International Arts Carnival Presents 'Fantastic Fairy Tales' Music-and-Film Program This August, Offering Heartwarming Concert-and-Screening Experience

2026-08-07 17:45 Last Updated At：18:59

UK's "Fantastic Fairy Tales" blends live music with animation to present children's stories

The International Arts Carnival (IAC), a summer arts festival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will present a music-and-film programme, "Fantastic Fairy Tales," from August 14 to 16. Produced by Carrot Productions from the United Kingdom, the programme features original scores and is performed live by an ensemble. Paired with actors' performances and animated screenings, it offers a heartwarming concert-and-screening experience.

The programme is divided into two parts. In the first half, performers present "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" with live music. It vividly depicts scenes from the story through melodies, such as the tiptoeing of the mischievous girl, the creak and crack of baby bear's broken chair, and the thundering footsteps of the three bears returning home. In the second half, audiences will enjoy an animated adaptation of "The Bear and the Piano", the award-winning picture book by British illustrator David Litchfield. Together, audiences will follow the journey of a gifted young bear pianist as he ventures into the big city to shine on stage.

Combining live music, storytelling and animation, the programme also features interactive elements, inviting children to explore how different musical instruments can tell stories, creating a delightful artistic treat for families.

"Fantastic Fairy Tales" will be held at 7.30pm on August 14; 11am, 3pm and 7.30pm on August 15; and 11am and 3pm on August 16 at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre Theatre. Tickets priced at $280 and $340 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app "URBTIX".

The programme will be performed in English. Lights will be dimmed in the theatre during the performance. The performances at 11am and 3pm on August 15 are relaxed performances. Lighting and sound will be adjusted to a softer level. The house rules will also be relaxed, allowing audience members to make sounds and freely enter or exit the theatre at any time during the performance. A designated chillout area outside the theatre will be available for those who need a break.

Two fringe activities will take place on August 12 and 13 at the Rehearsal Hall, 7/F, Sheung Wan Civic Centre. The schedules are as follows:

(1) 11am: Parent-child Music and Movement Workshop

A Dalcroze specialist from Carrot Productions will guide participants through games, dancing and body movements to familiarise them with the original music featured in the performance.

(2) 3pm: Parent-child Music and Story-making Workshop

Guided by a music therapist and professional musicians, participants will improvise with percussion instruments to create a brand-new musical story inspired by the original music of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears".

Both workshops will be conducted in English with Cantonese interpretation. Tickets are priced at $180 (for adults) and $120 (for children) and limited places are available. For details, please visit the webpage at www.hkiac.gov.hk/2026/en/fairytales.html#fringe.

This year's IAC is presenting over 100 performances and related activities in July and August, bringing together artists from overseas, the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong for an exciting lineup of interactive, inspiring and family-friendly programmes, including acrobatics, dance, music, theatre and multimedia. There are also film screenings, library activities, parent-child workshops, an online programme and exhibitions.

For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.hkiac.gov.hk.

FEHD Cracks Down on Unlicensed Hawking Among Foreign Domestic Helpers, Arrests Nine in Recent Blitz.

FEHD combats unlicensed hawking and obstruction at foreign domestic helpers' holiday gathering places

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (September 21) that to safeguard environmental hygiene and food safety, the department has stepped up intelligenceled blitz enforcement actions targeting irregularities such as unlicensed hawking and obstruction of passageways at places where foreign domestic helpers gather on holidays across various districts over the past month.

During the first few weeks of the operation, the department conducted publicity and education activities. Over the past two weeks, FEHD officers arrested a total of nine persons at foreign domestic helper gathering places for suspected unlicensed hawking and causing obstruction in public places, and seized about 1.5 tonnes of goods, including cooked food, clothes, hats, shoes, handbags and cosmetics. The arrested persons comprised two men and six women of nonChinese ethnicity, and one Chinese man, aged 30 to 55. Among them, two men held recognisance forms prohibiting them from taking up employment, and one man held Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao. For all the arrested persons suspected of breaching their conditions of stay, the FEHD will notify the relevant law enforcement departments to follow up on the cases in parallel.

The FEHD has long been concerned about obstruction of passageways, environmental hygiene and food safety problems arising from unlicensed hawking at foreign domestic helpers' gathering places. The department earlier conducted a publicity and education campaign lasting several weeks in collaboration with staff of relevant consulatesgeneral in Hong Kong, distributing multi-lingual leaflets at places where foreign domestic helpers frequently gather across various districts to remind them that unlicensed hawking is illegal, and to appeal to them not to patronise unlicensed hawkers.

According to the relevant ordinances, unlicensed hawking is subject to a maximum fine of $10,000 and six months' imprisonment. If unlicensed hawking activities also cause obstruction of passageways, offenders may be fined $25,000 or imprisoned for three months. In addition, any person who sells restricted food (including frozen meat, sashimi and sushi) without permission commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment upon conviction.

The FEHD reaffirmed its commitment to relentlessly curbing unlicensed hawking activities, and stressed that foreign domestic helpers engaging in illegal hawking breach their conditions of stay. Employers are urged to remind their helpers to abide by the law and maintain environmental hygiene. Members of the public who come across suspected unlicensed hawking or other irregularities may report them to the FEHD.

International Arts Carnival Presents 'Fantastic Fairy Tales' Music-and-Film Program This August, Offering Heartwarming Concert-and-Screening Experience

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International Arts Carnival Presents 'Fantastic Fairy Tales' Music-and-Film Program This August, Offering Heartwarming Concert-and-Screening Experience

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