The long-awaited four-day weekend finally arrives, bringing us wayyy too many parties to attend, but also some cultural events that are both rewarding and fun. Go crazy people, you know you want to.
PARTY
Finally, an excuse to party on a Thursday night. Hit up Marquee Singapore with your best crew the night before the long National Day weekend, for famed American Hip Hop Artist and Grammy award-winner Lil Jon will be rocking the stage, solo-style. Definitely keep his playlist on repeat all-week-long to get into the hype. Aug 8
MUSIC
Bringing all the cosmic children together the night before the long weekend is Astral Projector, with house, techno and experimental beats at Intermission Bar at The Projector. Be sure to head down for a night of fun, while Mercury reaches the greatest western elongation. Aug 8
PARTY
Zouk’s epic Mambo Jambo night is into its 27th year running (wow, that’s long), and they’re celebrating it the best way possible by throwing a smashing Singapore Workout-inspired revelry and bringing back their signature hot dog stand last seen at Jiak Kim. Be prepared to feel the burn. Aug 8
DRINK
Instead of heading to the National Day Parade which draws massive crowds, don some red or something Singapore-related and head to Good Luck Beerhouse’s National Beer Parade to get premium local craft beers at a discount. For just $54, you’ll get to choose five beers from local breweries such as Brewlander, Brewerkz, Rye & Pint Brewery and That Singapore Beer Project. Aug 9
FOOD/DRINK
This National Day, Camp Kilo Charcoal Club will put a twist on their usual Beats, BBQ & Booze cookout sesh, with Beats, BBQ & Booze: National Day Special. Known to be a hearty meat joint by the riverside, the restaurant will also feature fun NDP-inspired cocktails like the Frozen Ice Kachang and Sentosa Beach. Aug 9
PARTY
Enjoy all things local at Orh Gao Taproom as they host their Majulah BBQ and National Day Screening. Find Singaporean delights like chicken satay, fish otah, sambal stingray and some local craft beers. And if you win their NDP games such as the childhood favourite chapteh, get to take home cases of beers. Aug 9
PARTY
Time to bust out that red t-shirt of yours, and head to Monti’s National Day party for a night of fireworks, a 4-course omakase dinner and drinks. Their location at Fullerton Pavilion will promise a view like no other. Aug 9
PARTY
Bar Rouge’s annual Disco Lah! will be held on our nation’s birthday itself, from 4-10pm. Prepare for a uniquely Singaporean affair, as local snacks and mocktails and cocktails will be served, alongside a screening of the annual parade. Yes, a great view of the fireworks spectacle is promised. Aug 9
PARTY
Head to the 5th floor carpark of Golden Mile Tower for Open Door (National Day Edition), helmed by the guys at Ice Cream Sundays and Darker Than Wax. Free before 5pm, find affordable booze and local bites amidst art and visuals by independent creatives. Aug 9
MARKET
An offbeat cultural celebration, I Am Citizen by The Local People and Singapore Land Authority will be presenting a series of workshops, music and an art market at 5 Kadayanallur Street. Look out for local art installations, a modern calligraphy workshop as well as a block printing and embroidery tote bag workshop by Iki Makers Union, as well as a rooftop party with a view of the highly-anticipated fireworks. Aug 9
PARTY
A National Day party at one of the most popular hip hop nightclubs in Singapore? Count us in. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane with our favourite anthems from Britney Spears, TLC and Beyonce, at Cherry Discotheque for their quintessential ‘90s night, This is the 90s, but National Day-style. Keep your eyes peeled for funky visuals which feature footage of Singapore in the ’90s. Perfect. Aug 9
FOOD
Celebrate the nation’s 54th birthday the most Singaporean way possible, with a hearty feast at York Hotel Singapore’s Localicious tunch buffet. Enjoy an array of local favourites, with desserts like Sago Gula Melaka, Tau Suan and even a fantastic assortment of Nonya Kuehs. Free-flow drinks include Bandung, Lime Juice and Soya Bean Milk; all the drinks we love to have to beat the Singapore heat. Aug 9
MUSIC
Spend Saturday night with musician Ginette Chittick, at Intermission Bar at The Projector, post-National Day. An Indie Rock night, Daydream Nation with Ginette Chittick will kick off at 10:30pm. Get up close and personal with the very accomplished artist who have shared the stage with Foals, Beachhouse and many other famed bands. Aug 10
EVENT
