Doraemon, Labubu, Elmo and Grimace Set for Hong Kong Harbour Parade

Four giant characters will take to Victoria Harbour

Doraemon, Labubu, Elmo reimagined by contemporary artist Kaws, and McDonalds mascot Grimace will float off Tamar Park in Admiralty from October 25 to November 1, 2025, before joining a parade along both shores of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour on November 1.

The event, titled Water Parade by AllRightsReserved at Victoria Harbour, will turn the waterfront into a public display of giant inflatable sculptures. Organisers say the largest works exceed 20 meters in length, giving the characters a presence resembling ships against the skyline between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

AllRightsReserved, the Hong Kong creative studio curating the production, will also run an eight day Water Parade Market beside Tamar Park. Food, games, collectibles and themed experiences will bring the character attractions onto land while the sculptures float nearby.

The November 1 procession will be a showcase lasting one day. The four sculptures will travel as a fleet along the harbour, allowing residents and visitors on both shores to watch them moving through the water. They will leave the harbour after the parade.

As of September 22, early bird ticket sales are scheduled to open on September 26 through Klook. Adult market tickets start from HKD 50, while early bird adult admission on November 1 starts from HKD 80. The market will have a viewing deck, shops and activities featuring a wider collection of characters than the four appearing on the water.

A Hong Kong studio brings its public art onto the water

AllRightsReserved, often shortened to ARR, was founded in 2003. The studio has worked with international artists and brands, including Kaws and Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, on large public artworks that place familiar images in unexpected urban settings.

Its projects include the Rubber Duck Project, which drew attention during previous Hong Kong visits, and KAWS:HOLIDAY, whose giant figure rested publicly in various cities. The Water Parade takes that approach into Victoria Harbour with several characters sharing the same floating display.

ARR founder Lam Shu kam sees the production as a regional collaboration connecting contemporary art with mainstream character culture. His description of the event focuses on bringing different brands together and attracting audiences from Hong Kong and abroad:

Lam said the event marks a breakthrough in overcoming geographic and brand limitations, and he expects it to attract locals as well as overseas visitors.

Lam also pointed to the loyalty of Hong Kong's character fans across different age groups. He described a market that may be relatively small but has strong connections to familiar characters:

Hong Kong's IP market is not big, but people are very loyal and familiar with their favorite characters.

IP means intellectual property. In this event, it refers to the characters and entertainment brands whose identities appear in sculptures, merchandise and themed attractions. ARR's curation brings those identities together in a setting designed for families, culture fans and collectors who follow character merchandise across Asia.

Which characters will appear?

Doraemon, the robot cat who travels through time in Japanese manga and anime, will appear resting on a dorayaki, his favourite pancake filled with red bean paste. The pose connects the floating sculpture to a familiar detail from the character's stories.

Labubu, the elfin creature created by Hong Kong artist Lung Ka sing and popularized by Pop Mart, will lounge on an oversized donut. The sculpture brings the character's popularity in collectible toy culture onto the harbour.

Grimace, McDonalds friendly purple mascot, will appear in a relaxed position. Elmo, the Sesame Street character, will also recline, with a design shaped by American artist Kaws, whose real name is Brian Donnelly.

Kaws has replaced Elmo's eyes with crosses, a signature detail that echoes his Companion character. The sculpture connects the familiar television character with contemporary art and the visual style associated with Kaws, who has collaborated with ARR on public art in the region for years.

Each of the four main inflatables measures around or beyond 20 meters. Their scale is intended to make them visible from promenades on both sides of Victoria Harbour, while their different poses give fans recognisable details to look for from shore.

Reclining poses serve a practical purpose

Trial demonstrations at a shipyard showed the characters reclining on platforms that float. Elmo and Grimace appeared to drift as though sunbathing, while Doraemon's dorayaki and Labubu's donut formed oversized supports beneath them.

The poses help keep the sculptures low and stable in the water. A lower centre of gravity means more of the structure's weight sits closer to its base. That arrangement helps limit rocking, while the reclining shapes reduce the force that wind can exert on the sculptures.

Doraemon's pancake and Labubu's donut also act like rafts, helping stabilize the weight of the figures and keeping their shapes easy to recognise from the shore. Their designs combine a practical floating support with an object that gives each character a distinct personality.

