Halloween Archives - Sassy Mama

Halloween Costumes For The Family: Best Costume Shops In Hong Kong

Sassy Mama — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 22:00:14 +0000

Costume shops are great for getting the kids (and yourself) all dressed up for Halloween! These are the best costume shops in Hong Kong and online stores that deliver. Get dressed to spook!

Head to a costume shop in Hong Kong to pick your Halloween outfit this year! Whether you’re dressing up for trick or treating or a fancy dress party, there’s something for everyone. You can even buy, rent, swap, or make your own costumes to find the perfect fit. Without further ado, here are our picks of the best costume shops in Hong Kong for the whole family.

Partyland – Bespoke fancy dress costume shop in Hong Kong

This costume shop in Central is ideal for bespoke costumes for a wide range of occasions, including Halloween, the Hong Kong Sevens and World Book Day. You can even rent costumes here.

Partyland, B/F, 51 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, WhatsApp: 9843 0638, www.partylandcentral.com

Matteo Party – Hong Kong costume shop for all the family

Matteo Party is a costume shop offering an impressive range of costumes for both kids and toddlers. This online party supply store has fancy dress wear for a range of occasions, so you may find yourself shopping here before the Rugby Sevens, World Book Day and a themed birthday party!

Matteo Party, 2342 8887, WhatsApp: 9381 9501, www.matteoparty.com

Remy Fashion – Costume shop with tailored options in Hong Kong

This tailor-cum-store stocks a large variety of costumes and fancy dress accessories. It is happy to make alterations to anything you buy from the store or may have bought or swapped from elsewhere. You can order traditional clothing as well.

Remy Fashion, Unit B02, 10/F, Kwai Shing Industry Building, Stage 1, 36-46 Tai Lin Pai Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories, Hong Kong, 2524 8847, WhatsApp: 9384 4079, www.remyfashionshk.com

Ymehouse – Halloween costumes, Cosplay and more

Looking to dress up as your favourite book or TV show character for Halloween? Maybe as Aragog from Harry Potter? At Ymehouse costume shop, you’ll find a range of wigs and props that will tie your costume together, as well as complete looks with all the bells and whistles included.

Sassy Mama Tip: It’s best to check what your teen is buying as some of the costumes are rather racy.

Ymehouse, 22 Nam Fung Centre, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, WhatsApp: 6180 8328, www.mycostumes.hk

Choi Chi Central Costume Shop – Huge selection of fancy dresses and costumes in Hong Kong

Choi Chi is a hidden costume shop in Hong Kong with a huge selection of costumes that will satisfy any costume requests (no matter how difficult!). Whether you’re looking for props, accessories or Halloween costumes, Choi Chi has it all.

Sassy Mama Tip: Can’t find the place? Show this to anyone on Stanley Street – 中環七記彩姿精品店 – and they’ll guide you.

Choi Chi, 42-44, G/F, Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong, www.facebook.com/choichigiftshop

Toys R Us – Toy shop in Hong Kong with a small section for costumes

This popular toy store has a small costume and dress-up section, with the most popular Disney princes and princesses. While you won’t find anything too weird and wonderful here, with many stores sprinkled throughout Hong Kong, this is an easy option for busy mamas on the go. It’s best to buy accessories here that can be mixed and matched for use throughout the year.

Toys “R” Us, various locations across Hong Kong, www.toysrus.com.hk

EZCosplay – Anime cosplay costume shop in Hong Kong

If your teen is a fan of cosplay (do you need a quick urban slang refresher?), you probably need costumes that are edgier and more authentic. While custom-made orders close for two months before Halloween (September and October), you are still sure to find a costume and all the necessary accessories for anything that your teen is currently into.

EZCosplay, ITL Limited, 23/F, On Tai Building, 144-148 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, www.ezcosplay.com

Fun e Costume – Halloween wigs, full-face masks, body paint and costumes

Stocking everything from rainbow wigs and full-face masks to temporary tattoos and body paint, no look is unattainable when you shop at Fun e Costume. You’re sure to find something for all the family.

Fun e Costume, Room 33, C10–11, 1/F, Block C, Hong Kong Industrial Centre, 489–491 Castle Peak Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 9075 3530, www.facebook.com/funecostumes

Hong Kong Streets And Markets That Carry Halloween Costumes & Accessories

There are many streetside stores and districts in Hong Kong where you can pick up a range of costumes and props for all occasions.

Pottinger Street, Central, Hong Kong – Location Map
Li Yuen Street (East and West), Central, Hong Kong – Location Map
Stanley Market, Stanley, Hong Kong – Location Map
Ladies Market, Mong Kong, Hong Kong – Location Map
Toy Street, Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong – Location Map
Sham Shui Po Fabric Markets – Location Map
Tai Yuen Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong – Location Map

Pottery Barn Kids – Character and themed Halloween costumes for the whole family

Pottery Barn has an extensive range of characters and themed costumes for the whole family. Though it’s on the pricey side, these Halloween costumes are guaranteed to stand out!

Pottery Barn Kids, www.potterybarnkids.com

Halloween Costumes – Unique costumes with delivery to Hong Kong

As the name implies, Halloween Costumes offers an extensive selection for kids and adults. Costumes here are not your typical Disney and animal costumes, so be prepared for a unique array – including costumes from Grease movie characters and historical figures.

HalloweenCostumes.com, www.halloweencostumes.com

Taobao – Budget costumes delivered to Hong Kong

If you don’t want to spend a fortune but still get (debatably) quality wear, Taobao is your new best friend. Just make sure you get a bilingual friend to help you out when you’re ready to check out if Chinese isn’t (yet) on your list of accomplishments.

