Fans of iconic fictional character Hello Kitty can celebrate her 50th anniversary at Harbour City in Hong Kong. The festivities, which will run until February 25, will include a series of outdoor installations, a lion dance garden, and pop-up stores inside Harbour City. Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi will also be present at an autograph event.
Visitors to the mall will be greeted by Hello Kitty herself, who will invite everyone to check out a parade comprising three floats. The first float, the Classic Apple-shaped Float, is driven by Hello Kitty’s sister Mimmy and is in front of the main float — the Apple Wishing Garden that has a five-metre-high Hello Kitty daruma. The last float takes the form of an archway inspired by Hello Kitty’s Dream House.
Get into the spirit of Chinese New Year with the Hello Kitty Lion Dance Garden, where visitors will find Hello Kitty atop a plum blossom pile, wearing a large lion dance head, with four big drums behind her. In the small flower garden beneath Hello Kitty, there is a display showcasing the history of lion dance, including lion head production, lion dance training, and the art of flag and drum performances.
There will also be an exhibition titled ‘Every Flower Tells A Story’, in which renowned artists have come together to showcase the charm of Hello Kitty through various art forms. The highlights of the exhibition are the ‘Color Your Future’ collection, a collection of Hello Kitty-inspired 24-karat gold acrylic paintings, and a Hello Kitty jewellery collection.
There are loads of other goodies on offer, such as cookies and candy at a pop-up Kee Wah store at the mall, as well as limited-edition merchandise, such as Hello Kitty 50th anniversary commemorative pins, plush figurines, and a bow figurine. In addition, there is a photo spot where fans of the iconic character can take pictures. Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi will be at an autograph event and will draw Hello Kitty in person for visitors.
For more information, visit the HAPPY 50 @ Harbour City website.
Image credits: Harbour City
