53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June

It’s going to be the third consecutive year that we’re going haze-free in June. Usually, by this time, we’re all geared up with our N95 masks, ready to face the impending haze on top of everything else in our daily grind. And that only means that it’s going to be a choke-free experience when you head out this month for a whole slew of concerts, street parties and outdoor activities.

, 53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June
Adrian Wee & Cats on Crack for Modern Love at Tuff Club

PARTY
Let Adrian Wee and Cats On Crack whip you into shape with their regime of house, indie disco and electronica at Modern Love, happening at Tuff Club. Jun 1

PARTY
Singapore’s coolest parking lot bar, The Great Escape, will be popping off the month with a delicious cauldron of classic funk, soul groove, jazz, afro, hip-hop, house and disco music, freshly prepared and dished out by the likes of MC SWTLKR and DJs Ramesh, Daryl C and more at this edition of Kampong Boogie. Jun 1

TOUR
It’s one thing to take a walk through hell at Haw Par Villa during the day, and a whole other experience if you go at night. The twilight tour of Haw Par Villa is back—check out the infamous 10 Courts of Hell, King of Ghosts, the upcoming Hell’s Museum and the Aw family memorials. Jun 1


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, 53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June

DRINK
One of the hotspots to drink at in Singapore that has really stood the test of time is that small alleyway between Orchard Gateway @ Emerald and Peranakan Place, better known as Emerald Hill. Though it’s gone under the knife several times, this small enclave of bars is always bustling with people and booming with music. If you happen to be in the area this week, pop by No. 5 Emerald Hill Cocktail Bar to enjoy one-for-one martinis going for $16-20 nett, as part of their Martini Week celebrations. Jun 12-19

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FESTIVAL
At StoryFest 2018, construction and entrepreneurial company Big Tiny takes the need for escape and builds on it, literally—to create an actual constructed space to escape to for your dose of storytelling. Called Story House, the outdoor project will see a six-meter long mobile home converted into an intimate space, where visitors can enter and engage with performers, puppets and books for 20 minutes at a time; free-of-charge. Jun 1-3

MARKET
Bazaar people LalooLalang (whose name translates loosely to “passing by” in Malay) are holding a special Raya Bazaar. Look forward to six zones of trend food, local street eats, fashion, furniture and plants, and pretty trinkets. Everyone’s invited to come buka puasa together after sundown—plus share in the festive atmosphere of Eid. Jun 1-3

MARKET
Rejoice or recoil—Bangkok’s legendary Artbox Singapore is back, with a self-proclaimed line-up that’s “three times bigger than last year”. Head down to the Bayfront event space to shop the 400 regional vendors selling everything from food to trinkets to Instagrammable moments. We can’t promise that crowd control will be any better than last year, but 400 booths at the island’s largest creative market does sound enticing. Jun 1-3


Check out the rest of the markets happening in June here.


, 53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June
Italian Film Festival 2018 – Call Me By Your Name

FILM
The Italian Film Festival, brought to you by the Embassy of Italy of Singapore, boasts some of the best of Italian contemporary cinema; some of which have been featured at top film festivals like Cannes and Berlin this year. This edition also has a segment dedicated solely to film director Luca Guadagnino (remember Call Me By Your Name?). Check out our picks here. Jun 1-9 

PARTY
While he rarely shows his face, he lets his music tell his story. French producer I Hate Models is the latest DJ to take over the cage at Headquarters, bringing partygoers his aggressive brand of hard-hitting techno laced with melancholic melodies, stomping drums and lots of energy. Jun 2

TALK
Trying to get over a creative block? Sign up for The Naysayers Book Club, a special gathering of some of the people who were featured in the book of the same name. This talk is hosted by the book’s author Simon Vincent, and will see playwrights, conservationists, academics, community workers, inter-faith champions, filmmakers and more share their thoughts about what it means to be different. Jun 2

DANCE
Dress up and make sure whatever you’re wearing is salsa-friendly as Post Bar is going to have an electric Latino Night. Have a boozy-fuelled night of mojitos, classic margaritas and, if you’re a go-getter, tequila shots. Jun 2

, 53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June
DBS Marina Regatta 2018

