For the fourth consecutive year, a patriotic carnival is being held in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park on the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown , the former site of a traditional commemorative candlelit vigil. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP & Todd Darling/HKFP. The fourth Hometown Market Carnival – jointly organised by Hong Kong’s 30 provincial hometown associations – opened on Wednesday for a five-day run at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, state-controlled Wen Wei Po reported .
The carnival features 370 booths showcasing Chinese specialities and performances, though it requires visitors to undergo security checks before entering the venue. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Thursday marks the 37th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The Tiananmen crackdown occurred on June 4, 1989, ending months of student-led demonstrations in China. It is estimated that hundreds, perhaps thousands, died when the People’s Liberation Army cracked down on protesters in Beijing. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Before the enactment of the Beijing-imposed national security law, a large-scale candlelit vigil was hosted at Victoria Park every year on the evening of June 4. Members of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement would remember the dead, as well as call for the democratisation of China and justice for the victims. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. On Wednesday, the eve of the 37th anniversary, HKFP saw police surround two performance artists , who attempted to stage subtle performances in Causeway Bay near to the park. Hong Kong artist Sanmu Chan was stopped and searched by police in Causeway Bay on June 3, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Artist Chan Mei-tung was stopped and searched by police after appearing in Causeway Bay with a question mark-shaped balloon on June 3, 2026 – the eve of the Tiananmen crackdown anniversary. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Meanwhile, on the same day, Hong Kong’s officials and lawmakers visited Victoria Park to endorse the patriotic event. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan appeared at the opening ceremony of the carnival. The No. 2 official said that the event boosted “love for hometowns,” as well as local consumption, Orange News reported . Hong Kong lawmakers visited the patriotic carnival at Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. Photo: Starry Lee, via Facebook page. Starry Lee, president of the Legislative Council (LegCo), led over 50 lawmakers to the carnival on Wednesday afternoon. On her Facebook page, Lee praised the event for not only showcasing Chinese specialities, but also boosting the local economy and enhancing exchanges between Hong Kong and mainland China.
However, some exhibitors cited hot weather when complaining that foot traffic at the carnival was down by 30 per cent compared to last year, HK01 reported . A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. In June 2020, Hong Kong police banned the Tiananmen vigil gathering at Victoria Park for the first time in 30 years, citing Covid-19 restrictions. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The force imposed the same ban in 2021, nearly a year after the national security law came into effect.
In 2023, a group of 26 hometown associations booked Victoria Park to host the patriotic carnival on the anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown for the first time. A five-day patriotic food carnival is held in Victoria Park on June 3, 2026. The park was once the site of vigils to remember those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which organised the vigils, disbanded in September 2021 after several of its members were arrested.
A Hong Kong court is now hearing a landmark trial of the Alliance and two vigil leaders , Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan. They are accused of “inciting subversion” under the national security law, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years behind bars. Another vigil leader – Albert Ho – pleaded guilty when the trial opened in January .