Block parties may have taken a backseat the past few months, but it looks like the engine is being fired up again, starting with the Rasa Fiesta Singapura Block Party on Jiak Chuan Road, happening on Jul 15. For a while, block parties became a thing last year with one happening almost every month. They’re like festivals—all the great vibes, delicious food and drinks, silly dancing and banging tunes, minus the overcrowding, restrictions and all the issues that come along with them. Singapore really knows how to have a bit of fun, even in our sweltering climate.
Prior to the bash, local importer and distributor of spirits (with a special focus on rum) Destination Beverage is also organizing the first edition of Rasa Fiesta Singapura, a week-long rum festival (Jul 10-14) that will celebrate the lifestyle and culture of the Caribbean and South America. With numerous venue partners along Keong Saik and Jiak Chuan like Sugarhall, Vasco, Potato Head and Lime House, you can go on a trail to sip on specially crafted cocktails that best reflect and honor each venue’s house rum brand (we’re talking Abuelo, Appleton Estate and Sailor Jerry, just to name a few).
There’s even a map you can follow (get it at any of the participating venues), and each time you purchase one of these special cocktails, you’ll get a stamp—similar to those bubble tea loyalty cards of yesteryears. Once you’ve collected five stamps, you can redeem prizes and coupons (for the block party), and even a one-night staycay at Swissotel Merchant Court.
The festival then culminates at the day-to-night block party on Jiak Chuan, where the entire street gets turned into a smorgasbord of color, music and bright lights. Participating outlets Lime House and Phat Cat Laundry will come out to play as they offer their own tropical concoctions, limbo games, beer pong, workshops, music and nosh by Mexican, Brazilian, Argentinena and French Caribbean food vendors (yes, Senor Taco will be there).
