What's Happening: Mark Your Calendars With the Best Beijing October Events

In What's Happening we round up some of the most notable Beijing events for the coming month – dig in and let loose!
 

Oct 11-21: Rent

Over 20 years since its opening on Broadway, the iconic New York musical now comes to Beijing’s Capital Theatre, laying bare the lives of seven East Village artists struggling to make ends meet in the late ‘80s in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic.
 

Oct 19: Wednesday Campanella

Huh? What is J-pop? Is it like K-pop? Yes, but skewed more into the manic-pixie-fairy vibe and significantly less on the cutesie side. The Japanese trio Wednesday Campanella has set out to take the international stage with their mix of EDM, J-Pop, and hip-hop. Don't forget a wide pallet of colors and free-dancing. We may or may not have doctored lead singer Kom_I to be indulging in some pizza up top.
 

Oct 20-Nov 3: European Film Festival

European Union Film Festival is bringing award-winning and internationally acclaimed films from UK, Italy, Poland, Latvia, France, and other parts of Europe. The festival has spread across seven cities this year and Beijing screenings are scheduled for MOMA Broadway Cinematique. The online ticketing is expected to start soon, however, the tickets are always for sale in the venue before the screening. You can check out the schedule and movies on offer via their Weibo (in Chinese). 
 

Oct 21: The Fratellis

The great Glaswegian trio The Fratellis (who actually share a surname Fratelli. Not that you can't change your surname) are bringing their famous "Chelsea Dagger" with a sing-along chorus to Beijing's stage. Having won Best British Breakthrough Act in 2007 and Best British Band in 2008 the band is continuing on a path of the indie-rock of mid-2000s.
 

Oct 25: Sam Smith

Who knew sadness could sound so sweet? Chart-topping British pop star Sam Smith has built a career from belting out weepy, catchy fare, and now he’s set to crank open the waterworks in China’s capital. Fans at his Cadillac Center concert will surely be rendered teary-eyed by smash hits like “Stay With Me” and “Too Good at Goodbyes”. Wishful thinking perhaps but hopefully he’ll bring along some gospel singers to fully realize the famously epic backup vocals on that latter ballad.
 

Oct 26-27: 8x8 China Brewing Project

If there is anything that will get you through the dreaded waiting-for-the-heater-to-be-turned-on period in Beijing, it's beer. And, oh boy, will there be a lot of it in Jing-A orchestrated 8x8 project. With eight Chinese breweries and eight Nordic breweries, the Tonghui river nearby might just fill up with beer instead of the mud water it usually holds. Read more about it in our previous "What's Up in Beer" blog here. 
 

Oct 27: Beijing Flea Market

The cold is seeping through the window cracks and we are desperately looking for indoor activities! While many flea markets sell used goods and antiques, Beijing Flea market gathers the produce from around our fair city. Anything from coffee beans and chutneys, to handmade bags and art, can be acquired in the market.

Looking for more Beijing events? Find absolutely everything happening (well, nearly) in our fine city here.

Images courtesy of Beijing Design Week, CGTN, Van Wezel, Uni You, Capitol Records, Gazeta.pl, itb.co.uk, Dazed