It’s the last full week of the year and nobody feels like working. If you, like us, have to slog through the (albeit short) work week, here’s what you can be looking forward to doing when the weekend comes around. And since most of us are getting at least a half day off come 31st on Monday, we’re lumping that in as part of this weekend’s roundup too. From New Year’s Eve parties to large-scale countdown shebangs, here’s the last SG Weekend of 2018.
Friday, Dec 28
FOOD/FESTIVAL
The annual Marina Bay Countdown has tons of fringe activities to go with it, and starting Friday, a Food Truck Festival will be kicking things off. It’ll be a gathering of 14 food trucks, caravans and kombi vans dishing out grub like Teppei’s unagi don, Fishball Story’s salted egg yolk platter, Plain Vanilla Bakery’s gula melaka dounuts, and lots more. Dec 28-31
EXHIBITION
Get some sand beneath your feet while putting some art on your Insta feeds at Island Lights 2018, where massive neon light art installations are taking over sandy Palawan Beach till the end of the year. While you’re there, get snacks from the food kiosks and throw some shapes as live bands bring the tunes. Through Dec 31
FESTIVAL
While indulging in some festive shopping is no cardinal sin, why not do so more consciously at this plastic-free, sustainability-focused event that seeks to enrich your life at the same time. Held for the whole month, Loop is the first event of its kind here, where makers, crafters and growers alike gather to celebrate the pursuit of sustainability. Through Dec 31
Saturday, Dec 29
Virtually Versailles
FOOD
The dust has settled from the rousing (some say contentious) finale of the inaugural MasterChef Singapore. Whether you were Team Gen or Team Zan, one of Singapore’s best chefs and MasterChef Singapore judge Bjorn Shen is rallying both winner Zander Ng and runner-up Genevieve Lee to his restaurant Artichoke for a six-hands communal brunch where each of them will be whipping up three items to create a nine-dish sharing menu. There’s no better way to spend your last weekend of the year. Dec 29-30
EXHIBITION
If you’ve always dreamt of walking the beautiful palace grounds of Chateau de Versailles in France, your time is now. New exhibition Virtually Versailles at ION Orchard showcases the exquisite beauty of the royal residence, in a mix of immersive graphics and stunning technicolour. Did we mention it’s free? Through Jan 6
EXHIBITION
At Hatch Art Project’s ongoing Deciphering clothes: The Troublemaker’s Wardrobe exhibtion, 12 emerging Asian artists showcase their wardrobes through a mix of mediums—featuring a plethora of garments and objects you wouldn’t typically find in your hetero, cisgender closet. Be prepared to feel uncomfortable as your peruse their wares. Through Jan 12
Sunday, Dec 30
CARNIVAL
The second coming of the Prudential Marina Bay Carnival is here, set to transform the Marina waterfront into a colossal fairground filled with rides, games, food, and of course, plenty of pretty lights. This time, entry is free, and with more rides to check out than before. Through Mar 24
MARKET
Bugis Junction’s very own TommorowLand Christmas Market is landing along the mall’s level 1 event spaces, bringing with them over 20 food and drink stalls, retail booths and carnival game booths. Feel free to snap away at the pretty lights and decor. Through Dec 30
EXHIBITION
This Christmas, the S.E.A. Aquarium is getting a glow-up, literally, as it gets transformed into a luminescent underwater world filled with glowing animals, stunning light art installations, and a first-of-its kind underwater LED dive appearance. Check out five different zones and interact with the displays while going oooh and ahhh as illuminated sea creatures swim by. Through Jan 6
THEATRE/FOOD
Remember how the toys all came to life in the story of The Nutcracker? Now you too can play a part in the magical Christmastime tale, as immersive theatre company Andsoforth brings the classic story to life in their latest theatrical feast, Marie and The Nutcracker. Journey through four rooms in a secret location with The Nutcracker himself, defeat the Mouse King, and reap your sweet rewards in the Kingdom of Sweets at the end. Through Jan 6
Monday, Dec 31
PARTY
East siders, you don’t have to go far to have a good time this holiday season. The party comes to the heartlands of Bedok with the Silent Disco Countdown Party happening on both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It’s one gathering the folks won’t find the music being too loud. Admission’s free. Dec 31
PARTY
This year’s NYE countdown just got a whole lot sexier. If you’ve always abhorred the Marina Bay festivities the Star Island Singapore Countdown Edition is here to change your mind. It’s no ordinary fireworks display—six chapters, each choreographed to a unique soundtrack, will introduce six differently themed shows of fireworks throughout the night, accompanied by 3D surround sound technology. Dec 31
PARTY
For a lavish soiree with clear views of the fireworks this coming last day of 2018, there’s no better place to be than atop Marina Bay Sands at Lavo Singapore’s Midnight Royale. Go all out with unlimited Champagnes, wines and spirits while filling up on hearty Italian nosh like Lavo’s infamous signature meatball. Dec 31
PARTY
Go luxe at sky-high club Bar Rouge, perched atop the highest hotel in town, at their Electric Sky countdown party. Set to a Silver Glam theme, expect the space to be decked out in electric metallic hues and an interactive balloon station as roving performers and resident DJs keep you entertained all night long. Dec 31
For more New Year’s Eve countdown parties happening in Singapore, see our full list here.
EXHIBITION
Diner/bar/community space Telok Ayer Arts Club’s next showcase, tell me how they kiss you, tell me how you kiss, is gonna be a raunchy one. Spanning multiple mediums, the eight-week exhibition features three local artists who will be presenting ceramic sculptures, paper drawings and photography accompanied by artist-led events and live music. Go for a sex toy workshop, listen in on an artist talk, or just chill with a themed cocktail (like the cheeky A Whole Lot of Head, a creamy, frothy take on the classic Ramos Gin Fizz) in hand. Through Jan 12
THEATRE
A box-office hit in South Korea, Mandarin production Musical TARU features life-sized dinosaur skeletons, an impressive museum set and a catchy soundtrack that will have you singing along. You’ll find many familiar faces among the cast that is set to bring you on a big adventure promising plenty of laughs, tears and drama. Through Jan 13
EXHIBITION
Local artist John Toh is showcasing watercolour pieces of iconic Singapore landmarks old and new, such as Temple Street, Keong Saik and the Supertrees, in a new solo exhibition titled Cityscapes, Ancient and Present. Held at Pan Pacific Singapore‘s public art space. Through Jan 28
EXHIBITION
Celebrating our hawker culture and protecting the men and women toiling behind each stall has never been more pertinent. Pledge your support to induct this beloved part of our everyday life into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the travelling Our SG Hawker Culture Exhibition popping up at various hawker centres and community venues around Singapore. Through Jan 31
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
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
EXHIBITION
Trace the Polaroid camera’s fascinating history at the National Museum of Singapore’s latest exhibition, In an Instant: Polaroid at the Intersection of Art and Technology, featuring over 200 Polaroid artefacts and artworks from the original collection. Through Mar 10
EXHIBITION
The ground-breaking Minimalism: Space. Light. Object exhibition spanning National Gallery Singapore and ArtScience Museum traces the origins and evolutions of the Minimalist art movement, in more than 150 works loaned from all over the world. Check out our quick picks here. Through Apr 14
