This Week at The AIA Great European Carnival

Come down to the AIA Great European Carnival and see Ryan Higa in person, interviewed by Dom Lau from Asia Pop 40, at 4pm this Friday 13th February, on the main stage!
Come down to the AIA Great European Carnival and see Ryan Higa in person, interviewed by Dom Lau from Asia Pop 40, at 4pm this Friday 13th February, on the main stage!

Community Programs are Winners at The AIA Great European Carnival

The AIA Great European Carnival will continue to thrill and entertain people all walks of life within the Hong Kong community up until February 22.

A range of community outreach programs have been taking place on weekdays which have enabled participation from a range of local and international schools, underprivileged children and charitable organisations in Hong Kong. These groups not only had the opportunity to enjoy the fun of the Carnival, but were offered a range of unique educational experiences and behind the scenes tours.

Several prominent Hong Kong-based charities – including the Mother’s Choice, Project WeCan, ShelterBox, Po Leung Kuk and the Nesbitt Centre – have held special events and open days for their clients, volunteers and supporters. During these days guests were given special one-on-one time with the Carnival’s colourful array of street performers. Others used the Live Stage for public dance and drama performances.

As title sponsor of the AIA Great European Carnival, AIA also facilitated days on which their Hong Kong staff accompanied students from Po Leung Kuk schools on daytime visits to the Carnival.

As part of the Carnival’s community programs, school groups have been invited to visit the Carnival and choose from a range of packaged excursions specially designed for Primary and Secondary school students.

We established the schools programs as we discovered there was a lot to learn from all the different components of the Carnival and thought that it would enable unique experiences for younger students and provide interesting case studies especially for older students,” said Alex Gibbs, Director of Community Programs. “Our ‘Business Behind the Carnival’ tours and the ‘Physics, Design and Engineering of Rides’ have been very popular and we will develop these programs even more in the future.”

Led by some of the carnival’s colourful array of street performers, Primary students choose between activities involving arts and crafts such as make their own juggling balls, or learning the art of balloon twisting, juggling or African drumming.

For the Secondary students, specific assignments are given including a physics program, where pupils work out the mechanics of some of the Carnival’s thrill-making rides, guided by some of the Carnival’s chief engineers. Another choice revolves around business studies, where students get behind- the- scenes tours of the Carnival and explore the wide range of components, people, skills and coordination required to run an event of this magnitude.

There is an enormous range of interesting facts and figures that are certain to excite young minds, and it’s not all hard work. Following the completion of their assignments, students are given some free time to go on a ride and play skill games and sample the refreshments which are also available,” added Alex Gibbs. “The AIA Great European Carnival has been described by so many visitors as an awesome experience, and sponsors and organisers have been absolutely thrilled with the enthusiastic support received from Hong Kong residents and visitors alike”.

This Week at The AIA Great European Carnival

vs indie music festival

The VS Music Indie Festival will take place at the AIA Great European Carnival on Saturday 7 February and Sunday 8 February from 4pm until late. Sponsored by VS Music, the Indie music festival will feature up and coming performers from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Included in the line-up is Hey Rachel, Merry Go Round, Tri-dueces, Jabin Law, and Gravity Altestra.

A number of charitable organisations have enjoyed the carnival in recent weeks. Mother’s Choice, Po Leung Kuk and Shelterbox have held days inviting their members to enjoy the different experiences at the Carnival. The ShelterBox held a concert last Saturday featuring bands from Hong Kong such as Shepherds the Weak and Shotgun Politics as well as New Zealand group The Bollands.

Carnival organisers, along with title sponsor AIA have made the community programs and accessibility to underprivileged a feature of their event. “It’s recognised that not all members of the Hong Kong community can access the carnival so easily, so we have created unique and bespoke programs to enable both those less fortunate and those in need, to enjoy a great day out,” said Alex Gibbs, Director of Community Programs. On Tuesday, the Nesbitt Centre will have a day at the carnival and will also perform on the Live Stage at around 2pm.

