One of Hong Kong’s biggest year-end events, the AIA Carnival, is returning to Central Harbourfront from December 20, 2024-February 16, 2025. The 10th edition of the annual extravaganza will have 28 thrilling rides, 30 exciting games, and 40 interactive installations, as well as the World Circus under the Big Top. Read on to find out all about the rides this year, how much tickets cost, and how you can get to AIA Carnival.
What is AIA Carnival?
AIA Carnival is an annual event held at Central Harbourfront where visitors can experience exhilarating rides, play fun games, check out interactive installations, watch live performances, and catch circus international acts. This year, the carnival will take place from December 20, 2024-February 16, 2025. The gates will open at 5:30pm on December 20, while the opening hours from then will be 12pm-10pm on Off-Peak days, and 11am-11pm on Standard and Peak Days.
How much are AIA Carnival tickets?
Ticket prices vary based on whether you buy them for Standard, Off-Peak, or Peak Days in the Adults or Concession (children aged 3-11) categories. Each online ticket also comes with a specific number of tokens that are loaded onto a card you can use for rides and games, depending on which category you buy.
| DAYS | ADULT (10 tokens) | CONCESSION (7 tokens) |
| Off-Peak | HK$140 | HK$95 |
| Standard | HK$150 | HK$100 |
| Peak | HK$160 | HK$110 |
You can also add more tokens to your card by paying HK$10 per token at the venue or buying them online at HK$180 for 20 tokens and HK$450 for 50 tokens. However, tickets for The World Circus need to be bought separately, and cost HK$150-HK$500, depending on which day you attend and which section of the tent you book your seats.
AIA Carnival is also giving students with valid ID free entry until January 24, 2025. All they need to do is present their student ID at the ticket office on Mondays-Fridays during this time to enter the event for free.
What are the rides at AIA Carnival?
Visitors can hop on any of 28 rides at the carnival for more than their fair share of thrills — think the StarFlyer and its more kid-friendly version Chairs O’Plane, rollercoasters like the Spinning Coaster, Racing Coaster and Apple Coaster, and the bumper cars game Dodgems. If you want a real adrenaline rush, head to returning favourites like Discovery and Remix Extreme. Peppa Pig fans — young and old — can even whoosh down the Helter Skelter.
Want to try your luck at winning a toy? Stop by any of the 30 stalls to test your rolling, shooting, tossing, or kicking skills. LEGO fans can sign up for the AIA Carnival Young LEGO Champions to get the chance to win a Hogwarts Castle LEGO box set, among other prizes. All you need to do is assemble a group of no more than four kids aged 8-14 years old, and register for the competitions that take place every Monday from December 23, 2024.
What can I see at World Circus under the Big Top?
This year, one of the world’s oldest circuses, Gandeys Circus, will bring acts from across the world to enthrall audiences in Hong Kong. The 65-minute show will feature motorbike riders The Gerlings from Colombia, Luchina the Clown from Brazil, and perch balancing act Duo Go from Mexico. The acrobatic Troupe Habesha from Ethiopia is also teaming up with Gandeys to create a never-before-seen act — a new version of The Icarian that will have eight performers instead of the usual two.
Is AIA carnival kid-friendly?
There are loads of child-friendly rides and attractions for children at AIA Carnival. The Inflatable Slide is generally a fan favourite, as is the Helicopter Tower, Pony Adventure and Formula 3000 for younger children. Out of the three roller coasters at the carnival, the Racing Coaster and Apple Coaster are more child-friendly. There are height restrictions on the rides so staff can check whether kids can enter and if they need to be accompanied by an adult.
The Community Arena will set the stage for more than 300 local community groups to showcase their talent. Check out a diverse line-up of events, from dancing troupes to sporting workshops, and singing choirs to instrumental bands. Live at the Big Top will host performances by artists like multi-platinum Danish artist Christopher, Hong Kong singer-songwriter Gareth T, and ABBA Tribute group Mania.
And, of course, there are loads of culinary options to cater to a wide variety of tastes. Sample Hong Kong-style street food from CSC, gourmet Mexican food by El Macho, and Korean snacks from Bapman, among others. The highlight will be Blue Girl Dai Pai Dong, a new venue that celebrates Hong Kong’s rich culture of bars, local traditions, and live entertainment in a custom-made dai pai dong setting.
| EVENT | AIA Carnival |
| VENUE | Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Road, Central |
| DATES | December 18, 2024-February 16, 2025 |
| WEBSITE | www.aiacarnival.com |
Image credits: AIA Carnival
