Mark your calendar for this week's essential events in Beijing

Photo: Jing A

Shopping, boozing, and more 

We're getting well into December, meaning that Beijing's got more Christmas events than you can wave a candy cane at. For those of you who can't bear to celebrate that yet, there's still plenty of going on that doesn't involve tinsels and eggnog (but why fight it?).

Run while you drink at Jing A's festive beer dash   

Photo: Jing A

Beer Mile and Ugly Sweat Christmas Party. Jing A Taproom (Longfusi). Sat 14. 3pm-late. 88RMB

Halloween might be over but Jing A's booze-soaked Beer Mile is staying for a special Christmas edition. Get ready to run for four quarter-mile laps around Longfusi, while downing a full cup of beer at the start of every lap and trying not to chuck up your guts, of course. As usual, Prizes and glory await the first three men and women to cross the line. 

Registration will grant you a spot in the race, four beers and a Santa hat. After the run, stick around for their Ugly Sweater Xmas Party. Those who rock their mothballed holiday sweaters can claim a free cinnamon fried dough and deals on their Red Lantern IPA and Black Velvet Vanilla Stout. 

Find rare gems at these Beijing markets 

Photo: The Hutong

Christmas Markets in Beijing. Various venues and times.

Searching for gift ideas or just an excuse to drink lots of mulled wine with friends in the name of festivity? Don't miss the handful of Christmas markets going down in Beijing this week. Pretend it's a snowy scene of Yuletide out there, and eat, drink and shop till you drop with our guide here. 

Photo: El Nido

A to Zine Indie Publishers’ Fair. El Nido at the Other Place. Sat 14. Noon-7pm. FREE

For non-Christmas finds, huddle up in El Nido's cosy hutong courtyard and browse through dozens of locally made zines and quirky art, with plenty of mulled wine to warm you up. Expect to see indie magazines, fiction zines, fanzines, comics, street art, and more. 

Let your creative juices flow at these workshops 

Aotu Space. Sat 14. 8-10pm.60RMB/50RMB adv

Hosted by Beijing literary collective Spittoon, Urban Fragments is a collaborative event that combines poetry with music and visual art. Come and get your snapping fingers ready for poetry pieces by a versatile line-up of Beijing creatives, including everything from words that ride down the street in Beijingers’ orange shared bike, to stanzas that come alive in a Didi driver’s spit.

Drink and Draw. Modernista. Every Tue. 9pm-late. FREE

Let your art loose with a little bit of booze with Modernista's weekly drawing sessions that features music, live performances, and a chance to win drinks. A fun and creative pencil-to-paper session, bring your talent and your pen to draw with a drink in hand under this week’s theme: Dario Argento's classic cult film Suspiria. 

Photo: Cultural Keys

Christmas Gourd Painting Workshop. Cultural Keys. Sat 14. 2-5pm. 228RMB

Looking for alternative Christmas decor ideas that don't involve plastic baubles? How about making your own with a Chinese twist? Come and join Cultural Key’s upcoming workshop, where you’ll paint on Chinese gourds, which are thought to signify good fortune and all things auspicious - just what Christmas is all about, right?

Chill out at these gigs

Photo: 247 Tickets

 Indigo La End. Omni Space. Thu 12. 8.30pm-late. 280RMB/200RMB adv

Catch Japanese rock band Indigo La End at Omni Space. Led by vocalist and songwriter Enon Kawatani, they released their debut EP in 2012 with independent label Space Shower Records, and were later signed by Warner sub-label Unborde. Bringing their fifth album Nureyuku Shishousetsu to Beijing, join them for a night of chilled out, funky tunes.

Photo: 247 Tickets

Luke Thompson. Omni Space. Sun 15. 8.30pm-late. 280RMB/180RMB adv. 

Join Kiwi folk singer-songwriter Luke Thompson for an intimate night as he brings his soothing acoustic sound to Beijing. After announcing a hiatus following a weary life on the road, the self-managed artist found an unexpected re-entry into music as he found himself instinctively fixing up an old guitar one night. Catch his soft voice and narrative-like lyrics in Omni Space this weekend. 

Dance yourself clean at these nightlife events

Rezz. One Third. Fri 13. 10pm-late. 150RMB adv

Rezz is the moniker of Isabelle Rezazadeh, a Canadian DJ-producer from Ontario. Born and raised in Ukraine and moved to Canada at a young age, Rezz discovered music and fell in love in EDM. Beginning her DJ career at the age of 16, Rezz has since attracted the attention of stars such as Skrillex and Deadmau5. Catch the talented self-taught DJ at One Third.

BNJMN. Lantern. Sat 14. 10.30pm-late. 80RMB/50RMB

After eight years and 20 releases or more, on acclaimed labels like Rush Hour, Delsin and Tresor, Berlin-based British DJ BNJMN has a knack for making music that both stands out and works on the dance floor. Having grown into one of the most unique DJ’s on the scene for his ambient, hypnotic, sci-fi techno sound, he'll make his Beijing debut spinning at Lantern this weekend.

You might have missed

More from Time Out Beijing