Supported by the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau and the Hong Kong Tourism Board, HK's first winter IP character festival, "Merry Balloon Hong Kong," will take place from Nov. 24 this year to Jan. 4 next year, spanning both Christmas and the New Year holidays. Today (Nov. 5), the organizer held a press conference at the West Kowloon Art Park Lawn.
The organizer, MakeItLoud, stated that in recent years, the global wave of culture and intellectual property (IP) has become a key element in driving cultural and tourism economies worldwide. "We are actively seizing this trend to organize a brand-new IP-themed event, hosting it for the first time in HK. This Merry Balloon festival brings together nearly 20 popular local and international IP characters, making it the largest of its kind in Asia. The event has been in preparation for over a year, which has been a challenging but rewarding process."
The festival combines three major elements—art, tourism, and entertainment—featuring nearly 20 beloved international and local IP characters appearing in various forms across HK. The participating characters include Care Bears, CoComelon, Garfield, HongKongMachines, LuLu the Piggy, Mr. Men Little Miss, M&M'S, MOLLY, Moomin, Ocean Park Panda Friends, PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, Potato Head, SHO-CHAN, SpongeBob SquarePants, and The Little Prince.
The celebration will feature three core themed activities: Merry Balloon Parade, Merry Balloon Park, and Merry-Go-Around Town.
Collaborating with local illustrators to launch themed postcards for check-in at 9 hotspots
The organizers have partnered with the Hong Kong Society of Illustrators, inviting several local illustrators to co-create a set of 16 postcards infused with HK's unique charm. These postcards will be available for purchase on the Klook platform for HK$38 per set. Citizens and tourists can visit nine designated hotspots across HK to collect stamps. The hotspots include:
- Airside
- Central Market
- Elements
- Hang Seng Bank Headquarters in Central
- Two locations in the West Kowloon Cultural District
- Star Ferry Piers in Central, Wan Chai, and Tsim Sha Tsui
Each postcard is paired with a unique stamp. After collecting eight stamps, participants can redeem an exclusive "Merry Balloon Hong Kong" character pin and lanyard set for HK$68 (available in limited quantities, while supplies last).
From Nov. 24, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, visitors can also visit designated hotspots to participate in an augmented reality (AR) activity. By accessing the event's website through their smartphone, participants can capture AR images of IP character balloons following the provided instructions. After completing all AR snapshots and collecting nine electronic stamps, participants can answer a few simple questions. Those who submit the most creative answers will have a chance to win an exclusive set of 15 "Merry Balloon Hong Kong" character pins (limited to 100 winners).
Giant dreamy inflatable park with two themed areas, open day and night
From Dec. 6, 2025, to Jan. 4, 2026, the "Merry Balloon Park" giant inflatable park will be set up on the lawn of the West Kowloon Art Park. The park will feature two themed areas:
- "Giant Bounce Zone": Showcasing large-scale inflatable installations, including an imaginative "Upside-Down Ball Pit" designed specifically for this event, where visitors can immerse themselves in a dreamlike experience surrounded by countless balloons. Other attractions include a 7-meter-tall inflatable slide and a 40-meter-long giant inflatable obstacle course.
- "Interactive Check-in Zone": Highlighted by a 7-meter-tall inflatable Christmas Wishing Tree, surrounded by a colorful maze and numerous large-scale IP character installations scattered throughout the park for visitors to meet and take photos with.
The park will run on a "day and night" schedule, allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of experiences from morning to evening and create unforgettable memories.
(Journalist: Liu Yanlin; English Editor: Zoey SUN)
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