August in Singapore is packed with fun stuff to do, not to mention dozens of National Day events, but we’ve got other reasons for you to be excited, from food festivals, concerts, pop-up markets and LGBT films to even a masquerade party.
SHOPPING
The Orchard Central Food Festival features a curated selection of artisanal vendors selling stuff like wine and chocolate, as well as workshops on cocktail making and demos by professional bartenders. Through Aug 14
FILM
Hot on the heels of Sundays with French Cinema, Cinewa is The Projector’s new Sunday film segment and a prelude to this year’s Japanese Film Festival Singapore 2016. Through Aug 28
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FOOD
National Day is a great time to visit freshly minted, two-Michelin-star Sichuan restaurant Shisen Hanten. Book a table for their special set menu options ($78 for five courses, $88 for six). But if an all-you-can-eat buffet of classic Singaporean dishes is what you’re after, Triple Three buffet restaurant, also at Mandarin Orchard, is doing dishes like sambal skate wing, chilli crab, ngoh hiang and more for their dinner buffet all month as part of its Localicious Hawker Fare promotion.
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DIGITAL
Check out Collision 8, a new co-working space designed specifically for innovators, set to officially open located at High Street Centre, offering sweeping views of Marina Bay Sands and Raffles Place. Aug 1
MUSIC
Prodigious, flowy-tressed British singer Birdy is performing for the first time in Southeast Asia. Prepare for the anthemic “Keeping Your Head Up” and her gorgeous, weep-in-bed cover of Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love”. Tickets here. Aug 2
Singaporean artist Tan Choo Kai has a new collection, National Day Celebration, that’ll showcase his interpretations of natural landscapes and scenery on our fair island at Pan Pacific Singapore’s Public Art Space. Aug 2-Oct 31
Dendang Mutiara
FESTIVAL
Singapore’s Malay Festival of the Arts, Pesta Raya, is back for its 15th edition with a lineup of theatrical, dance, and musical performances by artists from the Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Aug 4-7
MUSIC
British sportswear-slash-streetwear label, Fred Perry, known for their pop-up gigs at alternative locales, will be kicking off their live music series, Subculture Live. Aug 4
MARKET
Head down to the MAAD Pyjamas flea at Red Dot Design Museum to check out the community of artists, designers, crafters and brand owners showcasing their goods, original artworks and fashion creations. Aug 5
PARTY
Good Times is turning eight and they’re featuring MCee Homeboy Sandman (New York) from Stones Throw Records who’ll be headlining the event with a live set and DJs Rah (Darker Than Wax) , Intriguant (SYNDICATE). Aug 5
BOOKS
Have a listen to writer Yeo Wei Wei as she debuts her collection of stories, These Foolish Things & Other Stories. Poet and Sing Lit Prize winner Cyril Wong will also be there moderating the event at BooksActually. Aug 5
Sub-Sonic Live @ The Court on 9 June 2012. Credit: Fred Perry Singapore
CONCERT
Immerse yourself in atmospheric effects and electronic music with Japanese music director Yasuhiro Morinaga as he merges spoken word with the soundscape of Indonesia in his multimedia concert Message from a Medicine Man at The Esplanade. Aug 5
PARTY
Go dancing at CATO’s Leftbank with electronic dance music DJ Jeremy Cheung, house music DJ Jamie React and house-techno DJ Haan. Aug 5
FESTIVAL
Experience life-size versions of games like Jenga, pick-up sticks and more at The Giant Games Festival that’ll be held in The Red Box at *SCAPE. Aug 5-6
FILM
Annual LGBT arts fest IndigNation is having their IndigNation Queer Film Festival over two-days at The Projector. The opening film is Strike a Pose, about gay dancers on Madonna’s controversial “Blonde Ambition” in 1990. Aug 5-6
FESTIVAL
In conjunction with National Day festivities, Esplanade’s Festival Village will have over 50 stalls offering food, art and craft that have been selected by online shopping hub LalooLalang. Aug 5-9
The Projector
SHOPPING
Wheelock Place’s pop-up market OYAY, is back for its second edition with OYAY SinGalore, offering products from local retailers such as accesories, design-y knick-knacks, fashion and food over two days. Aug 6-7
WELLNESS
Starting this month, Let’s Lepak at Mount Faber will be happening on the first Saturday of every month, it’ll be car-free and it’ll host workout sessions, games, performances and various workshops. From Aug 6
CONCERT
