After a four-year suspension thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the AIA Carnival is making its big return to the Central Harbourfront on Hong Kong Island on December 21 – and not just with rides and game booths this time, but also a 1,052-seat marquee.
The AIA Carnival has been an open-air entertainment fixture in the city during winter since 2014, and this year’s edition will feature more live performances than ever before.
Although the carnival has previously featured circus artists, this year they will perform in a proper Big Top at the heart of the 36,000 square metre (388,000 square foot) waterfront site.
The Gandeys Circus – a touring company made up of artists from around the globe – will be the star attraction in the 65-minute The World of Circus show.
“We believe the circus will be more popular this year because there’s a whole generation of kids that have never seen anything like that,” says Michael Denmark, the carnival’s founder.
During the four-year break between the last carnival and this year’s, Denmark says he and his team examined trends in live entertainment and explored ways they could be more innovative with traditional rides and stall games.
Visitors flock to Hong Kong’s waterfront carnival on second day of event’s return
Visitors flock to Hong Kong’s waterfront carnival on second day of event’s return
“We were told by the customers [that’s what] they would like to see, so we have lots of cuddly ducks coming,” Denmark says. “Also, we learned over the years that the more we can do to offer photo opportunities, the more people enjoy it. So [this year] we have 36 big round and different emoji faces that everybody can engage and take pictures with.”
“We’re giving the little kids an opportunity to get on a stage in front of their fans for the first time to have an experience they’ve never had before,” explains Denmark.
“We will do workshops to give [community] members, or [the] people [the non-profits] are trying to help, the opportunity to learn how to juggle with the artists.
“Or we’ll give tickets away to the circus for them to use to raise money for their charities. It’s a many-layered approach, and it gives everybody an opportunity to showcase whatever they’re supporting.”
Denmark hopes this year’s edition will attract not only Hongkongers but also people from the Greater Bay Area and even overseas. After the pandemic, he wants to contribute to the effort to revitalise this city and put smiles back on people’s faces.
“I think any carnival festival is a celebration of life, and I believe we are contributing to bringing the harbourfront back to life. Obviously, we’re creating employment, but also, I think, something beautiful about what we create complements nicely with the backdrop of Hong Kong,” says Denmark, who has lived in Hong Kong for over 20 years.
“There’s a sense of achievement from a professional perspective. But it’s very difficult to explain how emotionally rewarding it is.”