The result is intended to be easy to photograph from a distance. Families can recognise the characters against the skyline, while fans of Kaws and collectible toys can identify the artistic details that make these versions different from ordinary character displays.

The dates and places to watch

The four sculptures will remain on public display at sea outside Tamar Park from October 25 to November 1. On Hong Kong Island, the Central and Western District Promenade, Tamar Park's lawn and the Central Piers area offer places to view them.

The Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Avenue of Stars area provide open views from Kowloon across the water. On November 1, the fleet will move along both shores, giving spectators on either side an opportunity to watch the procession.

Specific parade times and the precise route have not been given. Organisers will coordinate arrangements with marine authorities, and weather or safety requirements may lead to adjustments. Visitors should check organiser updates before travelling, particularly for the final day's moving display.

The schedule brings together ticket sales, the stationary installation, the market and the closing parade:

• September 22, 2025: The event plans include four floating sculptures and a market beside Tamar Park.
• September 26: Early bird ticket sales are scheduled to open through Klook.
• October 25: The public harbour display and Water Parade Market begin.
• October 25 to November 1: The sculptures remain on display outside Tamar Park, with the market scheduled to open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
• November 1: The four sculptures join the water parade along both shores and leave the harbour afterward.

The market brings more characters onto land

The Water Parade Market will stretch along the Central section of the Central and Western District Promenade, next to Tamar Park in Admiralty. It will operate for the same eight days as the harbour display, with opening hours scheduled from 10 am to 10 pm and last admission in the evening.

Visitors will find shops selling character merchandise, booths with skill games, exclusive places for photographs, a capsule toy zone and a range of food and beverage vendors. Capsule toys are small collectibles dispensed in capsules, adding another way for fans to take part in the event.

Snoopy and the Peanuts gang will join the market's wider lineup. Netflix titles represented there include Squid Game, Stranger Things 5 and KPop Demon Hunters. Hong Kong's classic Tolo founding duck will also feature.

These attractions extend the event beyond the four sculptures. A family visiting for Doraemon, a collector following Labubu or a viewer interested in Netflix characters will find different activities gathered along the same waterfront.

A viewing deck inside the market will give ticket holders a higher vantage point towards the harbour. General admission includes one complimentary viewing platform experience, connecting the activities on land with the floating display nearby.

Tickets, prices and admission conditions

Klook is the sole official ticket platform for the market. Early bird sales open on September 26, with tickets providing a single entry on a selected date and at a selected time.

Early bird general admission starts from HKD 50 for adults and HKD 40 for children aged 4 to 11. Children aged 3 and under can enter free. Organisers state that early bird adult tickets for November 1, the parade day, start from HKD 80.

Admission covers entry and one complimentary viewing platform experience. Collectibles, games, food and beverages are separate purchases, so visitors planning to shop or take part in paid activities will need to budget beyond the ticket price.

Availability is limited, and sessions can sell out quickly. Visitors should check their selected entry time and the last admission rules before setting out. Official details and bookings are available on the Klook event page.

The market is outdoors and subject to weather. Ticketing terms allow operating hours to be adjusted for safety, and the organiser reserves the right to change arrangements when necessary. That makes checking updates useful even after a ticket has been purchased.

Getting to the waterfront and choosing a view

Admiralty Station and Central Station have multiple exits leading towards Tamar Park, the Central Piers and the Central and Western District Promenade. These public transport connections provide access to the display and the market on Hong Kong Island.

East Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui stations connect to the Kowloon waterfront through the Cultural Centre area and the Avenue of Stars. Visitors watching from that side can use the promenades to look across the harbour.

Parking near the waterfront is limited on busy days. Public transport is the quickest way to reach and leave the event areas. Spectators should arrive early to secure a preferred viewing position, especially on November 1, when the sculptures will move along the harbour.

The promenades are generally flat and wide, with ramps and accessible facilities near major access points. Visitors should still keep pathways clear and follow directions from event staff and crowd control teams as people gather along the waterfront.

Water, sun protection and a light layer will help with comfort during a visit. Conditions beside the harbour can be breezy, and rain or strong winds may affect arrangements. Official updates should be checked when unsettled weather is forecast.