Your mom’s favorite American singer Kenny Rogers is making a stop here for his final world tour. Treat your folks to an evening of classics like “The Gambler”, “Lucille” and “Something’s Burning”. $88-228. Aug 6
SHOPPING
Score an original art piece at the Starving Artist Fair’s National Day Edition at *SCAPE, which’ll have local artists and creators selling original works like comics and artworks and you can also take part in some workshops for drawing too. Aug 6
FOOD
The team behind theatrical dining experience AndSoForth is back with their latest interactive dinner sessions The Spy, The Thug, His Wife and Her Lover happening at a secret location. Diners will attempt to break out of “prison”, gather information and escape without blowing their covers. Tickets are at $88 here. Aug 6-Sep 18
AndSoForth
FILM
Celluloid buffs should catch the 1967 Malaysian film Sesudah Suboh by the legendary P Ramlee and 2003 mockumentary The Big Durian by Amir Muhammed, dealing with racial tensions in KL at the National Gallery’s Southeast Asian film series Painting with Light. It’s $10 per film. Aug 6 & 7
PARTY
Sky-high club Altimate is having a Masquerade party with a Carpe Diem theme that’ll end with everyone taking off their masks, but not before letting loose and dancing in your best dresses and suits. Early bird tickets start from $35 (two complimentary drinks). Aug 8
PARTY
Celebrate Zouk’s We the Citizens Fest with a line-up of great music from local and international artists and DJs, along with activities in relation to the film-culture scene held at its warehouse on Jiak Kim. Tickets from $51. Aug 9
EXHIBITION
The National Heritage Board (NHB) travelling exhibition, 50 Years of National Day Parades, which chronicles the event from 1966 to the present day with vintage photographs and eyewitness accounts from participants of years past, will make its way back to its final stop at Kallang Wave. Through Aug 9
FESTIVAL
The Fullerton Hotel is hosting a two-week event highlighting Singapore’s food heritage, The River Hawker Festival, featuring some of Singapore’s popular hawker stalls and diners. Jul 29-Aug 9
River Hakwer Festival
EXPLORATION
Roving on-site art group Urban Sketchers are doing the Esplanade Sketchwalk. Bring your own materials! Aug 9
TALK
Creative types should check out this edition of Overtime at CATO. Titled Stolen Ideas, it will have art on display and a talk about protecting your legal and intellectual property rights when you’re in the creative industry. Aug 11
FILM
Films At The Fort is back at Fort Canning Park and like last year, there will be outdoor screenings of award-winning films, and stalls selling gourmet grub. Aug 11-21
The main segment of the Singapore International Festival of Arts will have highlights which include controversial stage production “Five Easy Pieces” by acclaimed Swiss director Milo Rau, plays like “Everything by My Side” by Fernando Rubio and more. Aug 11-Sep 17
MUSIC
Hubba Bubbas is launching their EP, Amy(gdala) at Aliwal Arts Centre with their pop genre music and lush vibes at their one-night-only party. Aug 12
Films at the Fort, Fort Canning 2015
PARTY
Goodman Arts Centre will be having a Block Party that’ll transform its Blackbox into a art, jamming and performance space for creative enthusiasts. You can either join the audience or showcase your work. Aug 12
BOOKS
BooksActually is hosting the official launch for outspoken Singaporean artist and writer Tania De Rozario’s book, And The Walls Come Crumbling Down. Aug 12
DRINKS
The Epicurean Market returns for its fourth edition at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, featuring 10 celebrity chef restaurants and personalities. It’ll also showcase gourmet produce, handcrafted cocktails and craft beers from all over the world. Aug 12-14
PARTY
Canvas is bringing in Dutch electro producer DJ Icicle, supported by DJs Roy (Canvas) and Senja AKA Nez (Singapore). Pre-sale tickets are going at $22 and come with a drink. Aug 13
Kult Kafe. Photo credit: Shiori
BOOKS
K+ and BooksActually co-launch To You Out There by illustrator Clarice Ng. There’s a letter writing segment that’ll let you bring home an anonymous letter. Don’t forget to grab a Grin Affair jar cake while you’re at it. Aug 13
MUSIC
House and garden bar-and-venue Kult Kafe kicks off its new series Concerts On the Hill, with Cambodian Space Project. Aug 14
FOOD
For their third birthday NOX-Dine in the Dark are inviting 18 top bartenders to join their cocktail party from 8pm to 2am, and they’ll also be serving up gourmet food (which you’ll be able to see) from $20++. Aug 14
CONCERT