WELLNESS
Now that the Prudential Marina Bay Carnival is over, the scenic space along Bayfront will be taken up by the seventh edition of DBS Marina Regatta. Headlining it is Battle Bay Extreme, which has been touted as the largest land and water obstacle course in Southeast Asia. Jun 2-3

EXHIBITION
Human Version is an introspective exhibition filled with photographic and videographic works designed to explore the nascent relationship between humans and robots. Held at Alliance Francaise de Singapour’s La Galerie, the all-encompassing exhibition will give you a rare insight into research labs often kept away from the public eye. Through Jun 2

BOOK/DRINK/FOOD
Ever loved a restaurant so much you wished they’d share recipes with you? Well, Hong Kong’s undisputed modern izakaya Yardbird is doing just that. They’re launching their cookbook Chicken and Charcoal over at Meatsmith, and yes, there will be food, booze and all that good stuff. Jun 3

FILM
BluJaz will be screening cult classic The Breakfast Club, a story about five high school students from very different backgrounds sharing a day of detention under the supervision of a power-hungry principal. Their exchanges then make them realize new things about themselves. Jun 3

WORKSHOP
Don’t get rid of clothes you don’t wear anymore. Instead, bring them down to Sing Lit Station where prolific drag performer Becca D’Bus will run you through how to make something new with the garments you already have. Jun 3

FILM
Catch the perennial favorite Fight Club, which tells the story of the unnamed narrator (Edward Norton) who finds himself in an underground fight club and soap making business with a man he meets on a plane (Brad Pitt), over at Hood Bar and Cafe. Jun 3

PERFORMANCE
Catch the latest performance masterpiece by traveling theatrical and performance troupe Cirque du Soleil, Toruk – The First Flight, which is based on James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi epic, Avatar. Through Jun 3

THEATER
Pangdemonium’s 2017 sold-out original production Dragonflies returns for an extended run, with Adrian Pang, Tan Kheng Hua, Fanny Kee and Frances Lee reprising their roles, performing alongside new additions Benjamin Chow, Elizabeth Morse and Matt Grey joining the cast. The show is set in 2021, in a xenophobic post-Brexit world. The England-based protagonist Leslie Chen is deported back to Singapore after the death of his wife in the UK. He now has to relearn and reintegrate into the country he left in his youth. Through Jun 3

FESTIVAL
It’s been a busy month for the arts, what with the Singapore International Festival of Arts and the return of Shakespeare in the Park. That’s not stopping Esplanade from organizing Flipside, a 10-day festival that spotlights unorthodox performances and art, taking conventional ideas and flipping them to present a refreshing take. Highlights include Dans l’Atelier, a kooky performance that uncovers the mystery of puppet creation; a backstage tour of Esplanade (and the ghost stories that come along with it) and more. Through Jun 3

EXHIBITION
You’d think a traveling exhibition from the London Natural History Museum would be hard to top, but ArtScience Museum’s current shtick traces 40 years of street art, from its controversial beginnings as expressions of counterculture, to its current standing as a major pillar of contemporary art. Art from the Streets features the works of the world’s top street artists, such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey and more. Through Jun 3

MARKET
The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) turns 80 this year. And to celebrate, they’re throwing an eight-week arts festival to showcase the school’s diverse talents. As part of the festival, a series of festival markets will take place each weekend, featuring craft-makers and jewellers, local fashion labels, original artworks and vintage collectibles. You can even be part of the excitement and book a booth here. Through Jun 3

DRINK
The annual international charity event Negroni Week returns for its fourth consecutive year, promising a bigger and better event than ever with 70 bars participating in the seven-day soiree. These participating joints will pledge at least $1 to a charity of their choice for every Negroni or Negroni-inspired cocktail sold. Jun 4-10

, 53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June
Air Supply

CONCERT
You gotta admit, Air Supply really knows how to rock a love ballad. You could take your dad to see these guys as an early Father’s Day gift, or have a ball of a time if you’re an old soul. They’ll be playing at Singapore Indoor Stadium. Jun 5

TALK
Remember that third language you picked up in university but slowly forgot because you didn’t have anyone to practise it with? If you still have it in you, join in the Singapor BlaBla Language Exchange where you can join various language groups to improve your skills. Jun 5