• Hong Kong Island viewing areas: Tamar Park lawn, the Central Piers and the Central and Western District Promenade.
• Kowloon viewing areas: the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Avenue of Stars.
• Photography: a moderate zoom can frame the sculptures with skyline landmarks, while slightly elevated positions can help capture reflections on the water.
• Market visits: check the ticket's date, entry session and last admission rules before travelling.
• At the waterfront: keep walking routes open and follow staff instructions.

How the sculptures will float and move safely

The floating artworks require more than air to keep them in place. Their construction uses heavy duty materials such as textiles coated with PVC, with stitching and heat sealing used to hold the forms together. Industrial blowers and valves manage the air pressure inside.

Crews mount the inflatables on custom platforms or pontoons, which are floating supports. Tethers secure them, while towing boats guide their speed and direction. The low poses help reduce wind forces and sharp pitching as waves move through the harbour.

Trials off Tsing Yi offered a preview of the movement. Elmo and Grimace were pulled by two boats, one in front and one behind, travelling slowly to maintain position and alignment. The boats help control the sculptures rather than allowing them to drift freely.

Marine coordination is essential because the display shares the harbour with other traffic. The route is set in consultation with authorities to preserve shipping lanes. Safety boats will accompany the sculptures, while staff monitor the inflatables from nearby pontoons.

Organisers have contingencies for wind, rain and mechanical problems, so timings may change at short notice. These arrangements connect the public spectacle with the practical work needed to guide several giant inflatable figures through an active harbour.

ARR's earlier Rubber Duck visits helped familiarise Hong Kong with large floating artworks. Its Kaws collaborations established another part of the event's visual approach, bringing contemporary art together with popular characters. The Water Parade applies those experiences to a fleet with several characters, supported by a market that keeps activity on land while the sculptures rest at sea.

Why the harbour setting matters

Victoria Harbour provides a recognisable setting for characters with audiences across Asia and beyond. The event combines art, entertainment and the use of public space, placing a visual attraction beside a market that gives visitors reasons to stay at the waterfront longer.

Families and travellers can understand much of the display without relying on a shared language. Doraemon, Elmo, Grimace and Labubu each bring an existing audience, while the harbour gives them a common stage visible from both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Pop Mart collectibles attract long lines for limited releases, Peanuts has appeal across generations, and Netflix franchises have substantial streaming audiences. Bringing these brands together connects different groups of fans with the same stretch of waterfront.

The market also provides a link between viewing and spending. Shops, games and food vendors can turn a visit to see the sculptures into a longer outing. Its position beside the water lets visitors move between the character attractions on land and views of the display at sea.

Hong Kong's push for prominent events seeks to bring activity to nightlife areas, shorelines and plazas, and to give travellers reasons to extend a stay beyond a single attraction. The Water Parade fits that approach by combining a public spectacle with a walkable market area rather than concentrating the experience in one viewing moment.

Organisers say the production is intended for residents as well as tourists. Their event materials describe that combination of audiences and activities in the following terms:

Event materials describe a fusion of art, entertainment and culture that gives locals and visitors a visual spectacle with engaging activities.

For residents, the event adds a temporary attraction to familiar public spaces. For visitors, it brings globally recognised characters into Hong Kong's waterfront setting. The eight day display offers time to see the sculptures at rest, while the November 1 procession provides the closing event before they leave the harbour.

Key Points

• Doraemon, Labubu, Kaws x Sesame Street Elmo and Grimace will float outside Tamar Park from October 25 to November 1, 2025.
• Each main sculpture measures around or beyond 20 meters, with the largest works exceeding 20 meters in length.
• The four sculptures will parade along both shores of Victoria Harbour on November 1 and leave afterward.
• AllRightsReserved will also run an eight day market beside Tamar Park, scheduled from 10 am to 10 pm daily.
• The market includes shops, games, food, a viewing deck and attractions featuring Peanuts, Netflix titles and Hong Kong's Tolo founding duck.
• Early bird tickets go on sale through Klook on September 26, starting from HKD 50 for adults and HKD 40 for children aged 4 to 11. Children aged 3 and under enter free.
• Early bird adult tickets for November 1 start from HKD 80. Games, collectibles and refreshments cost extra.
• Viewing areas include Tamar Park, the Central Piers, the Central and Western District Promenade, the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and the Avenue of Stars.
• Parade timings and routing are subject to marine coordination, weather and safety requirements.