Chinese New Year (CNY) festivities and romantic salutations are in full swing this February. Expect everything from colourful attractions and interactive shows to paw-some activities and lively markets.
Artbox
Jan 26 to 28, Feb 2 to 4; Singapore Expo Hall 2
For two weekends, Singapore Expo Hall 2 will be transformed into a 105,000-square-foot urban wonderland, a mini city with “streets” and “avenues” from the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. Get ready for various collaborations, art installations, activities, retail selections, F&B experiences, and more.
Light to Night Singapore
Jan 19 to Feb 8; various locations
Singapore’s largest visual arts festival, Light to Night Singapore, will have over 60 art installations, interdisciplinary programmes, light projections, and live performances that will set the city ablaze with light and colour. Festivalgoers can enjoy free and ticketed experiences (although some require pre-registration).
KidsFest!
Feb 1 to Mar 3; Victoria Theatre
This year’s festival will feature four fantasy-filled interactive shows based on classic children’s books throughout February – Spot’s Birthday Party, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, I Believe in Unicorns, and We’re Going On A Bear Hunt. Audiences will be swept away by the whimsical storytelling and immersive performances, which promise to be an unforgettable experience for children and their families. Get the full schedule here.
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
From Feb 3; Coastal Trail, Sentosa
This light trail takes place in the awe-inspiring woods of the Coastal Trail on Sentosa island, and will thrill Harry Potter fans of all ages. Visitors will discover some of their favourite moments from the Forbidden Forest, encounter mystical creatures such as Hippogriffs, Unicorns, and Nifflers, and practice casting their very own spells. Tickets are available for purchase starting at $51 for adults and $39 for children.
Dance of the Dragon by Tell Your Children
Feb 7 to 24; CQ @ Clarke Quay
Presented as part of Singapore Art Week 2024, Tell Your Children in collaboration with CapitaLand presents Dance of the Dragon, an energetic 10-minute light and music show. The installation offers a modern spin on heritage featuring an impressive eight-metre-wide intricately sculptured dragon which transforms to life with animated colour chasing LED lights.
River Hongbao 2024
Feb 8 to 17; Gardens by the Bay
Step into the lively atmosphere of River Hongbao 2024, featuring a 140-metre-long dragon lantern and a towering 18-metre-tall God of Fortune at the Supertree Grove. Experience a showcase of lantern displays, exhilarating stage shows, entertaining carnival games, and an enticing spread of street food. Admission is free.
Battle for Singapore
Feb 17 to Mar 3; islandwide
This year’s annual Battle for Singapore by National Heritage Board (NHB) goes off the beaten track. The line-up features a host of special access programmes in commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the Fall of Singapore. Cycle to World War II landmarks, makan with seniors and hear their stories, and immerse yourself in a theatrical experience that transports you to one of the most significant moments of Singapore.
Launch of Paws and Pints Yard
Feb 18; Timbre+ One North
Bring the kids and fur-kids, because the pet-friendly alfresco seating courtyard at Timbre+ One North will be officially unveiled with a host of activities, special events, flea markets, and live music. Highlight of the day is the “Fashion Paw-rade” where pet owners and their stylish companions get to flaunt their creativity by dressing up to their favourite cartoon characters.
Singapore Airshow 2024
Feb 20 to 25; Changi Exhibition Centre
Singapore Airshow 2024, Asia’s most influential aerospace and defence exhibition, returns to Changi Exhibition Centre with over 1000 companies from over 50 countries. Aviation enthusiasts and families can look forward to a host of aviation-themed activities during Weekend@Airshow, formerly known as Public Days, from Feb 24 to 25. Crowd favourites such as high-speed precision manoeuvres by local and visiting aerobatic flying teams, as well as static displays of the latest commercial and military aircraft are on the agenda as well as meet and greets with the pilots.
Prosperity Run
Feb 24; Singapore Sports Hub
Kick off the Dragon Year with an invigorating run. Taking place on the 15th day of CNY at 8am from Arena Park, it’s the perfect way to wrap up your celebrations. Each participant will receive a Prosperity Bag, which includes an event tee, a run bib, Singapore Sports Hub-themed angbaos and an exclusive God of Fortune headpiece. Cross the finish line and receive a limited-edition finisher medal that features a spinnable dragon. All participants can also stand a chance to win Osim sports and wellness products at the lucky draw. Secure your spot here.