CONCERT
American rock band Boyce Avenue rose to sucess through their distinctive covers and soulful originals back in YouTube’s early days. Over the years, they’ve amassed a loyal digital fan base and recorded three original albums and 19 cover EPs. They’re back after three years to perform live at The Star Theatre. Jun 7

FILM
That makes two for two. The Mexican Film Festival, presented by the Embassy of Mexico of Singapore, The Projector and NUS Office of Alumni Relations, returns for its fourth edition, showcasing seven outstanding films born out of Mexico. Here are our picks. Jun 7-10

FOOD
Staying true to their commitment of supporting local hawker heroes, Tiger Beer brings back their highly successful Street Food Festival, showcasing dishes like har cheong gai from Ah Tan Wings, shredded chicken porridge from Forum Hainanese Congee, laksa from Yam Mee Teochew Fishball Noodles and many more from the 15 participating hawkers. Jun 8

PARTY
Your favorite dynamic duo weelikeme and KiDG are taking over basement beer joint Hopheads for a night of unapologetic pop music, summoning the likes of ’80s icons Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Culture Club, along with ’90s drama kings and queens Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, among other noughties’ and present-day guilty pleasures. Jun 9

DANCE
The M1 Contact Contemporary Festival returns for its ninth run, presenting 16 shows of 28 dance works from 14 different nationalities across six performance platforms. Jun 9-Aug 5

FILM
Enter the whimsical world of shy Parisian waitress in Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s 2001 Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain. In her struggles with isolation, she decides to help others by doing small things to change the lives of those around her. Jun 10

PARTY
Esquina’s shutting down Jiak Chuan and Teck Lim roads for their annual alley fiesta, Little Havana Fiesta. The revelry starts from 3pm, where you can enjoy Bacardi cocktails and Cuban-themed bites like the Ropa Vieja (shredded flank skirt served with tomato sauce, yellow rice and fried yuca) and more, while you move your body to the sounds of Latin American and upbeat house music. Jun 10

FILM
Catch The Shape of Water by the fantastical Golden Globe winning director, Guillermo del Toro, on the big screen at Hood Bar and Cafe. It’s an out-of-this-world drama set in the Cold War era of the ’60s that explores the unlikely relationship between a lonely janitor and a mysterious amphibious experiment the former discovers in a secret research facility. Jun 10

THEATER
After sold-out success in London, Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong, UK-based theater company Secret Theatre Project is finally coming to Singapore, bringing to locals their unique style of interactive theater. The experience essentially takes audience members on a high-budget theatrical production that can include anything from deciding a central character’s fate to journeying through a full-blown haunted house adventure. Through Jun 10

FILM
Catch one of Studio Ghibli’s most moving works, the 1997 Japanese animated fantasy film, Princess Mononoke. Set in the late Muromachi period of Japan, join the young prince Ashitaka as he embarks on a journey to locate the cure for Tatarigami’s curse. Jun 11

PARTY
It’s a public holiday eve, so what better way to get it on than with some of the cheesiest ’90s hits and misses at this edition of OverEasy Orchard’s Guilty Pleasures. Jun 14

, 53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June
Ultra Singapore 2017. Photo credit: Colossal Photos

FESTIVAL
There’s a whole lot of future bass and trap producers coming for the third edition of Miami festival export, Ultra Singapore. Returning to the field open field beside Marina Bay Sands now known as “Ultra Park”, the festival sees huge names like RL Grime, Nghtmre, Slander, DJ Snake, Steve Angello, Above & Beyond, Aly & Fila and more. Jun 15-16

CONVENTION
For the very first time, you’ll be able to get inked by a real Kalinga tattoo artist—without having to hike up the mountains of rural Philippines. Traditional Kalinga tattooists will be traveling out of their country to participate in Singapore Ink Show 2018. The Kalinga tattooists’ appearance aside, this year’s edition of the annual tattoo convetion will feature more than 160 artists from over 23 countries. Jun 15-17

EXHIBITION
Singapore-based Taiwanese indie pop art illustrator and designer Billy Ma will be showcasing pieces from his Sexy Sin City series at casual French dining eatery Merci Marcel, as part of the restaurant’s first ever art exhibition. Each piece presents an otherwise provocative history of familiar Singapore neighborhoods juxtaposed against seemingly unassuming and less charming modern structures. Through Jun 15

