Halloween comes early to Hong Kong as festivities draw crowds, lift bar business

Halloween has arrived early in Hong Kong, with costumed revellers and families thronging the city’s streets a week early and some establishments seeing business increase by up to 20 per cent.

The streets of Central were packed on Saturday as visitors and locals alike joined events held under the Tourism Board’s inaugural “Hong Kong Halloween Month”.

The campaign, which started last Saturday, involves street celebrations in Central, including Lan Kwai Fong, Kai Tak, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui East on three consecutive Saturdays, culminating on Halloween night.

Hundreds of people of all ages filled Chater Road as part of “Halloween in Central”, which featured a large eyeball installation at Statue Square, as well as ghoulish face painting and themed food and drink options, including cake pops shaped like eyeballs.

Among those taking part in the celebrations was 40-year-old Hongkonger Stephen Poon, whose daughters Gisele, five, and Gabryel, three, were dressed as Slinky from Pixar’s Toy Story films.

“I think they are doing a really good job,” Poon, who works in accounting, said of the Tourism Board’s event.

He said there had not been much for families to do in the city since the Covid-19 pandemic, and was glad he could bring his daughters out for some family fun.

Poon added that the event had “definitely increased” his spending, with the family planning to buy about HK$500 (US$64) worth of food and other items throughout the day.

“It’s just such a vibe,” he said.

Phil Murphy, founder and managing director of Pyjama, the firm in charge of food and drink at the event, said that given it was the first year, he would be happy just to break even.

Nonetheless, he said business seemed to be “doing quite well” given the foot traffic in the area.

“I think next weekend is going to be brilliant,” he said. “This is the practice run.”

Nearby, Lan Kwai Fong was also bustling as the sun set on Saturday, with dozens of costumed revellers enjoying themselves in the popular nightlife district.

Allan Zeman, chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group, said business at some of the bars in the area was up by 10 to 20 per cent so far this month.

“Last Saturday was crazy,” he said. “There were so many people, people dancing in costumes.

“Tonight will be similar – really, really busy. The whole city has really come alive this Halloween.”

He added that Halloween created a “really great atmosphere” in the city and also attracted many visitors from mainland China.

The month-long campaign forms part of a tourism strategy outlined in February’s budget to place greater emphasis on festivals that are less prominent on the mainland, including Halloween, to draw more visitors to the city.

Kiki Weng Qi, a 21-year-old university student visiting from Shenzhen, was among the mainland visitors in the area on Saturday night.

While Weng, who was dressed as video game character Mario, said she had visited Hong Kong before, she was marking her first Halloween there with her friend, 19-year-old Xie Man Si, who was dressed as a pumpkin.

“The Halloween celebrations in Hong Kong are particularly great,” she said. “There are similar activities in Shenzhen but there are not so many people.”

The day trippers said they planned to spend HK$2,000 between them on souvenirs and other shopping before returning to Shenzhen later on Saturday.

Despite the early celebrations, some bars in the area were still taking a cautious approach to the festivities.

Many people passing through Lan Kwai Fong were keen to just walk around and take photos of the Halloween decorations, rather than stop for a drink.

“We don’t have a crystal ball,” said a bar employee who declined to be named. “Of course, we want it to be busier than last year. If sales are as good as last year, it will be considered a good thing.”