Two days of fun activities and performances await during the public holiday weekend at the National Museum of Singapore. Not only will you get to view art installations, enjoy a film screening as well as a live telecast of the National Day Parade under their iconic Banyan tree, the SMU Samba Masala will also be present to stage a rousing performance with their upbeat tunes. Aug 9-10
RAVE
Avid ravers should head to Cherry Discotheque on the Saturday of the four-day weekend for Bass Sanctuary, a collaborative bass event helmed by alternative bass groups—Singapore’s Burial Grounds, Malaysia’s No Mercy and Bassheadtemple from Thailand. Look forward to a whole line-up of music acts by DJs like DJ duos Doppelgangerz and Paramercy. Upgrade to Warrior status when you purchase a Warrior Kit, which comes with a free drink and a bandana to get you armoured up. Aug 10
TRAIL
Feel connected to your local roots by embarking on a local heritage trail this long weekend. A best-selling tour, the Balestier Heritage Trail will see its National Day edition, bringing trail-goers to visit landmarks like Maha Sasanaramsi Burmese Buddhist Temple as well as Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory. At just $5 per person, you’ll get to have a hands-on experience making Ondeh Ondeh and even a tasty hokkien mee lunch at well-loved hawker stall, Warung Kim’s Seafood. Aug 10
PARTY
For just one night, party people Eatmepoptart will be hosting a party riddled with nostalgia. Expect anthems you’ll only find in your playlist from your old iPods and MP3 players, like songs by Foals, The Killers, Radiohead and more. Recap your best moments at Kinki rooftop bar; entry is completely free. Aug 10
MUSIC
They’ve been here so many times, but we’re not complaining. American Indie Pop band Lany will take the stage once again in Singapore for their Malibu Nights World Tour. Expect plenty of synth-pop goodness that’ll keep you grooving all-night-long, from their recently-released record Malibu Nights. Aug 10
MUSIC
Revisit teen nostalgia with Westlife, who will be live in Singapore to celebrate 20 years of groundbreaking hits with the aptly-named The Twenty Tour. A promising setlist awaits, as the perennial Irish pop band has a total of 10 studio albums and over a hundred songs to choose from. Aug 10
MUSIC
Remember when the Youtube meme “Darude – Sandstorm” first came about? Well, the man himself will be here, with his global hit Sandstorm. The finnish DJ who have been rocking stages at Tomorrowland and Future Music Festival is slated to perform at Ce La Vi on Saturday night, during the long National Day weekend. Aug 10
MARKET
Visit the Singapore Botanic Garden’s The Villa Fiesta to pop by Ginger Garden Farmer Market, where farmer’s market-goers can find an organic, curated mix of commodities from local farmers as well as local craftsmen and artisanal producers. Aug 10
FOOD
Spend a night enjoying durians and learning about the fruit with fellow durian lovers this weekend. Initiated by One Faber Group, the first-ever “Mao” Faber Durian Night will see premium-grade quality Mao Shan Wang durians from Pahang, durian-themed interactive stage games and even a discussion about the well-loved fruit led by durian expert Collin Chee and his community of durian aficionados. Also enjoy some local dishes like satay, grilled seafood and barbecued wings prepared by One Faber Group’s kitchen. Aug 10
PARTY
Join Tanjong Beach Club in celebrating their 10-year anniversary at their birthday bash, Tanjong Paradisco. Happening over a span of two days, brace yourself for a whole lot of fun, including activities such as a Bottomless Brunch with Perrier-Jouet, a yoga session by the beach and silkscreen printing. Of course, music will be provided, at the Ultimate DJ Blowout featuring DJs like Bondax, Brendon P, Ray Ming and many more. Aug 10-11
FOOD/DRINK
The beer and food party continues at Bunkerbunker!!, joined by local bar In Bad Co. With an event name like Ownself Action Party – Ownself BBQ, you know it’ll be a celebration of everything Singaporean. Find delicious skewers that’ll make up a fantastic BBQ party, as well as you guessed it—local beers. Aug 11
FOOD
Head down to Sentosa for a giant bonanza filled with grilled eats, booze and entertainment. Beating its 2018 record, there’ll be 27 F&B establishments present at Sentosa GrillFest 2019, with six of them taking to the sandy shores for the first time. There’ll even be a massive Gelato Bomb from Gelatissimo and Durian Edition’s charcoal-grilled durian. You won’t miss the 3m-tall tepee BBQ pit found on the beach either, where chef Jeremy Cheok from Slake will be cooking up a feast. Through Aug 12
