37 awesome things to do in Singapore this September

It’s officially F1 season, and with it September brings an impressive line-up of musical acts and parties, plus novel food and fringe events like a design-centric cycling trail and more. To prevent burn-out, take a break from the partying and head to one of the many film festivals happening throughout the month instead—or just give up and pledge sobriety in October.

PARTY
Lend yourself to a night of trance, progressive-house and electro, as Rotterdam-originated artist Ferry Corsten brings his electronic dance music to Zouk Singapore. Sep 1

FILM
Over 10 days, the Singapore South Asian International Film Festival shines the spotlight on South Asian cinema, showcasing features, short films and documentaries that give insight into the many perspectives of South Asian diaspora. Besides the films, the festival will also be hosting a slew of workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions and live performances at various venues across Singapore. Sep 1-10

CONCERT
Relive the ’90s with Danish pop princes Michael Learns To Rock when they return for a one-night only concert at Singapore Indoor Stadium, as part of their Eternal Asia Tour 2017. Anticipate waves of nostalgia during “Paint My Love”. Sep 2

EXHIBITION
For the last time, enter the whimsical world of Yayoi Kusama at National Gallery Singapore, the first big-scale survey of her work in Southeast Asia. Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow curated by the Gallery’s Russell Storer and Adele Tan, will showcase more than 120 paintings, sculptures, videos and installations spanning over seven decades—some of which have never been shown before. Through Sep 2

FOOD
Chef Jarrett Wrisley of Soul Food Mahanakorn brings his Bangkok influences to Meat Smith in an exclusive kitchen takeover. Expect a menu of tasty Thai comfort food, from Chiangmai sausages to grilled tiger prawns, paired with Meat Smith’s signature smokey flavor for a real hearty treat. Sep 3

CONCERT
Four years on, Symmetry Entertainment is bringing Mew back to Singapore, this time to showcase and promote their latest release, Visuals. Relive the experience of singing along to Mew’s “Comforting Sounds” (as well as other soul-reaching tracks like “Carry Me To Safety” and “Nothingness and No Regrets” from their latest album), in an intimate space at the School of The Arts (SOTA). Sep 3

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ARTS
One of the biggest highlights of this year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) happening this month is definitely not for the faint hearted—My Lai (pronounced mee-lai) is a commemorative music performance of the horrendous massacre of Vietnamese villagers by American soldiers in 1968, based on the heart-wrenching true story of a helicopter pilot and his crew who stepped in to end the violence. Performing the soundtrack are internationally acclaimed Kronos Quartet (known for their work in films like Requiem for a Dream), tenor singer Rinde Eckert and Vietnamese multi instrumentalist Van-Anh Vanessa Vo. Sep 1

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EXHIBITION
Lego has teamed up with the Piece of Peace executive committee (made up of Parco Co. Ltd., Lego Japan and Bau Communications) to showcase the various UNESCO world heritage listed sites built using Lego blocks as part of ASEAN’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Singapore is the first Southeast Asian country to host this once-in-a-lifetime UNESCO world heritage art exhibition. Through Sep 3

FOOD/DRINK
Feast on modern Cantonese and progressive fusion delights at Mitzo, in a specially curated six-course menu collaboration by Chef Nicky Ng of Mitzo and Chef Petrina Loh of Morsels. On the menu are east-meets-west dishes like Gin-cured Red Emperor Snapper and Black Truffle Crispy Roast Duck, which pairs easily with Mitzo’s selection of artisanal cocktails. Sep 8, 9

DRINK
Start your F1 partying early with the Grand Prix Singapore Pub Crawl, which takes revellers through five popular Boat Quay watering holes, and comes complete with Night Race-themed games and prizes at all participating bars. In celebration of the 10^th anniversary of the F1 Night Race, look forward to 10 complimentary shots and extended happy hours too. Sep 8, 9, 15, 16

FOOD
One of 10 bespoke brunches organized as part of the 1-Group’s License To Brunch, Bee’s Knees at The Garage presents The Perfect Pit Stop, a smartly curated menu of F1-inspired dishes. Look forward to race-themed, all-day brunch favorites like Traffic Light Pancakes and Monochrome Linguine. Sep 8-17