Now Boarding: Experiencing Singapore through Travel, 1800s–2000s
Now till Feb 25, 2024; National Museum of Singapore
Come on board for an exhibition that traces the evolution of Singapore’s identity as a travel destination, through the lens of those who arrived at our shores from past to present. Get up close with a special selection of over 600 artefacts, including the iconic Changi Airport flight information display flip board, Raffles Hotel doorman uniform, and the Neptune Theatre Restaurant’s signage.
Lion City Jazz Festival 2024
Feb 26 to Mar 2; Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
The Jazz Association (Singapore) and Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra (JASSYO!) co-presents this high-level training festival that invites renowned and professional jazz musicians to Singapore to mentor local youth jazz musicians. This year’s event celebrates the timeless music of jazz icon, Dizzy Gillespie, and features a stellar lineup of international mentors, including chief mentor and Dizzy Gillespie Band leader John Lee, alongside Jeremy Monteiro, Weixiang Tan, and Chok Kerong.
There will be informative workshops, intensive rehearsals, and the first-ever Jazz Composition Symposium. It culminates in two concerts – one featuring members of the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and the other showcasing the mentors alongside local youth musicians who will form members of JASSYO!. Tickets are available here.
Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger
Nov 24, 2023 to Mar 3, 2024; Singapore Art Museum
Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger is possibly one of the most significant exhibitions this year. Presented by Singapore Art Museum (SAM), this is the Singaporean artist’s first mid-career survey exhibition highlighting his prolific artistic practice. Internationally acclaimed as a writer, visual artist and theatre-maker, Ho explores identity, storytelling and time in Asia, particularly after World War II.
New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed
Oct 21, 2023 to Mar 3, 2024; ArtScience Museum
ArtScience Museum opens a portal to extraordinary new worlds with its latest exhibition New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed. Visitors will be able to uncover new perspectives on the genre of science fiction, encountering multiple futures and alternative realms inspired by Asia’s rich history and culture. The contemporary art exhibition spotlights 24 Asian women artists and collectives, including some of the biggest names in contemporary art globally, such as Mariko Mori, Cao Fei, Patty Chang, Sputniko!, Lee Bul, Shilpa Gupta and Anicka Yi.
Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America
Nov 18, 2023 to Mar 24, 2024; National Gallery Singapore
The exhibition demonstrates how the two regions have many similarities. Billed as the world’s first large-scale exhibition to take a comparative approach between the artistic practices from both regions, it examines what they share in common – especially following colonialism.
Gallery Children’s Biennale
Now till Mar 31, 2024, National Gallery Singapore
The 4th edition of Gallery Children’s Biennale 2023 is themed “Let’s Make a Better Place” and will showcase 11 art installations by international artists that spotlight four core values: Care, Collaborate, Imagine and Respect.
Chaos Lab
Nov 11 to second quarter of 2024 (exact date to be determined); Changi Airport Terminal 2
Chaos Lab, a wacky lab-themed experience, will debut at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 on Nov 11 – just in time for the upcoming school holidays. Presented by Fever, a leading US-based entertainment discovery platform, families are invited to check out 11 interactive activities based on science themes. With each activity, kids are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild.
Ente Veedu, My Home: Malayalees in Singapore
Nov 25, 2023 to Sep 15, 2024; Indian Heritage Centre
This is the first exhibition of its kind to focus exclusively on the Malayalees’ heritage, culture, and identity. It features both intangible and tangible aspects of Malayalee history through artefacts and stories as well as a variety of community programmes.
Ride the Beat at Skyline Luge
Ongoing; Sentosa
Kick-start your Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm to 9pm with Ride the Beat, a thrilling new sensory experience at Skyline Luge on Sentosa. Neon lights create a visually stunning backdrop while DJs hype up the ride with pulsating tunes. Tickets are now available at Skyline Luge’s Ticketing Counter or from the official site here.
