purchase required for selected programmes)
Details: https://qrs.ly/9wh3g5b
A Celebration of International Circus Artistry, balancing Acts of Joy, Play, and Connection for the Whole Family
Throughout December, audiences can expect a dazzling rotation of performances that capture the artistry, humour, and humanity of contemporary circus. The Genesis (Denmark, Asia premiere) brings poetic strength to the stage through acrobatic storytelling with a 12-person group, while Spiral Slide (USA, Hong Kong premiere) from world-renowned juggler Wes Peden, defies gravity with surreal, punk-inspired routines that turn physics into art. Peden will also share his expertise in a special juggling masterclass. Completing the line-up, the all-female trio La Triochka from France explores empathy and power through breathtaking acrobatics in Top Down.
At the same time, audiences of all ages are invited to join the fun in De Cuyper vs De Cuyper (Belgium), which turns sibling rivalry into sport, blending skill, showmanship, and comedy in a riotous and engaging juggling showdown. Meanwhile, Tree, Trees, Tres by 64J (Korea) delivers a poetic reflection on balance, teamwork, and our connection to nature. Families can also take part in workshops inspired by Tree, Trees, Tres, where children and parents experience the art of balance first-hand. Last but not least, the crowd-favourite Ting Koo-ki Mad Skills Battle returns, uniting performers all over the world, electrifying live showdowns of technical mastery and creativity.
Where Asia’s Circus Artists Connect and Collaborate
The second edition of Asian Circus Focus highlights the artistry and brilliance of emerging Asian circus performers, serving as a platform that showcases the rapidly growing contemporary circus scene across the region. Bringing together industry professionals from Hong Kong, Beijing, and Taiwan, the programme fosters creative exchange, deepens cross-cultural connections, and amplifies Asia’s presence on the international stage. At the same time, Kaleidoscope (South Korea) offers a rare glimpse into the world of Korean female mime: a moving and humorous journey through womanhood told entirely through movement.
Stories, Skills, and the Future of Circus
Complementing these headline acts are programmes that champion talent development and cultural exchange, the cornerstone of Tai Kwun’s ongoing commitment to circus arts. Circus Reels –Throw to Glow brings together Hong Kong and French emerging artists for a lively “live reel” of short-form acts inspired by real-life stories, expanding the audience imagination of contemporary circus with cross-disciplinary creation. The new initiative Professional Circus Focus Programme unites regional artists and curators for dialogue, collaboration, and creative exchange. The debut edition of the cross-disciplinary showcase. Circus Bootcamp – Time after Time, now in its third edition, provides specialised training for emerging performers, strengthening the foundation for the next generation of circus talent.
