With the sweltering summer over, autumn and winter are optimal seasons for outings, picnics and music shows in Hong Kong.
To encourage people to take part in more outdoor activities, the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority will hold free events every second weekend of the month.
Activities include performing arts shows, markets, handicrafts and games.
One of those events is Freespace Happening.
Free space for all
Explaining the "free space" concept, the authority's Performing Arts Assistant Producer Michelle Rocha said: "We want audiences to have a free space to explore different art forms."
The event provides a venue for Hong Kong citizens to soak up culture in an expansive open area.
"We also want to get different audiences to come in to experience, say, for example, if they really like a certain band, if they came to Freespace, I hope they will discover something else, say, for example, literature or they can see some family events which are really creative. So we hope there’s a mix and match between artists and audiences."
The authority has held outdoor events like Freespace Fest and Freespace Happening since 2012.
Imaginative initiatives
Ms Rocha said Freespace Happening encourages parents and children to enjoy family days.
"We also have 'ohmykids Market'. That is a kids market that is run by kids. Each of the stalls has at least one kid that is under 12-years-old and they get to boss around their parents.
"We want them to understand that as long as you give them the chance, children can do a lot of things that we never imagined they can do."
The market's co-founder Helen Lo said it expands children's skills and imagination.
"What kind of business they run is not important. It is more important to encourage the children to be imaginative and creative," she said.
Animal-friendly zone
Freespace Happening also encourages visitors to bring their pets.
Animal welfare organisations like Life Long Animal Protection, the Society for Abandoned Animals and Hong Kong Dog Rescue bring in furry friends and do educational talks.
Society for Abandoned Animals Project Co-ordinator Assistant Phoebe Yeung said she hopes these talks can educate children to be responsible pet owners.
"If children learn more about pets while they are young, they will know how to get along with animals and will not maltreat pets when they grew up."
Seasonal occasion
From August last year to last March, Freespace Happening attracted over 50,000 visitors to Nursery Park in west Kowloon.
The next Freespace Happening will be held on December 11 and 12, offering jazz and classical music performances.
There will also be poetry-meets-music jam sessions.