FESTIVAL
Indulge in all things Thai at The Finest Thai festival, which combines food, crafts, fashion, design and living in a three-day lifestyle festival happening along Orchard Road. Organized by the Royal Thai Embassy. Sep 8-10

SPORT/ART
Cycling doesn’t have to be mundane, especially not during Design Circuit, a novel cycling trail taking riders through the city’s most creative pit stops. Co-organized by Naiise and oBike, the 2km-trail consists of 10 curated stops chosen for their strong design influence in one or more of the following fields: retail, architecture, craft, art and food—and stretches from Orchard Road to Marina Bay. Sep 9

CONCERT
American emo band from Florida, Dashboard Confessional, makes their Singaporean stop as a full band, at D’Marquee @ Downtown East. All is well with the band—besides the six studio albums in their arsenal, they’ve also released a new single in April this year with electronic producer nothing.nowhere, as well as a four-track EP titled Covered and Tape. Sep 9

DRINK
Beerfest Asia may have come and gone, but the brew-based festivities continue at iBrew Challenge 2017, now in its 11^th edition. The annual event sees local homebrewers come together to put their hops to the test and fight it out for Best of Show. Come thirsty—there will be more than 70 kegs of free-flow beers on-site. Sep 9

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CONVENTION
Singapore’s very own Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention (STGCC) returns to Sands Expo and Convention Center to celebrate 10 years of awesome games, toys and comics. On the line-up are renowned illustrator and animator Hiro Kanzaki, fan favorite and Marvel comic book artist Adi Granov (the Iron Man: Extremis series), and Italian rising DC comics artist Mirka Andolfo (Wonder Woman, Ms. Marvel, and Green Arrow). Sep 9-10

COMEDY
After a series of successful shows like “Renew My Visa”, top Berlin Comedian Captain Khalid is making a stop at Blu Jaz Cafe on his tour to live-film his new special called “I Think I Am Single“. Sep 12

PARTY
French multi-instrumentalist FKJ (real name Vincent Fenton) takes over Kilo Lounge for a sensual set of dance and electronic grooves with DJ Jeck Hyde. Sep 13

STYLE
Watch Singapore’s iconic heritage site Lau Pa Sat transform into a fashion runway as part of a Heineken F1 line-up. The Heineken F1 fashion show will feature local models Sheila Sim, Hanli Hoefer and Jason Godfrey strut looks from homegrown design talents, a live mannequin performance and a VIP entrance by former racer David Coulthard. Sep 13

EXHIBITION
Objectifs presents yet another joint exhibition, this time by Exactly Foundation resident artists Tom White and Kelvin Lim. White examines notions of cultural policy and the ‘kampung spirit’ in the Waterloo Centre community in his exhibit Rhetorical Territories; Lim explores caregiving for the elderly in a photo exhibit titled Who Cares? Sep 14-24

PARTY
Lepark extends its Rooftop Hangs Series with a night of jazz on the roof. Melt away into the night with spontaneous jazz melodies by 4-piece jazz band Sound of Life, city lights and special deals from the bar all night long. Sep 15

CONCERT
For the tenth edition of the F1 Singapore Grand Prix, the organizers are pulling out all the stops with not one, but five international acts bringing full-length concerts to this year’s entertainment lineup. Headlining acts include pop darling Ariana Grande and EDM duo The Chainsmokers, both making their first appearances in Singapore, plus pop-rock band OneRepublic, 80s synth pop sensation Duran Duran, English singer-songwriter Seal and Scottish EDM DJ-producer Calvin Harris. Soulful female multi-instrumentalist Lianne La Havas and British spoken word performer and rapper George the Poet will be taking the stage as well. Sep 15-17

MARKET
For a specially curated music merch shopping experience, head to Tribe x Music Market at Kilo Lounge, where you can swap your pre-loved vinyl with fellow music-lovers and collectors in the presence of quality tunes. Select stalls will also be on hand to sell physical releases from Singaporean music labels, collectives and record enthusiasts and stores. Sep 16