Sassy Mama Tip: If language is still an issue, check out Baopals, an online marketplace similar to Taobao created by and for expats.

Taobao, www.world.taobao.com

AliExpress – A wide variety of costumes delivered to Hong Kong for Halloween

A wide variety of costumes, from superheroes to unicorns and more, can be found on AliExpress HK. Delivery may take a while, so make sure you purchase ahead of time.

AliExpress, www.aliexpress.com

Retykle – Preloved Halloween costumes in Hong Kong

Costumes that get thrown out each year after kids outgrow them can add to the problem of waste. Check out Retykle’s second-hand costumes which you can purchase for just $50!

Sassy Mama Tip: If you need more incentive, here’s a fabulous reason to shop for preloved Halloween costumes. Retykle estimates that it resurrected 400 Halloween costumes last year and saved 400kgs of CO2 emissions just last year!

Retykle, 8/F, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, www.retykle.com

Facebook Groups – Swap and sell fancy dress costumes

There are plenty of groups where you can buy and sell baby and toddler essentials. And given the number of dress-up days schools have, fancy dress costumes are an essential part of every child’s wardrobe! You may occasionally also find some items on Carousell or AsiaXpat, but not with the same frequency as on Facebook groups. Do also keep an eye out on mama-chat groups, district-based Facebook groups, etc.

Dress up! – This is a private group created specifically to swap, sell and buy children’s costumes. See the Dress Up! Facebook page here.
Baby Swap-it – The well-known preloved second-hand baby goods site in Hong Kong. See the Baby Swap-it Facebook page here.

How To Make Your Own Halloween Costumes In Hong Kong

If you’re a crafty mama, why not make your own costume? Shop in thrift stores, fabric markets and stationery shops and see what you find and what you can rustle together. With some creativity and a bit of artistic licence (or a lot of it!), you can make a wide range of costumes.

We’re always in awe of the awesome ideas that come from talented mums in the city. The best part about making your own costumes is that they can always be repurposed for other occasions. One Sassy Mama has used a Gruffalo costume for Halloween, World Book Day and a themed birthday party celebration!

Editor’s Note: “Best Costume Shops In Hong Kong For Kids Halloween Parties” was most recently updated in October 2024 by Sassy Mama. Special thanks to Erica, Lorria Sahmet, Andrea Wada Davies, Tarana Desai Shah, Anita Balagopalan and Alex Purcell Garcia for their contribution.

The post Halloween Costumes For The Family: Best Costume Shops In Hong Kong appeared first on Sassy Mama.

5 Fun And Easy DIY Halloween Door Decorations To Make With Kids

Kit Lang — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 22:00:58 +0000

These Halloween DIY crafts are spookily good! Get creative and let those ghosts, bats and spiders take over your homes and walls.

Once you’ve decided on your Halloween costume, it’s time to decorate the house! Instead of spending an arm and leg on Halloween decorations to spook up your door, why not get the family involved and make some yourself? Your cute DIY door decor will surely bring cheer to the little ghouls and goblins! They will be spooked by your decorations and admire your family’s creative creations to help celebrate the holiday. These fun and easy DIY Halloween crafts require items you can find around the house and some simple art supplies.

Ghost Garland DIY Halloween Decoration

What You Need: Tissues, cotton balls, a yarn or a string and a black marker.

How To Make It: Lay a tissue out flat and place a cotton ball in the middle. Close the tissue paper over the cotton in such a way that the round ball becomes the head and the tissue the rest of the ghostly body. Wrap some string around the head and leave enough string to wrap around the next ghost and so on until you have a garland of ghosts. Draw eyes and a mouth for each of your ghosts and you have yourself a string of ghosts. Like Casper, these ghosts are too cute to spook!

Gluey Ghosts DIY Halloween Decoration

What You Need: Glue, googly eyes and baking paper

How To Make It: These ghouls will get anything but boos! Fun to squeeze and peel, these gluey ghosts can also be stuck to mirrored or glass surfaces using double-sided tape. All you have to do is draw a ghost-shaped freehand with glue on the baking paper and drop in two googly eyes. As the glue starts drying, peel it off and use it around the house.

Peel-Off Spiderwebs DIY Halloween Decoration

What You Need: Glue, glitter, baking paper and a yarn or a string

How To Make It: This uses the same process as the Gluey Ghosts. Put a large blob of glue on the centre of the baking paper, have spokes coming out of the centre and then with quick, deft strokes, draw a web. Sprinkle some glitter onto the glue and as it starts drying up, peel it off and string it up as a decoration in the house. This makes for a sparkly web any spider would be proud to weave!

Pipe Cleaner Pumpkins DIY Halloween Decoration

What You Need: A green yarn or string, green pipe cleaners and orange pipe cleaners

How To Make It: Whether you make one or an entire pumpkin patch, these DIY Pipe Cleaner Pumpkins are just the right pick for a table decoration or strung on a vine to hang above a door frame. Simply bend and shape the pipe cleaners into an orange pumpkin shape, add green stems with the green pipe cleaner and tie them up with a green string. Hang these up at different heights in the corridor leading up to your apartment or inside and pick up your child to have him or her head butt them while walking past them!

Toilet Tube Bats DIY Halloween Decoration

What You Need: Toilet roll tubes, black chart paper, scissors, paint and a paintbrush, googly eyes, glue and yarn or string.

How To Make It: Save those toilet roll tubes to turn into bats for another fun and easy hanging decoration. From painting the tubes to glueing on googly eyes, your family will have fun making each bat unique. Take black chart paper, wrap it around the tubes and make sure they are tightly glued together. Draw “bat wings” on the black paper and cut them out, then glue them onto the tube. Add the eyes and paint on two small teeth (you can make them white or add drops of red “blood” to them). Hang the bats up to make a spooky decoration.

