Take your pick from a bevy of festivals this mid-October: from film festivals (including Singapore’s first horror film festival) to the Singapore River Festival, a three-day rice fest dedicated to the donburi, and everyone’s favorite Oktoberfest Asia.
Monday, Oct 15
The Match Factory Girl
FILM
The Finnish Film Festival returns to The Projector for a stellar second edition, with a special tribute to Finnish film director Aki Kaurismaki—catch his well-loved absurdist comedy Calamari Union; The Match Factory Girl, a 1990 tale of sweet revenge; or quirky minimalistic comedy Lights in the Dusk. Kaurismaki aside, there’s even a full-length feature of one of the world’s most beloved children’s cartoons: Moomins and the Winter Wonderland. Through Oct 21
Make a date with all the film festivals happening till the end of 2018 here.
THEATER
The tale of Peter Pan gets an 1880s Singapore remix, in Pangdemonium’s adaptation of Peter and the Starcatcher. Come watch the all-star cast bring to life the prequel in song and dance, and decide for yourself if Southeast Asia makes a worthy Neverland. Through Oct 20
EXHIBITION
The world’s best photojournalists are now on display at the National Museum of Singapore, as the World Press Photo Exhibition 2018 makes a stop here on its worldwide tour. Showcasing photos from the 61st annual World Press Photo contest, the winning entries were chosen from a whopping 73,000 photographs by more than 4,500 photographers globally, keen to tell stories that matter. Through Oct 28
Tuesday, Oct 16
FESTIVAL
The Singapore River Festival returns to the quays with the largest outdoor bazaar in Singapore River across Clarke Quay, outdoor circus performances, movie screenings, gameshows, and lots of prime eats. Oct 16-Nov 11
FILM
Head down to Bar Canary to watch an unlikely friendship bloom between a young clerk from India and Queen Victoria herself in Victoria & Abdul. Oct 16
COMEDY
It’s Canvas’s 4th birthday, and comedy queen Kumar is celebrating with an exclusive night of all your favorite musical numbers, complete with his drag entourage. Oct 16
EXHIBITION
New York pop artist The Sucklord rose to fame for his cheeky bootleg toys—unlicensed action figures and toys made subversive and spanning themes of politics, porn and memes. For the first time, he’s holding a solo show in Singapore at Kult Gallery (the genius himself will be present on opening night), so stop by for a hit of sleazy, hilarious art. Through Nov 10
Wednesday, Oct 17
PARTY
Arcade bar NINETEEN80’s weekly Ladies Night means hip hop, RnB, and three complimentary vodka ribenas for the girls because you can bet they deserve it. Oct 17
FOOD
Meat lovers, your time has come. The Carvery’s notorious Great Meat Feast is back and it’s positively drool-worthy. Unlike last year (where spread included other meats like pork), this year’s feast will mainly feature premium beef. Through Oct 21
EXHIBITION
The dreamy pastel-hued shots of our city come to life in an exclusive exhibition by Nguan of his latest photobook, Singapore (2017), as part of the annual Singapore International Photography Festival. Through Oct 28
EXHIBITION
Powerful ladies step up to the plate in Objectifs’ Women in Photography photo exhibition. This year, in line with prolific collective movements such as #MeToo and #TimesUp, the exhibition will throw pertinent issues of politics, sexuality and cultural oppression into the spotlight via poignant visuals from international female photographers. Through Nov 18
Thursday, Oct 18
DRINK
The island’s biggest Oktoberfest event is back, at a fully air-conditioned marquee tent in the open field next to Tan Quee Lan Street. Come for the beer and German nosh, and stay for the raucous authentic Oktoberfest band from Munich. Oct 18-21
Check out all the other Oktoberfest parties and deals for beer and bratwurst here.
EXHIBITION
SPRMRKT’s next art show is a floral, print-focused display by local printmaker and nominee for the President’s Young Talents award, Weixin Quek Chong. Among Plants and Animals will showcase Chong’s penchant for playing with print qualities and the photographic image using various materials like aluminium. Oct 18
TOUR
Dust off your scaredy-pants, because the eighth edition of Halloween Horror Nights is here and ready to terrify. Come face to face with Demogorgons, Pontianaks, and other chilling Asian ghosts, as Universal Studios Singapore is once again transformed into the creepiest place in the region. Through Oct 31
EXHIBITION
After conservation comes an interrogation of the heritage icons we hold close to our heart. The Substation’s next installment in their programme is an interactive, adventure course-type show inspired by the notorious interview process all Singapore Girl wannabes have to go through—where you too can reach for the overhead cabin stars and become a national icon. Through Nov 4
Friday, Oct 19
Photo credit: Shiori.Ori Photography via Kampong Boogie Facebook
PARTY
The Great Escape may now be closed, but the Golden Mile parties will never die. Straight Outta Golden Mile takes over The Projector for a hip hop funk soul boogie afrobeat and drum n’ bass night, with MC SWTLKR and the Golden Mile all-stars Ramesh, Ashidiq and Shellsuit on the decks. Oct 19
COMEDY
The Merry Lion’s side-splitting F**k Tinder is back, and we hear they’re short on singles (shocking, TBH). Come by for a cross between speed dating and great live comedy, plus drinks. Oct 19
FOOD/FESTIVAL
Embrace your inner rice queen at Donburi Revolution, Singapore’s inaugural DIY Donburi event. Once you’ve got your obligatory bowl of rice at the door, personalize your dream donburi with toppings from six toppings booths manned by the likes of the Teppei Group and Keisuke. Oct 19-21
FILM/FESTIVAL
Get your fill of thrills, zombies, cannibals and serial killers at Singapore’s first horror film festival, Scream Asia Film Festival, curated by Eric Khoo and featuring 12 top horror flicks from around the globe. Oct 19-28
MARKET/FESTIVAL
Shop eco-friendly products like upcycled merchanise, gourmet vegan snacks and more at Gardens By The Bay’s Neon Jungle, as part of the sustainability festival Youths Celebrate Sustainability. On top of the market, look forward to neon animal light installations, circus street performances, and a glow-in-the-dark party. Oct 19-28
EXHIBITION
Peranakan Museum’s latest exhibition, Amek Gambar: Peranakans and Photography, delves into the Southeast Asian history of photography through the pictured lives of the Peranakan community in the region. Through Feb 3, 2019
EXHIBITION
From Cold Storage to Tiger Balm, come chart the evolution of print advertising in Singapore from the 1830s to 1960s at Selling Dreams: Early Advertising in Singapore. Aside from just print advertisements, the exhibition at the National Library also includes interactive multimedia stations for you to experience life as a consumer in early Singapore. Through Feb 24, 2019
TOUR
The Singapore Zoo will be transformed into a lush and luminous universe to mark the attraction’s 45th anniversary this year. Experience Rainforest Lumina for yourself, where a whole stretch of tropical rainforest will be lit with multimedia visual effects come nighttime. You can even spend your night there by a campfire, if you so wish. Jul 1 onwards
