Happenings & Events: Stuff To Know in December!

ST NICHOLAS VISITS

One World Spirit Association has arranged for St Nicholas, the third-century Catholic saint who inspired the modern version of Santa Claus, to pay a visit to DB homes on December 6. 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. WhatsApp 6219 3817 to enrol. [PHOTO COURTESY OF OWS]

VIUTV DRAFT BEER FAMILY RUN

Scheduled for December 13 at DB South Plaza, from 8am to 3pm, the ViuTV Draft Beer Family Run comes complete with a carnival. The participation quota is a whopping 4,000+ people and there’s something for everyone: a 10km (16 years and above); two 3km races (10 to 15 years, 16 years and above); and two parent-child beach obstacle races, one with a 1km run and one without. To find out more and enrol, visit www.viutvfamilyrun2025.com

DB WINTER WONDERLAND

This year we are being treated to a Buon Natale – a merry, Italian-style Christmas – with DB transformed into a Winter Wonderland featuring dazzling decorations, powerful musical performances and a host of festive programmes and events.

On the lookout for last-minute Christmas gifts? Head to the Christmas Market at DB South Plaza on December 14. This year, there’s also a grand European-style Christmas Market, running from December 25 to 28, at DB South Plaza. Packed with holiday-inspired handmade goods, exceptional wines and gourmet treats, the market provides an excellent opportunity for the community to come together: expect a gift-giving Santa, a roving magician, kids’ dance performances and a rope-skipping show.

Something more for the kids? You can take them to either plaza on Christmas Day and Boxing Day for a meet-and-greet with Santa. And they can watch simulated snow fall, at either plaza, every weekend through December, on Christmas Eve and on public holidays.

The icing on the cake? Two dynamic live Cantopop shows at DB North Plaza. First up, on December 14, there’s The Hitswave Prelude 2025 with local artists performing their 2025 hits in the lead-up to the Metro Radio Hits Music Awards. Then, on December 26, it’s time for Best Music. Best Taste @DB: catch TVB’s Midlife, Sing & Shine! Season One stars Albert Chau and Ramon Lo live on stage, alongside up-and-coming Hong Kong girl bands – Beanies and IdG Bubbles. To find out more, visit www.visitdiscoverybay.com.

SECRET SANTA FOR RESCUES

Dedicated to giving back, Preeti Sharma and the team at My Pet Store in DB North Plaza have set up a Secret Santa Station allowing residents to provide Christmas gifts for rescued dogs and cats. You can drop by the store to donate new, or as-good-as-new items to benefit the animals homed by Hong Kong Paws Foundation and Tails of Lantau. To get involved, call 2987 8873/ 9327 0115.

LIFEWIRE RUN

The eighth edition of Lifewire Run heads out from DB South Plaza on December 7 with 2,000 people expected to take part. There are 9km and 3km races for individuals, corporate groups and student groups, plus a popular 1km walk for dogs and their owners. The event is organised by Protection Network Charity Foundation, a local charity that supports children with rare diseases. To find out more and enrol, email run@lifewire.hk.

ONE-STOP XMAS SHOPPING

The Prestige Christmas Lifestyle and Gift Fairs are yours to enjoy on December 1 and 11, from 10am to 8pm, at the Grand Ballroom, Conrad Hong Kong, Admiralty. You can expect over 150 vendors selling an exciting range of products that you won’t find in local shopping malls. Take the opportunity to find gifts for every age, taste and budget – all in one place. For a glimpse of what’s on offer, visit www.prestigefairs.hk.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Discovery College is staging its Secondary School production of the darkly comic musical Little Shop of Horrors, from 7pm to 9pm, on December 3 and 4 at the school’s Performing Arts Theatre. Filled with catchy tunes and quirky characters, this cult classic blends horror, humour and heart in a wildly entertaining show. The show is student-led, and the whole community is welcome to attend – for tickets, visit www.eventbrite.hk.

WENOVELISTS

Tired of banal beach reads and vanilla bestsellers? Wenovelists could be your go-to. Founded by DB residents Kelli Austin and Esteban Espeleta, the company’s mission is to connect readers with inspiring, impossible-to-put-down books that nurture personal growth and self-reflection. Subscribers receive one standout title each month – novels, literary fiction, memoirs, or essays from international writers, along with a unique and thoughtful surprise gift. Learn more at www.wenovelists.com.

WORLD PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Discovery Bay Recreation Club is hosting the World Pickleball Championship, Hong Kong, China for the third consecutive year from December 5 to 7. The event is open to various skill levels and all ages: the advanced and open draws attract serious challengers, the novice and intermediate bands welcome new competitors. Junior matches (U12, U16) are scheduled for December 6. The tournament is organised by TLP and Bay Pickle, and endorsed by Pickleball Global. To find out more, visit www.dbrc.hk.

ECO-FRIENDLY GIFTING

‘Tis the season to be jolly... but also green. With a little effort and imagination, all of us can reduce the environmental impact of the holiday season. The trick is to start small – commit to bringing cloth bags to the store with you every time you shop, to recycling properly (the bins are right outside your front door), to sending e-cards and to using the Christmas wrap you saved from last year, or wrapping your gifts in cloth or brown paper.

Then find a way to cut back on the number of gifts you give. How about agreeing that it’s gifts for kids only this year? Or you could decide to gift friends an experience instead, anything from cookery lessons to a piece of rainforest to protect – something memorable and/ or useful that can be enjoyed for years to come. Most of us are already drowning in possessions – why exacerbate that?

When you do buy, buy smart and buy local. Choose eco-friendly gifts made from recycled or sustainable sources, and make a point of giving battery-free gifts. Many of the products you find in malls are imported, and the impact of their transportation contributes to greenhouse emissions and global warming. Online shopping is also problematic due to the excessive packaging waste and the environmental impact of additional transportation. So, make the effort to hunt down Christmas gifts at local boutiques and craft fairs. Be sure to shop the Christmas Market in DB South Plaza on December 14 for last-minute stocking fillers.