Read More: Kids’ Halloween Events In Hong Kong

Halloween is all about creativity, so celebrate the holiday by making your own decorations to adorn your door and home for this fun holiday. Happy Halloween!

The post 5 Fun And Easy DIY Halloween Door Decorations To Make With Kids appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Guide To Ocean Park Hong Kong: Ocean Park Rides, Animals, Tips And More

Sassy Mama — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 22:00:50 +0000

Ocean Park Hong Kong has got everything for a great family day out. With cable car adventures, roller coasters, theme park rides and many other amusement park attractions – it’s time to make another visit!

Ocean Park Hong Kong is one of the city’s biggest amusement parks, located in the lush surroundings of Aberdeen. Pandas, sharks, stingrays, dolphins, penguins, sea lions, walruses and large manta rays are some of the headline animals to see. Plus, adrenaline junkies and funfair enthusiasts will also have plenty to keep them happy with various roller coasters and rides. From booking tickets to where to eat with kids and plenty of useful tips, here’s your ultimate guide to Ocean Park Hong Kong.

Sassy Mama Tip: Make the most of it by booking a stay at the family-favourite Fullerton Hotel Ocean Park which also offers packages deals to the Water World Ocean Park!

Jump To:

Ocean Park Tickets, Opening Times, Location
Plan Your Day At Ocean Park
Animals At Ocean Park
Ocean Park Rides And Attractions
Food At Ocean Park
Seasonal Attractions At Ocean Park
How To Get To Ocean Park
Ocean Park Hong Kong Hotels
Family-Friendly Facilities At Ocean Park
Extra Tips For Ocean Park

Ocean Park Tickets, Opening Times And Location

Ocean Park location: 180 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong

Contact details for Ocean Park Hong Kong: 3923 2323, gr@oceanpark.com.hk, www.oceanpark.com.hk

Ocean Park Hong Kong Opening times: Every day except Tuesdays; 10am to 7pm (the Summit closes at 6:30pm)

Book Ocean Park Hong Kong Tickets – Special deals, annual passes and more

We recommend buying your Ocean Park tickets in advance. It’s best to book these tickets online as queues can get very long.

Ocean Park Hong Kong General Admission Tickets: Adult (aged 12 or above) – $498; child (aged 3 to 11) – $249

What does the Ocean Park General Admission ticket get you? Usually, the deal will give you unlimited access to the park within a dedicated time frame. The price for this is around the same as a one-day pass so makes the most sense for families.

Buy Ocean Park Hong Kong General Admission tickets here. Klook also offers some good deals, discounts and packages. There are always special promotions and discounts, so always check what the seasonal attractions and packages are.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Annual Membership: Adult (aged 12 or above) – $1,380, Child (aged 3 to 11) or student – $980

If your kids are crazy about animals and love the other theme park attractions, then the Ocean Park Annual Membership is a good option. You’ll get unlimited access to the park for a year (blackout dates apply), dining, shopping and birthday deals, admission to exclusive programmes, as well as other welcome offers worth $720. You can even share your membership with your doggy friends and bring them to the Park on selected dates!

Buy Ocean Park Hong Kong Annual Membership here.

Ocean Park Hong Kong FasTrack Pass: $320 (same price for adults and children)

If you hate queueing (or have impatient kiddos) then the Ocean FasTrack is a good shout. For an additional $320 per person, you’ll get seven priority accesses for designated rides and attractions. You could also go all out on the Fastrack Pro pass for $580.

Buy Ocean Park Hong FasTrack passes here.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Special Offers

There are also other special offers up for grabs. These are often limited-time offers and change every season, so be sure to check the website.

Buy Ocean Park Hong Special Offers here.

Plan Your Day At Ocean Park Hong Kong: From Animals To Rides

Covering the entire park in a day is impossible, even with older kids. We recommend that you make a staycation of it and visit the park over a couple (or several) days to get your money’s worth and experience everything. If you have an unlimited entry pass, you can even head home and return another weekend – something you might want to do so you can fully recharge those batteries!

Similarly, when you’ve got little ones who need to take regular breaks, making your way around all the attractions in one day is a no-go. Especially if your toddler refuses to get into their pushchair and insists on walking everywhere (speaking from experience here)! So, make sure you go with realistic expectations of what you’ll see in one day.

To give you an idea, here’s our suggestion of how to plan your day:

Plan which areas are a “must” for your family. Check the park map and create your virtual itinerary before you arrive. Be sure to check the daily schedule with area opening times and performance schedules.
Plotting a course of action, based on animal feeding times, is also a good idea. While you can see animals at your leisure, feeding time is usually a guaranteed way of seeing a bunch of animals together, or at least staying still in one place for a longer time.

Visiting Ocean Park Hong Kong With Older Kids

After exploring Whisker’s Harbour, Amazing Asian Animals, Giant Panda and Aqua City, take the Ocean Express train to the upper parts of the park.
Once in the top section, you have access to Marine World, the Rainforest, polar Adventure Adventure Land and Thrill Mountain. It’s a crowd-pleasing mix of animal adventures and thrilling rides and roller coasters.
Then, take the cable car down when it’s less hot and the park is all lit up. Head into the Grand Aquarium to round off the day if you haven’t yet seen it.
Alternatively, if you’re going to the park only for the rides, jump on the Ocean Express and head straight to the top section to get stuck in!

