By Michael Baginski/ Few cities embrace the Chinese New Year with the same energy and colour as Hong Kong. It even extends to foreign lands, including Canada, where the Hong Kong Tourism Board celebrated last week with a lengthy list of trade friends atop the Scotia Plaza in Toronto.
With requisite Chinese dragons, an acapella choir, and chef-manned food station, the HKTB and partner, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, welcomed the Year of the Horse, ahead of New Year’s Day (today, Feb. 17) – an annual rite that sees the city transforming into a festive playground filled with beloved characters, dazzling spectacles and family-friendly experiences for all ages.
Jorge Lee, Sr. Manager, Marketing and PR for the HKTB, told the audience that Canadian visitations to the city were up 13% in 2025 to more than 363,000.
“There’s great momentum” he said, and added, “there’s no bad time to go Hong Kong.”
Indeed, through the year, the city buzzes with events and festivals, ranging from the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and a Taste of Hong, which features 150 master chefs delivering a taste of the city at some 250 restaurants.
As for the current New Year’ festivities, the celebrations include a star-studded nighttime parade, character-led attractions and large-scale outdoor events, some of which continue throughout the month.
Beyond the parade, beloved characters decorate major attractions citywide with red lanterns and spring couplets with New Year wishes, creating immersive experiences throughout the festive season.
Among the events continuing during festival season are:
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort – Through March 1
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort welcomes the Year of the Horse with a spirited celebration, “Magical Year After Year” Chinese New Year celebration. The park will be transformed by vibrant Chinese New Year decorations, including a Mickey-shaped red lantern at the centre of Town Square and Goofy dressed as the God of Fortune to welcome visitors alongside Mickey and Friends in special Chinese New Year outfits.
Ocean Park Hong Kong – Until late March 2026
Visitors can ring in the Year of the Horse with festive flair at Ocean Park and enjoy vibrant dragon and lion dance performances. Gigantic Chinese New Year and panda-themed decorations throughout the park serve as perfect photo spots for welcoming a prosperous year with fortune as boundless as a galloping steed!
Sun Life – The Big Bounce World Tour – Through Feb. 22
Transforming the waterfront into a giant inflatable wonderland, this supersized event features four massive inflatables, including the World’s Biggest Bounce House spanning more than 16,000 sq. ft. and Hong Kong’s longest inflatable obstacle course stretching more than 150 metres. The all-ages event on the Great Lawn at Art Park also offers interactive play areas, Anime Character Day and adult-only After Dark Party sessions backed by popular local DJs and music themes, tailoring different sessions for both families and adults.
AIA Carnival – Until March 1
This year’s edition of the AIA Carnival at the Central Harbourfront Event Space is the biggest to date, packed with over 50 attractions, including eight new rides. The Big Ben Tower, recognized as the world’s tallest mobile swing ride for soaring to 80 metres into the sky, offers a breathtaking experience that symbolizes welcoming good fortune by going upwards in the Year of the Horse. Another standout new highlight is The Winter World Circus, a brand-new 60-minute production by celebrated British troupe Gandeys Circus that delivers jaw-dropping stunts, captivating choreography and a festive visual spectacle for audiences of all ages.
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