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FILM
The second edition of Singapore Eco Film Festival, a series of thought-provoking films, hands-on workshops and compelling talks, returns to ArtScience Museum. All nine films headlining at the festival this year are Singapore premieres, and they are categorized under three themes (one for each festival day): Ocean, Consumed and Rise Up. The first day will see the screening of award-winning film Chasing Coral, while films on day two revolve around how our eating habits affects our environment, with Philip Waller’s Extinction Soup taking centerstage. The last day will showcase anecdotes of citizens who have stepped up to protect and conserve the environment, screening the festival’s closing film, Landfill Harmonic. Admission is free for all events. Sep 1-3

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FOOD/PARTY
Sunday pop-up party series Ice Cream Sundays is back, with a space disco-themed bonanza at DECK Gallery. The outdoor event will feature food and drinks, a market, and a line-up of DJs including special guest DJs MyHero and Daryl C, to bring tracks worthy of an out-of-this-world disco. Sep 17

CONCERT
After the F1 weekend, slow things down with English indie folk singer-songwriter Lucy Rose. With three studio albums under her belt, she’ll be screening the accompanying documentary to her latest album, Something’s Changing, at her Lucy Rose Cinema Tour at The Projector. Sep 18

THEATER
There may not be Shakespeare in the Park this year, but in its place a viable alternative has sprung: Shakespeare in the Garden, with a tongue-in-cheek version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream set against the picturesque Black & White House Garden in Alexandra Park. Picnic fare and blankets still very much welcome here. Sep 21

FOOD
An inaugural collaboration between Resorts World Singapore and SAVOUR, the Great Food Festival brings together the region’s best culinary and lifestyle trends, with over 100 signature dishes and 300 desserts from Michelin-starred and award-winning restaurants. Happening at Resorts World Sentosa, the three-day festival comprises complimentary celebrity chef masterclasses and hands-on workshops too. Sep 21-24

PARTY
Grammy-nominated Sebastian Ingrosso of Swedish House Mafia fame turns up the heat at Zouk Singapore with his fire trance and electronic hits. Sep 22

FESTIVAL
Celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival amongst flora and fauna at Mid-Autumn @ Gardens by the Bay, set up with sprawling lantern displays amidst a lush garden setting. Stroll through extravagant lantern sets in both the indoor and outdoor exhibits, or simply enjoy the nightly cultural performances, a food street featuring Asian delights, and craft booths offering activities like lantern decorating and umbrella painting. Sep 22-Oct 8

SPORT
The Happiest 5K is back—this time at night. For Color Run 2017, participants wear a black light headlamp to capture the UV reactive powder during the color throws, glowing color zones and the night attractions throughout the entire neon course. Sep 23

EXHIBITION
The Substation asks all the tough questions with Discipline The City, a three-act exhibition exploring the politics of space, control and access in Singapore, through a series of experiential installations from local and international artists. Be prepared to leave disillusioned and wondering: who really owns the city? Through Sep 24

FOOD
Here’s one for the carnivores: Everyone’s favorite meat buffet restaurant The Carvery beefs up their menu with the return of the Great Meat Feast, featuring a new-and-improved, international line-up of pork cuts and beef carvings. Sep 27-Oct 22

FOOD
Shuck away at Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar’s self-proclaimed Oysters Festival, which will roll out the finest oysters from the French ocean, including the Grand Cru de France, a vintage, special deep-cupped oyster that’s earned the title “Royal Oyster”.Other signature oyster varieties that will be available include oyster La Royale N1, La Royale N3, Wild oyster N3 and Fine Selection, with prices starting at $5. Sep 28-Oct 31

CONCERT
Two-time Grammy Award-winner Gregory Porter returns as part of the Singapore International Jazz Festival, this performance at the Capitol Theatre marking his first solo appearance in Singapore. Since his last set here in 2014, Porter has performed at The White House, and received two Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Sep 29

FOOD
The popular Singapore Restaurant Month is now a full-fledged festival. The Restaurant Association of Singapore has brought together more than 200 restaurants across a variety of cuisines that will prepare a locally-inspired dish at their respective eateries for the Singapore Restaurant Festival. Through Sep 30

EXHIBITION
Robots have invaded the ArtScience Museum and everyone’s invited to take a peek at what the future of cybernetics, artificial intelligence and genetic modification might look like at the HUMAN+: The Future of Our Species exhibition. Come with an open mind as you interact with life-like humanoids and find out how robots are already living among us. Through Oct 15