Visiting Ocean Park Hong Kong With Younger Kids

Take a look at the animal feeding schedules before you arrive so you know exactly where to head first. The Giant pandas and penguins were both a big hit for our toddlers.
You can follow the same path as you would with older kids but select fewer animals/areas to see.
If your little one needs a nap, aim for the Ocean Theatre. It has shows at 12pm, 3:30pm and 5pm and you can stand at the top of the auditorium while LO naps in their pushchair in the shade or covered from any rain.
If you have time, take the cable car back down towards the end of the day and enjoy the views. But be warned, the line for the cable car can sometimes take longer than 20mins (way too long for impatient toddlers) so the Ocean Express can be more efficient.
If your little one still has any juice left, see the Grand Aquarium at the end of the day. On hot days, you’ll appreciate the air-conditioning to cool off, on rainy days you can escape from the downpour. Plus, it’s nice and dark so if youngsters are chilling in their stroller, they can have a well-earned rest!

Ocean Park Hong Kong Animals: Giant Pandas, Crocodiles, Penguins, Otters And More

Naturally, a trip to Ocean Park Hong Kong would not be complete without seeing its many animals. Starting with Crocoland at the entrance to the multi-storeyed Grand Aquarium and the ever-popular Giant Panda enclosures, Ocean Park Hong Kong is a treat for all kids who love to see and interact with animals.

It’s also natural that Ocean Park Hong Kong has received a lot of flak in the past for holding animals in captivity as well as its dolphins and sea lions performance shows. In its defence, the park has created and promoted a lot of educational and conservation programmes for young children who want to know more about marine wildlife protection. If you do decide to visit Ocean Park Hong Kong, try to have a conversation with your kids about important topics like environmental conservation, the dangers of overfishing, responsible tourism, etc. and let them understand both sides of this amusement park’s story.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Animal Attractions Worth Visiting

Crocoland – Meet Passion, the rescued crocodile who is now an Ocean Park Hong Kong resident. She has been proudly named by Hong Kong residents.
Giant Panda Adventure – The most popular residents at Ocean Park Hong Kong, along with their cute cousins, the Red Pandas. Don’t forget to watch the Red Panda feeding in the afternoons at 2pm.
Little Meerkat and Giant Tortoise Adventure – You might wonder what the meerkats are doing at Ocean Park Hong Kong! We did too! But we have to admit, it’s quite amusing to watch them dart about the slow moving giant tortoises.
South Pole Spectacular – Who can resist the waddle of a penguin? There are over 90 penguins from three species here, including king penguins, southern rockhopper penguins and white-bonneted, gentoo penguins. You can see these fascinating birds from stunning angles above and underwater.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Roller Coaster Rides And Attractions: Arctic Blast, Raging River, Polar Adventure, Grand Aquarium And More

There is so much to see and do at Ocean Park Hong Kongthat it can feel quite overwhelming. But to simplify the visit, you have eight zones to explore:

Ocean Park Hong Kong Zones At The Waterfront (entrance area of the park):

Aqua City
Amazing Asian Animals
Whiskers Harbour

Ocean Park Hong Kong Zones At The Summit (at the top of the park via the Ocean Express/Cable Car/pathway):

Thrill Mountain
Polar Adventure
Rainforest
Marine World
Adventure Land

Tips For Visiting Ocean Park Hong Kong’s Attractions

With so many attractions to see, from water rapids to roller coasters, children’s play areas, animals and more, it’s difficult to mention them all here. So make sure you check the online list to guide you. You can filter by age range and category to make it easier.

Keep an eye on showtimes at the Whiskers Theatre and the Ocean Theatre and animal interaction timetables by selecting Animal Interaction Enrichment on the daily Programme Schedule.

With a multiple-entry pass to the park (see above for details), you can divide your time over several visits. It could be that you do only The Waterfront and The Summit animals on different days. Or only the theme park rides, roller coasters and games on another.

Sassy Mama Tip: Keep an eye on the website for facilities that are closed or under maintenance to avoid disappointment. You’ll find the most recent information when you hover over the purple “The Experience” tab.

Best Ocean Park Hong Kong Rides For Kids Under 5

Animal visiting aside, little ones can take a trip on the Sea Life Carousel, Merry-Go-round, Toto The Loco train and Balloons Up-Up-And-Away – those who don’t meet the height restrictions must be accompanied by an adult.

There’s also the HiPP Presents Jungle of Giants or Castle of Redd playgrounds to enjoy, as well as other low-key attractions like the Eco Trail.

Best Ocean Park Hong Kong Rides For Older Kids

Try the Arctic Blast kids roller coaster, the Flying Swing or the Ferris wheel. Tweens will love the Bumper Blaster and the Crazy Galleon swinging boat.

For a little extra oomph, older teens will love the faster roller coasters. Hair Raiser, The Flash and Wild Twister are probably the top rides for thrill-seekers.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Attractions With Air Conditioning

Let’s be honest, the Hong Kong heat and humidity can sometimes get too much – especially if you’re on your feet all day at a theme park. The Arctic Fox Den and North Pole Encounter are by far the best places to cool off (plus you get to hang out with the adorable foxes and penguins). Panda feeding time was also a big hit with one Sassy toddler – and her mother because of the air-conditioning! Shark Mystic and Grand Aquarium are also great places to escape the heat.

Food At Ocean Park Hong Kong: What And Where To Eat

You have several restaurants to choose from, including everything from local Cantonese specialities to Southeast Asian dishes, seafood and pizza. For a real underwater experience, opt for Neptune’s Restaurant – Hong Kong’s only aquarium restaurant. There are also numerous food kiosks dotted all over the park with outside seating for quick grab-and-eat situations. The park can also assist those with dietary and religious needs, simply contact Guest Relations ahead of your visit (3923 2323)

On a hot day, aim for one of the canteen areas to cool off while eating your lunch. But be warned, there will be people hovering over you waiting for you to finish so they can jump into your seat.

