We all knew it was coming, but the organisers behind the Singapore Cocktail Festival have finally made it official—the Festival Village, the main event of the annual SGCF, is no longer taking place this year.
After several rounds of delays and changes as they maneuver alongside the evolving Covid-19 pandemic and resulting regulatory restrictions, they’ve now decided to turn this year’s event into one that’s fully held at bars around town, albeit alongside some virtual happenings. The dates have also changed.
SGCF 2020 will now be held from Nov 1-Dec 31, the first time it’s happening over such an extended period, and with a few new additions to keep things interesting despite the lack of a village gathering.
“After close observation of the Covid-19 situation and following extensive discussions with stakeholders, we decided to put the Festival Village on hold, because the safety of our guests is a top priority,” states Wai Mayleng, Co-Founder of SGCF and owner of experiential marketing agency, The Events Artery.
“Nevertheless, the 2020 festival will still feature a vibrant but socially responsible programme that aims to drive cocktail bar visits while increasing visibility for Singapore’s bar culture.”
Despite the changes, the SGCF City Takeover remains and is likely the most familiar to all of us. Cocktail bars around the city will each feature a signature cocktail inspired by the neighbourhood they are set in. Though instead of a passport, you can get a free festival wristband instead through SGCF’s website, where you can then enjoy these signature creations at the friendly price of $18 (usually $25).
You can also purchase limited production bottled cocktails from participating bars directly via SGCF’s online store, in an initiative they’re calling SGCF on Wheels.
And finally, the organisers are also giving attendees a sense of wanderlust with SGCF on Tour. Here, guest bartenders from five of the best bars around the world will be conducting virtual masterclasses, and you’ll even be able to purchase bottled cocktails created by these maestros.
If you’re still excited, details are set to be released by the end of September, so stay tuned folks.
Singapore Cocktail Festival 2020 takes place Nov 1-Dec 31 at various venues all around Singapore.