PARTY
Enter the techier side of trance with Polish music producer and head honcho of Mental Asylum Records, Indecent Noise, as he dishes out tracks like “War Cry”, “The Darkside” and “Warsaw 2.0” at Canvas. Jun 16

FILM
Learn about the story of Pakistani female activist and youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai in the 2015 documentary, He Named Me Malala, at Workcentral Singapore. The film anecdotes the journey of her surviving a gunshot from a Taliban gunman who was a member of the organization that violently opposed girls’ education in Pakistan, who then became even more outspoken and eloquent in her quest. Jun 19

EXHIBITION
Kult’s newest exhibition Word will interpret written text in visual forms through artworks. Specifically, the artists involved were invited to interpret traditional scripts such as Arabic, Braille and Urdu. Through Jun 20

DRINK
Taste more than 450 labels of sakes at the sixth edition of Sake Festival Singapore, happening for one day only at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre. Jun 23

, 53 unmissable things to do in Singapore this June
PVRIS

CONCERT
PVRIS‘ brand of music is a great mix of guitars, drums and electronic elements, with a dash of pop sensibility; it’s no wonder they’ve grown a massive following since they formed in 2012 under a different name. The trio—Lynn Gunn, Alex Babinski and Brian MacDonald—will be performing at Hard Rock Cafe Singapore (Cuscaden). Jun 26

CONCERT
British artists Stephen Triffitt, Mark Adams and George Daniel Long—better known as The Definitive Rat Pack—found their claim to fame interpreting music greats Sinatra, Martin and Davis. They’re bringing their sold-out show to Singapore to perform faithful re-creations of familiar hits like “Fly Me To The Moon”, “Come Fly With Me”, “Sway” and more. Jun 26-27

MUSICAL
We’re just as excited as you are about the return of The Lion King to our shore for its 20th anniversary It’s been more than two decades since the epic musical film about lions in Africa first came into our lives, and again in 2011 when the musical made its Southeast Asian debut. Immerse yourself in the magnificent world of Simba, Nala, Rafiki, Mufasa, Timon, Pumba and company when it returns for a two-month run. Jun 27-Aug 26

BOOK
Whether you’re a passionate supporter of print, or just in search of a new coffee table book, the annual Singapore Art Book Fair is a good place to be. This year’s edition brings together 74 local and international exhibitors presenting a bumper line-up of art books, art catalogues, zines, monographs and more for your purchasing pleasure. Working on a limited budget? Head to the all-new Zine Room first, to browse zines at the library so you know exactly which independent creative you want to support. Jun 29-Jul 1

FESTIVAL/WELLNESS
On the last day of the month, replenish yourself while having fun at the Fiji Water Wellness Village, a one-day only event held at Siloso Beach that promises to lift your mind, body and spirt. There’ll be sunset yoga sessions conducted by yogi Jasmine Chong, F&B stalls to check out and lucky draw prizes to be won. Jun 30

EXHIBITION
Chinese New Year may be long over, but this new exhibition looks at the Chinese zodiac through the eyes of European artists. The internationally renowned Mazel Galerie from Brussels has commissioned The Great Race, a new exhibition that takes source material from the traditional Chinese zodiac. Through Jun 30

EXHIBITION
Angkor: Exploring Cambodia’s Sacred City. Masterpieces of the Musee national des arts asiatiques-Guimet showcases more than 140 sculptures, watercolors, drawings, and historic memorabilia from the museum in France, for a detailed look into the magnificent history of Angkor. Through Jul 22

FOOD
Goodwood Park Hotel’s annual durian festival returns with all-time favorites like durian puffs, crepes, strudels, ice cream and more. Through Jul 22

EXHIBITION
The eighth edition of Singapore Art Museum’s annual family-friendly contemporary art exhibition explores the concept of time. Ten artists and art collectives from around the world have taken over SAM at 8Q for Imaginarium: Into the Space of Time, presenting immersive and interactive installations exploring the tales and theories that shape our memories and future. Through Aug 26

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