31 January - 1 February 1
Since 1998, Comic World Hong Kong, held every February and August, provides a platform for Japanese comic lovers from HK, Macau, China and Japan to exhibit and sell their original creations, including comic books and other merchandise. Other than that, dance performances, live band gigs and drama shows by cosplayers are staged throughout the event. This year’s Comic World will be held on January 31 and February 1 at the HITEC. Opening hours are from noon to 10pm on January 31 and till 8pm on February 1. Tickets are priced from $25-$10, available only at the venue. Visit www.cwhk.org for more details.

31 January - 8 February
One of the world’s most popular children’s books, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, is coming to life at the HKAPA Drama Theatre. The stage adaptation has been seen by nearly 1 million people worldwide and garners rave reviews wherever it goes. So prepare to be spellbound by Mouse’s adventures through the deepest darkest forest. Mouse scares away hungry animals with his tall tales of the terrifying Gruffalo – but what happens when he meets the very creature of his imagination? Captivating entertainment for audiences of all ages. On February 4-6, the adventure starts at 4:30pm and at 11am, 2pm and 5pm on other days. Tickets from hkticketing, 3128 8288 are $375 and $325.

31 January - 8 February
Alternatively, get in the mood for Valentine’s Day with a season of film screenings celebrating Love & Marriage at the Hong Kong Film Archive Cinema (50 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho). The selected Chinese movies, all from the ’50s and ’60s, highlight the funny side of love: Hours Passed The Wedding (January 31 at 2:30pm) looks at the absurdities of Chinese traditional weddings, The Missing Cinderella (February 1 at 5:30pm) is a remake of Roman Holiday set in Macau, A Challenge of Love (January 31 at 4:30pm and February 8 at 2:30pm) is both a musical and comedy, A Perfect Match (February 1 at 12:30pm and February 8 at 5pm) is all about arranged marriages while The Hired Husband (February 1 at 3pm and February 7 at 1:30pm) pokes fun at the fake nuptials youngsters go through to appease their parents. All tickets cost $30 from www.urbtix.com.hk, 2734 9009.

Sunday, 1 February
Last November, Hong Kong won its most awards so far in the SAR’s participation in the biennial Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival: our competitors took away nine firsts, four seconds, six thirds and a special award in the 7th edition of the festival held in Hangzhou. To celebrate this glory, the Hong Kong Harmonica Association Delegation is staging a concert at the HK City Hall Concert Hall with a programme of traditional Chinese and Western pieces including works from the likes of Schubert and Mozart as well as a traditional Yao dance. The awards ceremony will be at 3pm, shortly before the concert at 3:20pm. Tickets are priced at $150, $120 or $90 from www.urbtix.com.hk, 2734 9009.

1-10 February
Back by popular demand, Cantopop idols Alan ‘The Principal’ Tam and Hacken Lee reunite at the Hong Kong Coliseum in honour of the 2009 East Asian Games. Both have decades of hits under their belts, so be prepared for a night filled with their trademark feel-good songs. The concert starts at 8:15pm and tickets cost $480, $200 or $100 from www.urbtix.com.hk, 2734 9009.

2-8 February
Feel the rhythm and turn up the heat with a week’s extravaganza of salsa music and dance at Hong Kong’s Salsa Festival. The event, which has attracted world-class performers from all around the globe, boasts a jam-packed schedule of street parties, club nights, live music, DJs and workshops plus a bachata boot camp and the star event, the Asian Salsa Open Championships, on 6 February at 8pm. Events will be held at a variety of venues, including the HKCEC, and a range of ticket packages is available from www.hksalsafestival.com. The street party at the Avenue of the Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui on 5 February at 7pm is free.

Tuesday, 3 February
You may call them Stacey, Jane or Mary-Jo-Lisa, but we all know better – they’re called The Tings Tings and they’re here for a one-night-only party. Katie White and Jules De Martino (complete with his ever-present sunglasses) will be raving it up at the HITEC Star Hall at 8pm with a dynamic live set of their unique brand of loud, punchy pop. Tickets cost $580 or $380 from ww.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

5-8 February
We all know Audrey Hepburn’s charming turn in My Fair Lady, but do you know the play that inspired the musical? George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, itself inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, tells of the attempt by arrogant professor Henry Higgins to transform Cockney flower-seller Eliza into a lady – so far, so familiar but there will be no hint of an ‘I’m getting married in the morning, ding dong, the bells are going to chime!’ ending. Peter Hall’s revival of Shaw’s play gets its exclusive Asian premiere here as part of the Arts Festival, having completed a triumphant run in England in 2007. Performances at the HKAPA Lyric Theatre commence at 8pm (with 2:30pm matinees on the February 7 and 8); tickets cost $680-$200 from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

Saturday, 7 February
The king and queen of anisong (songs from anime), Ichirou Mizuki and Mitsuko Horie – better known as Aniki & Micchi – are returning for another of their popular concerts. They will be in a celebratory mood as they commemorate 40 years in the music business, performing Daddy Long Legs, Shin Getter Robo and Daitetsujin 17 amongst many other classics of the genre. The concert starts at 7:30pm at Rotunda 3 in HITEC and tickets cost $680-$250, from www.hkticketing.com, 3128 8288.

7-10 February
China’s most passionate love story comes to the stage in the National Ballet of China’s adaptation of Tang Xianzu’s classic tale The Peony Pavilion. The production team includes Oscar-winning designer Emi Wada, while choreographer Fei Bo has incorporated stylized kunqu (Hangzhou local opera) movements into Western classical ballet. With principal dancers who have received many international accolades, the ballet will be a spectacle of immense beauty, purity and drama. It starts at 7:30pm at the Grand Theatre of HK Cultural Centre (with a 3pm matinee on February 8) and tickets cost $680-$180 from www.urbtix.com.hk, 2734 9009.

10-27 February
Rising artist Jonathan Jay Lee, fresh from a stint in New York, is returning to Hong Kong to breathe new life into our illustration scene. Lee has worked for Marvel Comics in the US and designed the album cover of Kary Ng’s Lady K album, with themes in his work encompassing romance, science fiction, true crime and Zen Buddhism. He hopes his exhibition, featuring limited edition prints, will give HK an ‘illustrative kick in the ass’! To see if it does, check out the Fringe Gallery (2 Lower Albert Road, Central, 2521 7251), which is open from noon until 10pm Monday-Saturday or go to the opening reception on Tuesday, February 10 at 7pm.