17 spectacular things to do this weekend

Featuring the EU Film Festival, Stars on Ice, Cirque du Soleil and more

You may be freezing your butt off this weekend, but that's no excuse for staying indoors. With plenty of film screenings, parties, food events and stage productions going down over the next few days, it's time to put on your scruffiest Christmas jumper and get out there!

THINGS TO DO

Stars on Ice

Capital Indoor Stadium. Fri 15-Sat 16. 180-1,080RMB

Performing in Beijing over two nights, head to Capital Indoor Stadium as ice skating legends Evgeni Plushenko, Jeremy Abbott, Miki Ando, Adelina Sotnikova and more take to the ice in a dazzling display of grace and athleticism.

Farm to Neighbors' Christmas market

The Grand Summit. Sat 16-Sun 17. Free

Left your Christmas shopping to the last minute? Then head to the Farm to Neighbors' Christmas market. With more than 50 hand-picked vendors and regular local producers selling their wares, this market features plenty of handmade and eco-friendly products that are perfect for giving away as gifts.

Christmas Hams: Comedy Club China's Holiday Stand-Up Spectacular

Salud (Fangzhuanchang hutong). Sat 16. 75RMB (includes free drink and raffle ticket)

Trade your ho ho ho's for some ha ha ha's by joining Comedy Club China and some of Beijing's funniest, and jolliest comedians for a night of Santa-sized belly laughs, drinks and some Christmas giveaways. As a special gift, old CCC favourite from Shanghai Josh Tyas returns to his old stomping grounds for one night only.

FOOD AND DRINK

Jing A's Ugly Sweater Christmas Party

Jing A Brewpub Xingfucun. Sat 16. Free

On Saturday 16 December, rock your favorite holiday sweater at Jing A Brewpub to enjoy an all-night happy hour on our beers and cocktails on tap. If you don't actually own a mothballed holiday sweater in your closet, Tiger Vintage Store will also be holding a pop-up holiday sweater market between 4 to 8pm, with prices from 100 to 200RMB.

Arcade (by Hatchery) Launch Party

Arcade. Fri 15. 100RMB (from 7-9:30pm); Free (after 9:30pm)

Join Hatchery in celebrating the launch of Arcade in Guomao, home to two of their most popular dining concepts – Common Burger and Canteen. They've got a bunch planned, including games, giveaways, drink specials, plenty of food, tunes from Club Paradise and more.

NIGHTLIFE

Timmy Trumpet

Sir Teen. Fri 15. Tickets tbc

Currently ranked number 43 on the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs list, Australian house DJ and producer Timmy Trumpet's fairly unusual in the world of electronic music. Previously on course to become an alumni of the Sydney Conservatorium Of Music until his expulsion, Timmy's developed a style which falls halfway between live instrumentation (that's where the trumpet comes in) and a traditional DJ set.

Louisahhh

Dada. Fri 15. 80RMB

New York techno doyenne heads to Beijing for a dancefloor-friendly night at Dada. 'Deep, dark, and sexy' is how she describes her sound, one which has manifested in releases on Bromance and her own RAAR imprint, which she says is a 'techno label for punk-rockers'.

MUSIC

Louis Hayes

Blue Note. Fri 15-Sat 16. 400RMB

Legendary drummer Louis Hayes was surrounded by music at an early age and received his first set of drums at the tender age of ten. His latest endeavour, Serenade for Horace, is a tribute to his friend and mentor Horace Silver. It marks Hayes' debut as a leader on Blue Note Records and has been nominated for six Grammy awards.

Sixi

Yugong Yishan. Fri 15. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale)

Formed in 2014, Sixi is a four-piece band that emerged from Nanking's indie-rock scene. Blending Britpop, funk, electronica and garage into one trippy sound, Sixi have been lauded by critics for 'refreshing Nanking rock scene's 20-year period of sadness and hardship with a brand new sense'. High praise indeed.

STAGE

The Producers

Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre. Dec 13-26. 280-1,280RMB

Impoverished by a string of flops, New York producer Max Bialystock recruits timid accountant Leo Bloom to help him pull off Broadway’s greatest scam. They aim to produce the worst show ever and run away with millions, however they soon learn that showbiz can kick you in the teeth. Based on Mel Brooks' much loved Oscar-winning movie, The Producers is a hilarious musical comedy that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards and three Olivier Awards.

Cirque du Soleil: Kooza

Chaoyang Park. Dec 16-24. 380-1,980RMB

A return to Cirque du Soleil's origins, Kooza combines acrobatic performance with the art of clowning, while exploring fear, identity, recognition and power. Written and directed by David Shiner, a former Cirque du Soleil clown, Kooza is an enthralling circus spectacle featuring jaw-dropping feats and theatrical ingenuity.

Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra

NCPA. Sun 17. 260-600RMB

Join one of the world's most illustrious orchestras as they're lead by acclaimed British conductor James Judd and accompanied by Chinese-Canadian pianist Tim Zhang in a programme that includes Mozart's Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Rossini's Overture to William Tell and Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite No. 1, Op. 71A.

ART

Andres Serrano: an American Perspective

Red Brick Contemporary Art Museum. Nov 23-Feb 25. 60RMB; 40RMB (concessions)

Known for his often controversial photography, Andres Serrano has earned high esteem from the art world and the public alike. In this, his first exhibition in China, Serrano presents photographs from across his three-decade career, from photos taken in morgues, to religious subjects, to undesirables.

Red Gate on the Move

Red Gate Gallery. Dec 5-31. Free

Red Gate Gallery has been in Beijing for more than 26 years and was one of the very first private commercial art galleries in China. After calling the iconic Dongbianmen Watchtower in Guomao home for the last 20 years, it will move to a prime new location in 798 this month. Its final show at the old spot features some of the most important artists that the gallery has worked with over the last two decades.

FILM

The best of the EU Film Festival 2017

Institut Francais. Dec 13-22. 50RMB

For those of you who missed out on catching films from the EU Film Festival back in October, Institut Francais is currently screening a curated list of some of the top films from this year's festival, including Anthropoid, Ismael's Ghosts, King of the Belgians and more.

Paddington 2

On general release until Dec 29

A follow-up to the 2014 film, Paddington 2 follows our beloved marmalade-munching bear as he sets out to prove his innocence after being accused of stealing a valuable childrens' pop-up book. Filled with plenty of hilarious gags, this brightly coloured romp through London is tremendously sweet-natured and charming – and arguably even better than the original.

Loving Vincent

On general release until Dec 17

Part mystery, part visual experiment, Loving Vincent is a reverent ode to iconic 19th century painter Vincent van Gogh. The world’s first fully painted film, this beautifully animated affair was inspired by his greatest works of art, from Starry Night to Sunflowers.

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