Don’t Miss Out: The Enchanting Hong Kong WinterFest 2024 and New Year Countdown

Celebrate the magic of Hong Kong WinterFest with dazzling Christmas Town, pyrotechnics, & New Year Countdown. Explore festive fun & year-round attractions!

Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations are very special times of the year when everybody is in a joyous mood, and wherever you see, you only see decorations, celebrations and happy faces. People love to travel to different places to celebrate the holiday season and ring in the new year in style. I have religiously been following a tradition of celebrating the New Year in a new place. Unfortunately, this year’s travel quota is over for me with the culmination of my Arctic to Antarctica travels.

Despite travelling from one pole to another, I am suffering from FOMO. Yes, you heard it right. I never expected it, but I am suffering from the FOMO of the incredible Hong Kong WinterFest 2024 and New Year Countdown. Some of my friends are currently in Hong Kong, and they are teasing me in a big way through their stunning pictures and videos from the island. I really wanted to be with them, but due to some personal reasons, I couldn’t make it. And, to make it worse, hearing about all the incredible festivities from my friends in Hong Kong feels like I’m missing out on a magical wonderland. While I can’t be there physically, I thought I would live vicariously through them and share it with you. If you’re in Hong Kong this festive season, you’re in for an unforgettable treat.

Hong Kong WinterFest: Where Christmas Dreams Come True

While European Christmas markets and Times Square Ball Drop celebrations are world-famous, Hong Kong WinterFest and New Year Countdown are no less. Since 2002, The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has been organising WinterFest and every year, it has grown bigger and better.

This year’s WinterFest is being held from November 22, 2024, to January 1, 2025. During this time, the city turns into a spectacular spectacle of holiday lights. The centrepiece of the celebration is Christmas Town, located at the Harbourside Lawn West in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK). My friends haven’t stopped raving about the centrepiece –  the 20-metre Christmas tree with a 3D projection mapping that transforms into a visual masterpiece. They say the tree comes alive with colours and stories, making it feel like stepping into a holiday fairy tale. Their kids are particularly enjoying it.

Adding to the magic are the harbourfront pyrotechnics. I have always loved seeing the sound and light shows whenever I have visited Hong Kong. But these are no ordinary fireworks —they light up the iconic Victoria Harbour skyline, synchronised with music, creating a magical symphony of light and sound on one of Asia’s most famous skylines.

My friends checked the Hong Kong WinterFest 2024 schedule before visiting, and they told me that they were able to catch one of the four scheduled shows and described it as “unforgettable” and “completely worth braving the crowds.”

Their kids loved spending time in the Christmas town as there was always something or other happening to keep the families engaged and entertained – Santa-meet-and-greets, live entertainment, and immersive installations.

New Year Countdown: Welcoming 2025 with a Bang

The culmination of WinterFest happens on New Year’s Eve, which is the peak moment of the holiday season. This year’s New Year Countdown Celebration is going to be EPIC, featuring spectacular fireworks, a concert, and dance performances. According to The Hong Kong Tourism Board, it is going to be the largest countdown in the city’s history.

This year’s celebration is titled “The Symphony of Happiness” and will feature fireworks from key buildings, song and dance performances, and a 12-minute fireworks finale. But the New Year’s Eve activities will start as early as 11 pm, with “Shooting Stars” igniting every 15 minutes from three buildings on Hong Kong Island. The midnight fireworks will introduce new elements inspired by the five natural elements of Chinese culture: fire, earth, wood, water, and metal. This includes a segment called “The Propitious Clouds,” which will display rainbow smoke and silver fireworks—a first for the city. A large countdown clock will be prominent on the Hong Kong Convention Centre, while musicians will perform on the Cultural Centre’s viewing deck in Tsim Sha Tsui.

I really regret not being able to see it in person, but don’t worry; we have a backup plan. Just like me, you can catch all the action live on Discover Hong Kong’s YouTube Channel for the Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations Live Stream.

Beyond WinterFest: Hong Kong Buzzes Year-Round

Though WinterFest 2024 ends on January 1, 2025, the magic of Hong Kong does not stop there. In fact, it starts from there, as the city is an annual holiday destination that has a year-long line-up of  attractions, events and experiences from January to December:

Hiking Adventures

Being an adventure junkie, I have always loved the hikes on the island. Hong Kong provides a treasure trove of scenic hikes along the trail between the Dragon’s Back Trail and the MacLehose Trail, with stunning vistas of mountains, forests and coastlines.

Culinary Delights

No travel is complete without exploring its culinary side. And, Hong Kong scores heavily on this. Experiencing authentic dim sum making, Michelin-starred street food markets, and international gourmet restaurants, the list is endless. And don’t worry if you are a vegetarian; there are enough options for people like us.

Theme Park Fun

Whether you have young kids or not, I bet it’s impossible to say no to a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland or Ocean Park Hong Kong, where you can meet the city’s first locally born pandas. Ying Ying and Le Le, the city’s pandas stars, after a long wait, gave birth to twin brothers this year, an unprecedented event in Hong Kong’s history!

Cultural Festivities

If you can’t make it to Hong Kong during WinterFest and New Year Countdown, you have another chance to join in on the New Year fun about a month later. Hong Kong is considered to be one of the best places to celebrate Chinese New Year. As the Year of the Snake draws near, the city is getting ready to welcome visitors with a bunch of cool events for Chinese New Year. Make sure you don’t skip the Chinese New Year celebrations, which include a lively mix of parades, fireworks, and traditional lion dances.

For more information and inspiration about must-visit attractions, Hong kong WinterFest 2024 tickets price, schedule etc, check out the Discover Hong Kong Attractions Guide.

Why Hong Kong is a Year-Round Destination

Hong Kong’s ability to combine traditionalism and progressivism makes it so special. From eating at a lively dai pai dong (street food stall) to hiking to secret waterfalls and to the hedonism of admiring the art scene at West Kowloon Cultural District, there’s something for everyone.

Hong Kong is also a shopper’s paradise. From luxury shopping malls to lively streets (such as Temple Street Night Market), designer products to crafts are all waiting to be discovered.

Plan Your Visit to Hong Kong

Hong Kong promises an unforgettable trip, no matter when you go. You can enjoy WinterFest 2024, watch the New Year Countdown, or take part in the city’s year-round activities. If you can’t make it this season, like me, there’s always next year to look forward to. In the meantime, I’ll be glued to my screen, watching the celebrations live and marking off the days until I can revisit this lively city again.

#HongKongWinterFest #VisitHongKong #NewYear2025 #ChristmasInHongKong #DiscoverHongKong

Further Reading

A Grand Affair: Ringing in the New Year in Las Vegas – Your Ultimate Guide!

Hong Kong Travel Tips: what to know if you are Traveling to Hong Kong for the first time

Discovering Offbeat Hong Kong in 4 Days

10 best restaurants in Hong Kong where even celebrities dine