Across HK: June

HONG KONG LOTUS FESTIVAL

Hong Kong Lotus Festival kicks off on June 1 at Po Lin Monastery with peak blooming anticipated from late June through early July. This is your chance to see thousands of potted lotuses

(symbolising rebirth, resilience and spiritual awakening), and enjoy themed art, music and mindfulness activities. Sign up for tea ceremonies, incense-making workshops and sutra copying led by the Lantau monks. Entrance is free.

TUEN NG FESTIVAL

Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Tuen Ng Festival falls on June 19 this year bringing dragon boat races and cultural celebrations across Hong Kong. While the Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races is scheduled for June 27 to 28 at Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade, and the DB Dragon Boat Gala happens in October, June 19 sees hotly contested community races off Stanley Main Beach, Aberdeen Promenade, Sai Kung Waterfront Promenade, Shing Mun River Promenade and Tai Po Waterfront Park.

SAKE JUMP

Headed our way from Japan, Sake Jump is making its Hong Kong debut from June 6 to 8 at 1881 FWD House, with over 20 breweries from 13 prefectures, including Fukushima’s Otokoyama and Iwate’s Kikunoji, showcasing their premium brews. You

can also enjoy sake cocktails crafted by Tokyo’s acclaimed mixologists, participate in masterclasses, and engage in meet-the-brewer sessions. Look for tickets at FWD MAX.

WESTK CABARET FESTIVAL

The inaugural WestK Cabaret Festival runs through June 7 at West Kowloon Art Park’s Xiqu Centre, delivering a mix of local and international performances, including cabaret, dance and musical comedy. With Patti LuPone headlining on June 3, further highlights include Spanish cabaret HisPanic

– Copla (June 2 to 3), drag artist Jens Radda’s Skank Sinatra (June 4 to 5), and Parisian cabaret Paradis Latin – Mon Premier Cabaret (June 6 to 7). Purchase tickets at Cityline and Art-mate.

DANIEL CAESAR ON TOUR

Grammy-winning R&B artist Daniel Caesar is bringing his Son of Spergy Tour to AsiaWorld-Expo on June 2. This all-standing, arena-scale concert features chart-topping hits like Best Part and Peaches, and is described as a “reimagined” experience of his past work, leaning into a more experimental, still soulful sound. Fans can also look forward to hearing plenty of new material from Son of Spergy, Caesar’s fourth album. Find tickets at Live Nation HK.

LADY WHITE SNAKE

Hong Kong’s Chinese Culture Festival runs through September, with over 280 stage events, exhibitions and workshops. The festival is themed ‘Legends’ and highlights Chinese folklore, poetry and arts from the Sui and Tang dynasties. Be sure to catch Lady White Snake at Hong Kong Cultural Centre from June 12 to 13 – produced by the Shanghai Grand Theatre, the dance-drama merges ballet and Chinese dance to present a contemporary reimagining of the (terrifying) classic legend. Purchase tickets at Viagogo.

SOCK IT 2 ME

TBC Improv HK is bringing unfiltered puppet chaos to Fringe Dairy at the Fringe Club on June 5 with Sock it to Me, a fully improvised show strictly for adults. Expect outrageous felt-faced characters, unscripted scenes, wild songs and humour that pushes the boundaries. With no script and no censors, every performance is unpredictable as the puppets take over for a night of hilarious mayhem. The show may include strong language and mature themes, and children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Look for tickets at Eventbrite.

SHAHZIA SIKANDER AT THE M+

Last chance to be wowed by the work of Pakistani American artist Shahzia Sikander showing at M+, West Kowloon Art Park, through June 21. Sikander is known for reworking the tradition of Central and South Asian miniature painting in bold and contemporary ways. Her art spans painting, animation, mosaic, and sculpture, often exploring themes such as gender, migration, empire and colonial history through layered, surreal imagery. Entrance is free.

HK ICH CENTRE FUN DAY

The 10th anniversary Fun Day being held at Sam Tung Uk Museum’s HK ICH Centre is a must for culture vultures of all ages. From June 13 to 14, you get to enjoy Hakka folk songs, Indian festival workshops, shadow puppet shows, craft workshops, tea culture demonstrations and guided heritage tours, all inside the restored 18th-century Hakka walled village. The event is interactive, cultural and especially good for children who like hands-on activities. Entrance is free.

TAI O DRAGON BOAT WATER PARADE

At Tai O on June 19, the annual Dragon Boat Water Parade blends spiritual tradition with festive competition. Statues from local temples are placed on sacred sampans by members of three fishermen’s associations and escorted through the waterways by dragon boats. Crowds gather along the canals to witness the colourful procession. Following the parade, the associations stage a friendly race before the dragon boat competitions begin, accompanied by drumming, cheering and celebrations throughout the village.