There has never been a better time to gather your friends, and book your tickets to go experience these incredible conscious festivals taking place in Asia this fall!
These five events are actively playing an important role in shifting cultural norms and habits by bringing awareness to important issues through a variety of modalities such as film, art, music, community, and wellness.
1. Escape 360 by Iris, Hong Kong
(Credit/ Iris, Hybrid Group Limited, website)
For the first time, Iris is teaming up with NP360 to present to you a brand new spiritual adventure which takes place amongst the beautiful scenery of Lantau Island –Escape 360!
Escape 360 offers an opportunity for you practice mindfulness and break a sweat after enjoying a cable car ride with stunning views of Lantau Island, experiencing the contrast between our beautiful city and nature. The event takes place every weekend from 17th November to 9th December which gives you the flexibility to participate according to your schedule. Practice with twenty-four of the carefully selected experienced instructors who will lead a variety of yoga, fitness, meditation, and stretching classes.
When: Every weekend from Wednesday, November 7 to Sunday, December 9, 2018. Times vary per class schedule.
Where: Lantau Island, Ngong Ping Village, New Territories (see map here).
How much: HK$360 (plus handling fee). Your ticket will include access to three different classes, a round-trip cable car ride, and a voucher worth HK$50. Purchase tickets here.
2. GreenFest by Hysan, Hong Kong
GreenFest- Rethink Our Food (Credit/GreenFest)
Hysan Development Co. Ltd. is pleased to announce Hong Kong’s very first sustainability festival for youth – GreenFest. The festival will take place this coming November with the aim of leading our youths to take action towards a more sustainable food future. Together with award-winning urban farming pioneer Rooftop Republic, the GreenFest – “Rethink Our Food” Festival is targeted at secondary school students and aims to empower them to become the food pioneers of tomorrow. GreenFest is the first of its kind and brings together thought-leaders and changemakers who are already transforming our food’s future with the young minds of tomorrow to explore the most pressing food issues that our world is facing now. Students between the ages of 14 -18 are invited to join one of the weekend festival’s days and sign up to three breakout workshops on the topics of “Grow”, “Eat”, and “Dispose”.
Through a series of interactive workshops, demonstrations and talks, students will investigate issues surrounding our current food systems; design solutions and innovations to (re)connect with our food and define the value, role, and place of healthy and sustainable food in tomorrow’s urban societies.
Key players in Hong Kong’s food scene, inspiring educators, and advocates of sustainability David Yeung of Green Monday and chef and founder of Grassroots Pantry Peggy Chan will kick-start the festival as keynote speakers.
When: Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11, 2018, 9am to 4:30pm
Where: Hysan Place, 4/F Sky Garden, Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Rd, Causeway Bay
How much: HK$150, register here.
3. The Hong Kong Eco Film Festival (HKEFF), Hong Kong
(Credit/ Erik Witsoe-Unsplash)
The Hong Kong Eco Film Festival (HKEFF) is an inspirational conscious event bringing together eco-warriors, film lovers, storytellers, and anyone who is passionate about nature to celebrate and accelerate solutions for our environment!
HKEFF is in alliance with Singapore Eco Film festival (SGEFF) and Borneo Eco Film festival (BEFF), the intention is to make a regional impact on issues related to sustainability, consumption, human-wildlife conflict, and much more through empowering the public to take daily actions.
Each of these festivals includes full-day events filled with unforgettable experiences; long and short feature films, insightful panel discussions, activities, and workshops for all ages!
When: Saturday, November 17, 2018, 10am to 6pm
Where: The Hive Sheung Wan, 33-35 Hiller Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
How much: Find tickets here (prices vary).
4. The Garden Gathering, Cheng Chau Island, Hong Kong
The Garden Gathering (Credit/Michelle Procter)
The Garden Gathering is a conscious celebration of spirit, harmony, and oneness. Women and children are invited to gather for a 3 day weekend of rewilding amongst the elements. Sessions will be the main attraction intended to inspire medicines of mother earth, art, song, ceremony, dance, yoga, meditation, food and farming, heritage, and healing to nurture and rekindle our human nature.
The Garden Gathering is a place for all, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, disability or body size. This immersive 3-day weekend in nature is packed with over 70 “Wisdomshare Offerings” to choose from; dedicated women will be sharing their medicines and modalities of craft, creation, embodiment, earthly practices, plant medicine, sacred sound, sensuality, spirituality, womb wisdom, and empowerment. The event will also embrace “kid culture” and a “conscious kitchen” providing plant-based, unprocessed, vegetarian cuisine. Check out who is offering from the “Gardeners” and see what classes are available in the “Wisdomshare”.
When: Friday, December 7 to Sunday, December 9, 2018
Where: Sai Yuen Farm, Cheng Chau Island, Hong Kong
How much: 3 Days (Friday to Sunday) is HK$1,800; 2 Days (Friday to Saturday or Saturday to Sunday) is HK$1,600; 1 Day is HK$1,400. Learn more here.
5. Wonderfruit, Pattaya, Thailand
In the Eyes of the Animal by Marshmallow Laser Feast is a virtual reality experience where Wonderers can put on a wooden headset and traverse familiar forest landscape through the perspective of woodland creatures. (Credit/Wonderfruit/Scratch First Co., Ltd.)
Wonderfruit is a carbon-neutral four-day celebration of the arts and sustainable living which includes diverse music acts, arts, delicious food, transformational wellness, and family-friendly activities – all backed up by a whole new set of thought-provoking sustainable architectural experiences.
Produced by Thai-based SCRATCH FIRST, Wonderfruit seeks to encourage, develop and innovate creative solutions for sustainable living and bring together a global community to celebrate them. Wonderfruit is built on six pillars: “Art and Architecture”, “Music”, “Family”, “Farm to Feasts”, “Talks and Workshops”, and “Wellness”, all of which are informed by its ethos to use the event as a platform to catalyze meaningful and positive impact.
Where: Thursday, December 13 to Sunday, December 16, 2018
Where: The Fields at Siam Country Club, just 150km southeast of Bangkok
How much: Adult 4-day pass is HK$6,500; Weekend pass is HK$6,200; Sunday Pass is HK$5,200. Get your tickets here.
Written by Talia Sanchez
Cover photo credit: Wonderfruit/Scratch First Co., Ltd.