ST NICHOLAS VISITS
One World Spirit Association has arranged for St Nicholas, the thirdcentury Catholic saint who inspired the modern version of Santa Claus, to pay a visit to DB homes on December 7. Families with children aged two to six years can sign up for a visit, and then prepare a small gift for St Nicholas to deliver when he knocks on their door. Email [email protected] to enrol. [PHOTO COURTESY OF OWS.]
DBIS CHRISTMAS CONCERT ON THE PITCH
Always a highlight of the DB calendar, Discovery Bay International School’s Christmas Concert on the Pitch takes place on December 11. All are welcome – head along to enjoy an array of festive tunes and refreshments. What a wonderful way to start the holiday season! To find out more, visit www.dbis.edu.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF DBIS.]
DB OPEN FIGURE SKATING CHALLENGE
Make your way to Discovery Bay Ice Rink from December 6 to 8 to watch the DB Open FS Challenge. ISIAsia figure skaters of all levels are grouped according to their test level in solo, ensemble and speed-racing categories. Spin Master, in which skaters perform without music, and Jump Fiesta, in which skaters perform three required jumps in any order with a minimum of connecting steps, are new events for 2024. To find out more, visit www.dbicerink.com.
SANTA MEET AND GREET
Treat the kids on Christmas Day and Boxing Day by taking them to DB North Plaza for a Santa Meet and Greet at 3pm or 6pm. This is their chance to grab a photo with Santa and, if you time it right, they can also pick up a free Christmas Egg Waffle Giveaway (at 2pm, 4pm and 5pm). To find out more, visit www.visitdiscoverybay.com.
OPEN-AIR WINE WALK
Make your way to DB North (Auberge main entrance) from December 13 to 15, from 2pm to 9pm, to savour DB’s first open-air Christmas Wine Walk. While admission is free, a HK$180 wine pass entitles you to three tokens redeemable for wine and food, wine-tasting privileges and a wine glass with holder. Shop over 30 stalls packed with international fine wines, gourmet treats, Christmas-themed products and local crafts. To find out more, visit www.visitdiscoverybay.com.
CWCC S1 ADMISSION
Tung Chung-based Caritas Wu Cheng-chung Secondary School (CWCC) is enrolling students for the 2025/26 school year. S1 admission runs from January 2 to 16, and you can sign up for a school visit on January 3 from 4.15pm to 5.15pm. A renowned, government-funded secondary school (Grade 7 to 12), CWCC is multicultural and fully inclusive, with students and teachers harking from over 30 countries. The HKDSE curriculum is taught in English alongside a small Cantonese stream. To know more, visit www.cwcc.edu.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF CWCC.]
THE SNOWMAN & THE BEAR
Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman & The Bear (with Film) are two heartwarming Christmas adventures set to animated film and enchanting music by Howard Blake. Watch them on the big screen as City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong performs the orchestral score alongside young solo singers and storyteller Debra Jones, a DB resident. It’s a wonderful Christmas treat for the whole family, suitable for kids aged three and up! For tickets to this year’s performances at Shatin Town Hall Auditorium, on December 21 at 2.30pm and 5pm, visit www.eventbrite.com or www.urbtix.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Snowman Enterprises.]
IL TRITTICO
Musica Viva is bringing Il Trittico – three one-act operas by Puccini – to the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall on December 13 and 14 at 7.30pm, and December 15 at 2.30pm. The first opera Il Tabarro sees a love triangle unfold with fatal consequences; the second Suor Angelica, said to be Puccini’s favourite, is an uplifting tale of religious redemption; and the third, Gianni Schicchi is a farcical romp in which an avaricious family are tricked out of their rightful inheritance. For tickets, head to www.urbtix.hk. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Musica Viva.]
THE BRIDGE LAUNCH
Rachel Humphreys is launching The Bridge, a small independent learning centre for students who learn differently, in DB North Plaza on January 6. Small class sizes (4:1) will enable Bridge educators to create bespoke, highly personalised learning experiences, supporting students, aged 12 to 18 years, to grow in confidence, gain qualifications and have a positive direction for the future. The flexible curriculum, ideal for students with ASD, ADHD, SpLDs and Anxiety will offer a range of pathways including the Ontario High School Diploma and DfE-approved Functional Skills in English, Maths and Digital. An afternoon learning programme, including health and wellbeing, work-based learning and Hong Kong adventures will be available for students who can manage a full-day timetable. To find out more, email Rachel, the former principal at DMPS, at [email protected].
XMAS WREATH-MAKING WORKSHOP
Sign up solo, with a partner or as a group of three to make your own one-of-a-kind Christmas wreath on December 21, from 11am to 1pm, at Discovery Bay Office Centre. The workshop is led by the team at Let Hope Bloom Florist and kids/ beginners are welcome. The fee is HK$300 per group, and you can enrol at forms.gle/myTssa9NchM1wCc79.
PETER PAN, THE PANTO
You know you want to! Oh yes you do! It’s time to book tickets for Hong Kong Players’ Peter Pan, The Panto: Return to Neverland running through December 8 at the Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Wanchai. Hong Kong Players’ pantomimes have been a highlight of the Christmas festivities for over 60 years and with Peter Pan, we can expect classic panto fun for all the family – plus a generous helping of fairy dust. To book tickets, visit www.popticket.hk. For more on the Hong Kong Players, visit www.hkplayers.com. [PHOTO COURTESY OF Hong Kong Players.]
XMAS TREE DELIVERY
XmasTreeOnline.hk has been delivering direct to DB homes for over a decade. You can pick out Douglas Firs (from HK$1,558), Noble Firs (from HK$1,758) and Nordmann Firs (from HK$1,758), plus those essential accessories – tree stands, fairy-string LED lights, baubles and wreaths. The team delivers to DB and Tung Chung daily, 9am to 2pm, in early December. The fee is HK$258, with an additional charge of HK$50 per floor if your building doesn’t have an elevator. A removal and recycling service is provided in January. To place your order, visit xmastree.online.
CHRISTMAS PARTY TAKEAWAY
Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong is taking the stress out of the holidays, providing a full Christmas Party Takeaway through December 27. Enjoy free delivery within DB for orders over HK$2,000. Email [email protected] for the order form.
WILD ANIMAL SPORTS!
On December 17, Sean Doherty, a DB resident of seven years, is launching Wild Animal Sports! Woodland Birds at Bat, the third title in his Wild Animal Sports! series of board books. Colourful illustrations and interactive elements on every page ensure that children have a blast reading, while exploring with their sensory skills. To coincide with the launch, Sean is organising a Q&A session where kids can ask questions of the star player in the book (WhatsApp 9866 5959 to enrol). The entire Wild Animal Sports! series is available on Amazon and Whimsy Pages Publishing, at Bookazine, Kelly & Walsh and Hong Kong Book Centre.