There are several food outlets to choose from but they can be pricey, so it might be wise to take a packed lunch if you can be bothered to carry it (and it won’t spoil in the heat).

Halloween — Horrors Of The Hidden City

This Halloween, Ocean Park features Hong Kong’s creepiest horrors with six haunted experiences from parallel timelines, dating back to scary 80’s urban legends! Step into the mysterious Dreadful Walled City but beware of malevolent spirits lurking within its dimly lit narrow streets. Beyond the walled city, a large-scale Prison Escape unfolds where inmates vanish without a trace! Rumour has it the landowner whose entire family got wiped out is hosting a Netherworld Wedding. Will you be the fated spouse this haunted family ties down for the rest of eternity?

At the long-abandoned Hotel Morte, a huge reopening is slated with a dazzling masquerade. But this hotel’s antique charm may hide something deadly inside. Wish t to test your courage? Visit the Horror of Homestead. Decide for yourself if this Japanese-style home is just a spooky old house or actually haunted! Creepy sounds come from the forsaken Forbidden Zone 724, luring paranormal enthusiasts to explore (but will they ever return?)

A series of 10 incredibly creepy performances promise to add excitement to the night. Watch eerie ghosts dance, feel the chills at the Dark Queen’s dramatic appearance and scream your heart out at the rugged Oppas making their wild debut! For something a bit more kid-friendly, join Everyone Trick-or-Treat for fun interactive games. We can’t wait to deep dive into city’s creepiest legends and unlock the dark heart of Hong Kong horror!

How To Get To Ocean Park Hong Kong

MTR To Ocean Park Hong Kong

This is probably the most convenient and easiest way for most families to get to Ocean Park. Take the South Island line from Admiralty directly to Ocean Park (approximately six minutes).

Bus To Ocean Park Hong Kong

There are numerous buses you can catch that will take you directly to Ocean Park. The website lists the buses available from Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories that you can take.

Taxi/Uber To Ocean Park Hong Kong

If you prefer to travel on your schedule, an Uber or Taxi from Central Hong Kong will take about 25 to 30 minutes and cost around $85 to $100. This is dependent on traffic and where exactly you are travelling from.

Driving To Ocean Park Hong Kong

There is a car park at the main entrance of Ocean Park available from 8:30am to 30 minutes after the park is closed (the park closes at 7pm). It is best to book parking in advance.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Car Park Rates:

Monday – Friday (Non-peak days)	$25 per hour (maximum charge of $150 per day)
Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and peak days^*	$40 per hour (maximum charge of $200 per day)

^*The peak days are announced on the Ocean Park website.

Ocean Park Hong Kong Hotels

Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel

A Sassy Mama recently did a staycation at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel (check the website for full details) and said it was well worth it not to have to travel all the way back to an outlying island. Not only will you be able to plan your days in the park without feeling rushed, but you’ll also not have to travel far to rest your tired feet!

The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong

The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong has been a firm favourite since its opening. This sustainable, oceanfront luxury resort adds another option for the family to relax after a busy day’s adventuring.

Family-Friendly Facilities At Ocean Park Hong Kong

Ocean Park Hong Kong undoubtedly has enough rides, thrills and animals for older kids, but is it suitable for the youngest members of our family? Yes and no. Here’s our honest opinion about the family-friendly services at the park.

Baby changing facilities at Ocean Park Hong Kong

There are baby changing facilities dotted around the park (with baby changers, bottle warmers and feeding seats) but we struggled to find them. We also had to wait in line for a while for the one that we did.

Sassy Mama Tip: The women’s toilet block near the Fun Fair has a double toilet with a child-size seat which is useful.

Stroller access and hire at Ocean Park Hong Kong

Other facilities that parents will love are the stroller hire at $140 per day (plus a $100 refundable security deposit).

Child safety and useful services at Ocean Park Hong Kong

We love that we get child wristbands to write contact details on if you become separated. There is also the Guardian Switch service, which lets you jump on your favourite rides while a park expert stays with your most precious valuables (the kids!).

Extra Useful Ocean Park Hong Kong Tips

Arrive early to maximise your day but be realistic about how much you can do, especially depending on your children’s age.

Make sure to bring a sunshade, suncream, water, fan, etc. for little ones, especially if they are in their pushchair as it can get very hot.

If you’re visiting in the summer heat, plan to watch the shows in the afternoon. This will give everyone a chance to rest tired legs and restore a second wind.

Plan to leave the park at least 20 to 30 minutes before closing. You’ll beat the transport crowds and save yourself time for the journey home when you’re all sure to be tired.

Water World Ocean Park

Don’t forget to check out our guide to Water World Ocean Park which opened in September 2021 (located just a short shuttle bus ride from the main theme park).

Editor’s Note: “Guide To Ocean Park Hong Kong: Ocean Park Rides, Animals, Tips And More” was originally published by Alex Purcell Garcia in 2021 and most recently updated in October 2024 by Sassy Mama.

The post Guide To Ocean Park Hong Kong: Ocean Park Rides, Animals, Tips And More appeared first on Sassy Mama.

3 Easy Halloween Recipes: Treats Your Kids Will Love

Divya Butani — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 22:00:30 +0000

Want something different from the usual Halloween candy? Try these Halloween recipes at home – they are sure to be a treat for all kids!

Come Halloween and you find yourself running out of ideas of how to strike a healthy balance between fun and out-of-control candy consumption. Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Here are a few deliciously easy Halloween treats to make at home with the kids. These 3 dishes are packed with hidden veggies or seeds, so this is perfect for picky eaters too!