Legendary American alt-rock band, Weezer, is back in town, and you can expect one heck of a night, from classics of our time like “Say It Ain’t So”, “Buddy Holly” and “My Name is Jonas” to new material. Tickets are $98-168 from Sistic. Aug 15
CONCERT
Led by vocalist Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco brings a mish-mash of everything from pop, punk, electronica to psychedelic and jazz with new album “Death Of A Bachelor”. Tickets are $98-$148 from Sistic. Aug 16
LITERARY
Centre 42 will be hosting Corrie Tan in the Living Room with Alfian Sa’at as they talk about writerly things. Don’t forget to register. Aug 17
New Balance Run On 2015
FESTIVAL
The annual Singapore Night Festival, held by the National Heritage Board, is back for its ninth edition this year spreading over two weekends, promising a block party on Armenian Street, dazzling projections on heritage buildings and lots more. Aug 19-20, 26-27
TALK
Social change makers and wannabes should check out Apa Ita Activist, an all-day forum at SMU. Join speakers such as journalist and anti death penalty advocate Kirsten Han, historian Thum Pingtjin, arts Kok Heng Leun and other for breakfast and lunch. Tickets available here. Aug 20
SPORTS
Check out GOAL in the DARK at The Cage which lets you play glow in the dark soccer, while regaling you with live music performances, stage activities and street food. Early bird tickets for match participants start from $24.99. Aug 20
SPORTS
Join the upcoming New Balance Run On. Sponsor Wunderbar is promising free craft beers for runners after the 7km race at their NB Pop-up Festival and they’re also having DJ sets by A/K/A (ATTAGIRL!). Tickets at $45. Aug 20
FESTIVAL
Over 40 social enterprises will gather at Timbre+ for the inaugural run of FestivalForGood, a social enterprise festival that’ll feature a huge pop-up market showcasing products by the participating social enterprises, a slew of live performances and workshops. Aug 20-21
DRINKS
Be part of a fast-growing craft beer community right here in Singapore as Singapore Craft Beer Week enters its third year with tap-takeovers, tours, masterclasses and matching dinners to boot. Aug 20-27
SPORTS
The half party-half exercise Color Run is back. Sign up to do an easy 5km run bathed in colored powder, while island-themed music blares to keep you motivated. Aug 20-21
The Color Run
CONCERT
Go back to the 1800s with the Piano Concerto Festival as ADDO Chamber Orchestra performs intimate classical music in a salon-concert fashion at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Aug 23
MUSIC
Your old teenage heartthrob Ronan Keating will be performing a special acoustic set at Universal Studios Singapore which will feature songs from his new album, “Time of My Life” and other famous hits. Aug 24
TALK
After a several-month hiatus, Pecha Kucha Night is back, happening at Canvas with thoughtful talks following a 20 slides/20 second each format. Speaker list to be announced. Tickets are $15. More info here. Aug 24
FILM
The Asian Film Archive’s Asian Restored Classics will involve screenings of restored titles from the region, screened at the fancy schmancy Capitol Theatre over four days. Highlights include Singapore’s “Gado Gado” (1961), 1964 Satyajit Ray classic “Charulata”, Kurosawa’s “Ran” (1985) and four other films. Tickets are $15 a pop. Aug 25-28
MUSIC
The Esplanade is staging three-act opera Puccini Turandot, an Asian twist on the adaptation of a Persian folk tale sung in Italian with English and Chinese subtitles. Tickets from $50. Aug 26-27, 29-30
WELLNESS
Get up early and head down to Serangoon Road for Free Yoga Little India sessions every alternate Sunday. Through Aug 28
Plain Vanilla Bakery Picnic Days
MARKET
Maya Gallery Singapore is having its first art and design flea, Go Market, offering handmade crafts and jewelry, baked goodies and a mix of old and new books as well as limited art prints for vintage lovers. Aug 27
PICNIC
Plain Vanilla Bakery has turned its Tiong Bahru flagship store into an outdoor garden bringing the summer indoors with workshops, film screenings and exhibitions for their 77-day long picnic event, Picnic Days. Through Aug 28
DRINKS
Try out unique creations of brewed beer and vote for your favorite at the iBrew Challenge 2016 which will have home brewers and their creations on tap. Get your tickets here. Aug 27
WELLNESS
Funzing is having a trampoline fitness class at Kallang Wave Mall. Try Bounce Fitness with a mix of traditional aerobic steps and dynamic sprints. Don’t forget to bring your own water and clean covered footwear. Tickets at $18. Aug 31
