Today, our whole family headed out to the park to take part in the Hong Kong Cultural Festival organized by 港ED. The weather was absolutely wonderful—clear blue skies, bright sunshine, and a gentle breeze rustling through the tall trees on the lawn.
The organizers put together a fantastic and lively schedule for the day. Walking across the field, we saw crowds gathered around cultural booths, activity tents, and food stalls serving iconic Hong Kong street snacks like curry fish balls (咖喱魚蛋).
Several booths showcased private collections of retro memorabilia from old Hong Kong. Seeing everyday items from decades past—like the classic tin letterboxes (“信箱”), vintage green kerosene stoves (“火水爐”), and old-school Red A brand plastic household ware—felt like stepping back in time. Each piece came with detailed stories about how people lived, worked, and cooked back then.
Another table celebrated the golden era of 1980s Cantopop, displaying original vinyl records by legends like Leslie Cheung (including the famous purple vinyl edition of Stand Up) alongside framed concert tickets for Danny Chan. It was not only a fun trip down memory lane for me, but also a great chance for our child to see, touch, and learn a bit more about her family’s cultural roots.
The highlight of the afternoon was definitely the live performances. The crowd gathered around to watch a vibrant dragon dance, followed by a wide range of traditional Chinese martial arts demonstrations. The demonstrations covered an impressive variety of styles and weapons, from whip chains and sword-and-shield routines to Praying Mantis fist, Drunken boxing, staff forms, Monkey fist, and heavy double hammers.
What touched me most was noticing that many of the martial artists and dragon dance performers were non-Chinese. Watching them perform with such dedication, focus, and genuine passion was deeply moving. You could see right away how much time and sweat they had poured into their practice.
It was truly heartwarming to realize that the cultural traditions of our hometown are being embraced, cherished, and carried forward by friends from diverse backgrounds. It made for a memorable family day, full of warmth, connection, and pride.