Halloween Recipe 1: Halloween Burgers (with pumpkin patties)

Ingredients

For the bread

200 grams flour strong bread flour
10 grams of brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
5 grams of active dry yeast
32 grams of water (room temperature)
100 grams of milk (plant-based milk is okay too)
1/4 tsp vinegar (apple cider or white vinegar will do)
½ tsp of black food colouring

For the patties

½ cup of sweet potato
½ cup of pumpkin
¼ cup of canned chickpeas
1 tbsp of spring onions
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp pepper
¼ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp dried basil
1 tbsp all-purpose flour

Burger garnishes

Edible eyes

Method

For the bread

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour and salt together, and set aside.
In another smaller bowl, whisk the yeast, sugar and 32 grams of water together until it starts to bubble. Set this aside.
In a third bowl, mix the milk, vinegar and black food colouring. Set this aside.
Using your finger or spatula, create a crater in the centre of your flour (The Well Method) and gently pour the yeast mixture and combine until it reaches a shaggy and rough dough.
Slowly pour the remaining liquid (the colouring, milk and vinegar mixture) and knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it reaches a soft, pillowy texture.
Leave this to rest in a large flour-sprinkled mixing bowl for about an hour. Cover this with a cloth.
After 1 hour, flatten the risen dough to remove the carbon dioxide, and roll it out into a log shape.
Cut the dough into 6 pieces, to make mini burgers and roll them in your palm to create small spheres.
Place it on a baking tray (make sure you have 2cm of space in between each burger bun because it will rise again and you don’t want them to stick to each other).
Cover the rolled-out buns with a cloth and leave it to rise for another 10-15 minutes.
Once the dough has risen, bake these in the oven at 175℃, for 20 minutes. Depending on the brand of your oven, this may take 15 minutes, so please keep checking them.
Once it is fully baked, take them out of the oven, brush some cold butter on the top and leave it to cool.
Once the burgers are cool, cut them in half to make the top and bottom of the burger buns, ready to stuff with the pumpkin patties!

For the patties

Steam and process all the veggies together.
Pour the mashed-up veggies into a mixing bowl, and add all the spices and the flour.
Mix until smooth.
Create the patties using the size of your burger buns as a good indication. There is nothing worse than having extra large or extra small patties for your buns. You can make this as thick or as thin as you like. I like thicker patties for the burger.
Add the patties into a frying pan with a brush of oil.
Fry each side until golden brown.
Optional: you can beat an egg, and coat the patties with this, and a layer of breadcrumbs before frying for that extra crispiness. I normally dunk the patties in flour, then coat it with egg then dunk it in breadcrumbs for an extra crispy patty.

Placing the burger together

Once you’ve stuffed the burgers, brush the bottom side of the edible eye with water and stick it on the top of the burger bun.

Halloween Recipe 2: Denture Dim Sum (teeth ‘dim sum’ with veggie filling)

Ingredients

For the dim sum

1 cup rice flour
½ cup tapioca starch
3 tbsp cornstarch
½ cup water
2 tsp green food colouring

For the filling

2 tbsp sesame oil
½ cup shredded cauliflower
2 brown button mushrooms minced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp ginger shredded
1 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce
2 tbsp organic soy sauce
A pinch of pepper

For the sauce (optional)

2 cloves garlic minced
2 tbsps peanut butter for sauces like this, I used skippy as it has more flavour. However, you can use healthier versions of this and opt for peanut butter that contains less sugar.
1/2 cup hot water
3 tbsp organic soy sauce
½ tbsp rice vinegar
⅛ tsp black pepper

Method

For the denture dim sum

Mix all the ingredients together. Set aside.
Using the denture mould, place this in a steamer and let this steam for about 15 minutes. Ensure the lid of your steamer has a towel covered around it so the water does not drip down onto the mould.
Once the mould is warm enough, fill the mould with the mixture until it reaches the top.
Cover the steamer for 10 minutes. Then, switch the gas off and allow the cooked mould to sit in the steamer without heat for 5 minutes. This prevents the ‘dim sum’ from deflating and helps it cool down before you take it out.
Once you take it out, let it cool for another 5-10 minutes before removing it from the mould. Serve warm.

For the filling

Heat a frying pan with the oil.
Saute the garlic and ginger until fragrant.
Add the veggies and saute until all the water from the veggies has evaporated (sweated out).
Pour in the seasoning and saute for another 1-2 minutes.
Serve warm in the denture dim sum.

For the sauce

Combine all the ingredients together.
Coat the bottom of the denture dim sum with this, or garnish it on the top.

Halloween Recipe 3: Mini Halloween Chia Cakes (red velvet chia seed cupcakes with cream cheese frosting)

Ingredients

For the chia cakes

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
1 cup brown sugar
½ tsp salt
1 cup butter (not melted, cold)
2 tbsp chia seeds mixed with 6 tbsps water (mixed together)
½ tsp of vanilla extract or paste
½ tsp of red food colouring or beetroot powder

For the cream cheese frosting

125 grams of cream cheese
100 grams unsalted butter
3 tbsps of icing sugar

For the garnishing

Halloween sprinkles
Edible eyes

Method

For the chia cakes

Preheat the oven to 175℃.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer in another large mixing bowl, or a stand mixer, whisk the butter with the sugar until it reaches a smooth consistency.
Add the chia mixture, vanilla extract and food colouring, and stir for another 30 seconds.
Gently sieve in the flour mixture until the batter is smooth.
Line a mini cupcake baking tray with some mini cupcake liners or if your baking tray is nonstick, you can use it without it.
Fill all the cupcake moulds ⅔ of the way, and bake for about 15 minutes. You can check when it’s done by poking a toothpick through it. If it comes out clear, it’s ready. If it comes out from the centre of your cupcake with batter still stuck to it, it needs some more time to bake.
Once it’s fully baked, take it out of the oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes.
Line the cream cheese frosting on the top and sprinkle with some Halloween sprinkles.