If you are interested in having your school or charity participate in one of the programs please email Alex at [email protected].

This Week @ The AIA Great European Carnival

The AIA Great European Carnival

Star Performances, Live Entertainment and Community Events

The AIA Great European Carnival have announced an exciting schedule of entertainment, community engagement activities, and special guest performances that will take place over the coming weeks until the Carnival closes on February 22. The Carnival’s Live Stage will be the venue for many of the appearances which will range from professional, to youth group and school performances.

Our aim has been to make the carnival and the Live Stage venue accessible to the entire Hong Kong Community, and in partnership with our Title Sponsor AIA, we are proud to provide an additional element of fun and entertainment to our event,” said Michael Denmark, CEO of The Great European Carnival.

Many different groups have been given the opportunity to showcase their talents and we will witness a wide variety of entertainment from theatrical to dance and drama, Rock, Jazz and Folk. We want to see both seasoned performers as well as the stars of tomorrow. With performances in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, there is something for everyone in the Hong Kong public to enjoy,” added Mr Denmark.

A preview of some of the Performances:

Puss In Boots – Presented by The Hong Kong Players
The Hong Kong Players perform a traditional Christmas pantomime every year and have done so in Hong Kong for more than 50 years. Last year’s pantomime was Puss in Boots. The show’s setting is London: The once great city is in a sorry state: the bumbling Mayor Boris can’t keep control and the evil Queen of the Rats and her vermin followers are taking control. The only hope comes from an ancient prophesy says that when London is at it’s lowest ebb, an innocent stranger will arrive in town and save the day. His arrival will be signalled by the tolling of the bells. It’s up to our hero Puss in Boots to find this stranger and save London. Puss is joined in the fight to save the city by the very beautiful Alice, and the unstoppable great Dame, Sherry Trifle. Will Puss and Alice find the new mayor in time? Will Dame Trifle’s soufflé rise? Will the good guys triumph over the evil rats?

Puss in Boots
When: 2pm, 31 January, 2015; 4pm, 6pm, 1 February, 2015
Where: The Community Stage
How much: Free

Shelter Skelter – Presented by Shelterbox Charity
Taking place on January 31 from 4pm onwards, the Shelter Skelter is a line-up of some of Hong Kong’s best rock bands, brought together by ShelterBox, a Hong Kong Based charity that provides emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities around the world overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis. Bands include The Bollands, Thinking Outloud, Shotgun Politics, LOGO, Sheperds the Weak, and the After Party. The aim of the day is to enjoy some of the best local music Hong Kong has to offer and raise awareness for this wonderful charity.

Shelter Skelter
When: 4pm, 31 January, 2015
Where: The Community Stage
How much: Free

VS Music Indie Festival
The VS Music Indie Festival will take place on Saturday 7 February and Sunday 8 February from 4pm until late. Sponsored by VS Music, the Indie music festival will feature up and coming performers from Hong Kong and Taiwan. Included in the line-up is Hey Rachel, Merry Go Round, Tri-dueces, Jabin Law, and Gravity Altestra.

VS Music Indie Festival
When: 7-8 February, 2015
Where: The Community Stage
How much: Free

Youth Performance Groups
Hong Kong youngsters are also given the opportunity to shine on the Carnival’s live stage with a number of song and dance performance groups treading the boards during the matinee shows (between 12noon-3pm) on the weekends. Confirmed already are

31 January – Twinkle Dance Company
1 February – Isla School of Dance
7 February – Island Dance
15 February – The Island Glee Club

The Welsh Male Voice Choir
The Welsh Male Voice choir will sing a selection of Valentine’s themed songs on Sunday the 15th of February at 6pm. The choir was started in 1978 by a small group of expatriates in Hong Kong and now includes some 70 members from a dozen different nations. Over the years they have performed on conventional and unconventional stages at home and overseas. An entirely amateur group, many of their performances are for charity.

The Welsh Male Voice Choir
When: 6pm, 15 February, 2015
Where: The Community Stage
How much: Free