For the cream cheese frosting

Whisk all the ingredients together using an electric mixer or a stand mixer.
Set this in the fridge before you use it. This helps keep the butter from melting and the mixture getting too soft for frosting.

The post 3 Easy Halloween Recipes: Treats Your Kids Will Love appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Easy Halloween Face Paint Looks To Create At Home

Jesa Mae Amparo — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 22:00:46 +0000

Get creative with your Halloween face paint and help transform the kids this Halloween! It might just be the easiest way to add some extra oomph to your costume.

Halloween is just around the corner (can you believe it’s that time of the year again?)! If you’ve left things until the last minute or are still desperately looking through your phone for some Halloween face paint inspiration, then look no further. Create these DIY-Halloween looks for the littles, we’ve even included step-by-step instructions for you to follow along!

Halloween Face Paint — Spider

This look only requires black and white face paint- so is perfect if you have limited colours in your kit. You’ll also need a sponge and a small brush. Always remember to rinse your brush with water before switching colours to prevent them from mixing.

Begin by creating the spider’s web. Wet your white paint with water from a spray bottle and use a small tapered brush to swirl and mix the paint and water together. Once you have a smooth consistency, use the brush to draw diagonal lines from the temple to the cheek.

Repeat three more times, with each new line equidistant from each other.
With the same brush and white paint, create the backward letter “Cs” in between the diagonal lines. And there you have your web!
Next, clean your brush and use it to pick up some black paint to begin the outline of the spiders. First, draw an oval on the cheek with enough distance from the web. Repeat ovals on the other cheek or wherever you prefer. You can get creative by alternating the size and number of spiders you draw!

Fill in the ovals with the black paint and use quick outward flicking motions around the edges to give the spider some fuzz. Just remember to leave some space at the top centre for you to add eyes later.
Add eight pointed legs to each body.

For the face of the spider, use white paint to draw two circles on top of each body – these will be the eyes. Then, once this paint is dry, use some black to draw on smaller circles for the iris. Then outline the eyes and add some eyebrows.
Complete the look with small white lines for the mouth and fangs!

Halloween Face Paint — Zombie

For this look, you’ll need a sponge, a small brush and some green, brown, red, purple, black and white paint.

Start with the base by picking up some green paint on your brush. Then outline an oval across the top half of the face to form the zombie’s head.

Fill in the outline, using the same colour, with your sponge.
To give the zombie a slightly muddy look, clean your sponge and dab it into some brown paint. Wipe the excess colour off on a towel and add several spots onto the face. Repeat these steps using the colour purple.
Then use your brush, and the same purple colour, to give your zombie some bags under its eyes.

Now mix some red and white paint together to create a pink colour, and use this to paint a cloud-like shape (this will be its brain) anywhere on top of the zombie’s head.

Then use your small brush and some red and black paint to create little scar stitches along the face, by drawing one long line with a few short lines across it. Also, use the small brush and black paint to outline everything and add some detail to the brain.

To clean up the look, continue to use the small brush to draw on some angry eyebrows. Don’t forget the mouth, which sits on the nose (so that your kids can still eat Halloween gummies without messing up their look!), by drawing on a frown and using white paint to create some crooked teeth!

Halloween Face Paint — Sugar Skull

You can use any colours you choose for this look – we used red, yellow, white, blue and black. Again you’ll need a sponge and a small brush, plus a slightly thicker, tapered brush.

Begin by outlining the eye socket with yellow. Don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be a perfect circle – start from the inner brow, drawing diagonally upwards (following the shape of your kid’s eyebrows). At the end of the eyebrows, draw around the outer socket and then curve into the inner corner of the eye, before finally drawing upwards to close the outline of the socket.

Repeat on the other side by mirroring this method. Then use your sponge to paint the whole face white (outside the eye sockets).
Now it’s time to create some flower petals around the eye, so load up your denser, tapered brush with red paint and dip the tip into a darker colour like black. Now you have a brush with two colours.

Test this next step on your arm to practice first! Start lightly from the tip of the brush (placing it along the yellow socket outline) and gradually push down until your brush is flat. This will create a petal shape! Repeat this step all along the yellow outline around both eye sockets.

Next, decorate the white space on the forehead and cheeks. For the forehead we made spiderwebs (using the same technique as in the spider look above), except begin the webs from the top centre of the hairline, drawing straight down to a middle point above the eyebrows. Draw five of these lines in black to meet at the same mid-point and then repeat with blue, before drawing upward facing “Cs” in between the gaps
Now using your small brush and black paint, start from one corner of the mouth and draw a line curving slightly upwards. Repeat on other side and add a few short paint strokes across, leaving some space in between to mimic skull teeth.

Add some black nostrils to the bridge of the nose and draw a half flower on the chin (we used blue for this and outlined in black). Finish off the look with some red face paint or lipstick on the lips!

Halloween Face Paint — Half Skull

You’ll just need some white and black paint for this look, as well as your sponge and a small brush.

Begin by outlining the skull shape (as in the photo below). With white paint on your brush, draw a line across starting from the front forehead, then curve slightly inwards at the temple and outwards again at the cheekbones (like a “C” shape). Continue the line back across the check to reach the nose and down to meet the corner of the upper lip. That’s the hardest part done! You can easily erase any mistakes with a wet towel if needed.

Then mix together some white paint with a little bit of black to make grey. Use this to lightly outline the eye socket, and fill in with your sponge.
Clean your sponge before dipping into the white paint and filling in the rest of the skull shape.

Create a nasal hole with your brush and some black paint, drawing on a teardrop shape.

Now you just need to outline the skull with black (i.e. the outer skull, eye sockets and teeth).
Make your skull look a little more scary by drawing on browbones that look like diagonal “S” shapes, right above the eye sockets and your child’s natural eyebrows.

To add some extra detail, add on cracks wherever you please! Just create messy jagged lines that look like roots.
You can easily turn this into a full skull look by mirroring the above steps on the other side.

The post Easy Halloween Face Paint Looks To Create At Home appeared first on Sassy Mama.

5 DIY Kids’ Halloween Costumes (That Won’t Break The Bank!)

Sassy Mama — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:00:56 +0000

It’s that spooky time of year again and we’re pulling out all the stops when it comes to our Halloween costumes. Dressing to impress doesn’t have to cost the earth and it’s amazing what you can achieve with a little styling, what’s already in your wardrobe and a few props!

It’s no secret that we love the opportunity to coordinate outfits with the kids. You can be certain that we’re looking for the best events in town to spotlight our show-stopping creative ensembles. This year, wear your costumes to Island Shangri-La for a weekend full of Halloween fun and stand a chance to win some amazing prizes, including a grand prize worth over $100,000! Now, as much as we want to claim these great prizes for ourselves, in the interest of fair competition we’d like you Sassy Mamas to bring your A-game as you walk your family along the glitz and glamour of the Orange Carpet. So we’d like to help brainstorm a few DIY kids’ Halloween costume ideas…

Sassy Mama Tip: Don’t forget to consider your choice of face mask with your Halloween costume! You might like to keep it on theme or add a few artistic touches.

DIY Halloween Costume — Butterfly

It’s amazing what you can do with a little facepaint and carefully selected clothing items! For this DIY Halloween costume you’ll need:

Bright and colourful clothes
Butterfly wings — pick these up from costume shops or get crafty with your kids by making your own following these instructions
Face paint — This is where this costume comes together! Use bright colours and geometric patterns to complement your wings

DIY Halloween Costume — Bank Robbers

We love that both these DIY costume ideas are gender-neutral and can be adapted for all family members (perfect to enter the Best Family Team category at the Island Shangri-La Best Dressed Contest).

The Bank Robber is the ultimate easy-to-achieve Halloween costume! All you need is:

A black and white striped t-shirt
A beanie/ wool hat
An eye-mask — make your own using felt or cardboard with elastic attached

Sassy Mama Tip: Complete the look by drawing $$$ on a canvas bag (this could double as their trick-or-treat bag!). For a family version, parents could dress as police officers trying to catch their little thieves!

DIY Halloween Costume — Skeletons

With just a few strategic snips of the scissors and you’ve got yourself a junior skeleton! You’ll need:

A white undershirt
An old black t-shirt — We suggest marking out the rib holes using tailor’s chalk before making your cuts
Black and white facepaint — Start with a white base covering the entire face, followed by a black around the entire eyes and nose. Finish it off with black lines for the teeth

Sassy Mama Tip: You could also use fabric paint to draw your own skeleton on black clothing!

DIY Halloween Costume — Pirates

Another fun costume to match your mini. To achieve this look you’ll need:

Blue and white striped t-shirt
Blue square scarf — Simply fold your scarf diagonally to create a large triangle, drape it around the neck and secure with a white ribbon (or tie in a knot)
Pirate hat — Head to the costume shops or market lanes to pick up a hat (and maybe a sword!), or get crafty by making your own
Black eyeliner/ facepaint — Add a few scars to the face and arms and you’re ready to go

DIY Halloween Costume — Day Of The Dead

Off the success of Disney’s Coco, adding some colour to your skeletons is becoming a popular way to add a bright touch to your kids’ Halloween costumes. Get the look:

Colourful clothes
Flower necklaces — Pick these up from the market lanes
Props — Balloons with marker skull drawings (be prepared with backups in case of breakages), mini hats (made out of paper cups and plates with a few pompoms) and other photo props of your choice.

Halloween Best Dressed Contest At Island Shangri-La

Let’s talk prizes! There are seven categories in this year’s contest — Best Family Team, People’s Choice (judged by the most likes on Instagram), Most Original, Most Creative, Best Dressed Villain and Most Huggable (kids category).

The Grand Prize for Best Overall Costume is valued at over $100,000 and includes the ultimate Christmas staycation with a 2-night stay in Island Shangri-La’s Presidential Suite, an exclusive in-suite dinner curated by Executive Chef Uwe Opocensky for up to eight guests (OMG amazing!), lunch at the Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant Summer Palace, $1,000 spending credits at the hotel’s Christmas Market, Christmas amenities and customised stockings, a Santa Sweet Shop experience as well as daily breakfast and a round-trip limousine transfer.

Other prizes include stays at Shangri-La Singapore (a tried and tested Sassy Mama favourite!) and Shangri-La Bangkok, as well as Christmas staycations at Island Shangri-La and Kowloon Shangri-la, dining and shopping vouchers.

When: Saturday, 29 October; 3pm to 7pm including the award ceremony; remember to pop into the hotel lobby before 6pm to enter the contest!
How Much: Free to enter

Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2877 3838, Instagram: @islandshangrila, hongkong@shangri-la.com, www.shangri-la.com/hongkong/islandshangrila/best-dressed-contest

The post 5 DIY Kids’ Halloween Costumes (That Won’t Break The Bank!) appeared first on Sassy Mama.