November heralds a season of shopping, family-friendly activities, art fairs, Deepavali celebrations and Christmas light-ups. It’s also the season of giving, so do support the charitable initiatives happening this month (or any other month).
German Film Festival
Oct 19 to Nov 4; The Projector and Singapore Botanic Gardens
The 26th German Film Festival x KinoFest (a new regional film event) presents a compelling collection of cinematic narratives that transcend mere entertainment to provide profound glimpses into the intricate tapestry of contemporary German cinema, through the genres of drama, documentaries, and animation. Don’t miss the free outdoor screening of the award-winning animated fantasy comedy The Amazing Maurice on Nov 4 at 7.30pm in Singapore Botanic Gardens. The precise location of the screening is yet to be disclosed, adding an element of anticipation to this exciting show. Registration is required.
Singapore Clay Festival
Nov 2 to 5; ArtSpace@HeluTrans
Singapore Clay Festival, which celebrates all things clay, returns for its second full edition at a larger venue, with more than 200 clay makers bringing over 3,000 unique ceramic works for the Clay Makers’ Market at ArtSpace@HeluTrans in Tanjong Pagar Distripark. It presents the creative breadth and depth of Singapore’s professional and hobbyist clay makers, with fun and educational activities, demonstrations, workshops and even a “live” clay-making. Buy tickets here.
The Purple Parade
Nov 4; Suntec City
The Purple Parade is Singapore’s largest movement that supports inclusion and celebrates abilities of persons with disabilities. March in solidarity with fellow contingent paraders, catch live performances, and eat, play and shop with carnival partners. Proceeds from the sales go towards supporting disability organisations participating in the The Purple Parade.
The Terminal by Zalora (Zalora 11.11 Sale)
Nov 8 to 13; Wisma Atria
Visit The Terminal by Zalora at Wisma Atria from today until Nov 13. The pop-up store, which kicks off Zalora’s 11.11 Sale, features over 40 specially curated international brands across fashion, beauty, luxury and lifestyle, from over 3000 global brands on Zalora’s app and web platforms.
During 11.11, Zalora will be introducing exciting deals, including generous discounts with up to 90 percent discount on popular brands. Be spoiled for choice with 11,111 styles going for $15, authentic products, and daily specials on top brands like Mango, Nike, Birkenstock, and GHD.
Deepavali Celebrations: Rangoli & Rhythm
Nov 10 and 11; Singapore Sports Hub
Embark on a multi-sensory journey at Singapore Sports Hub with the Rangoli & Rhythm celebration during the Deepavali weekend. Two days of captivating activities will be held at the OCBC Square on Nov 10 and 11. Visitors are invited to put the finishing touches to the rangoli to bring the intricate patterns to life; watch an epic Bollywood dance-off; and indulge in flavourful festive treats.
Affordable Art Fair
Nov 10 to 12; F1 Pit Building
The world-renowned Affordable Art Fair is set to make its return to Singapore from Nov 10 to 12. Marking its 16th edition in the Lion City, the fair promises an eclectic mix of artists and galleries, immersive workshops, and enlightening talks as it continues its mission to make contemporary art accessible to both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts.
Crack The Case: Mind Hunter
Nov 10 to Dec 10 (every Thursday to Sunday); 42 Waterloo Street
Mind Hunter is a live immersive theatre experience where audiences are invited to delve into the psyche of an alleged psychopath to uncover the truth and save innocent lives. The story unfolds in five IG-worthy zones where you can explore freely. For the duration of the play, which is approximately 90 minutes, your goal is to solve the mystery before it is too late. You must be willing to dig into the nooks and crannies of the criminally insane, and your decisions have real ramifications.
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.
Sustainable Christmas Market
Nov 11 to 12; South Beach
The Sustainable Christmas Market is an annual year-end extravaganza that brings together conscious consumption with shopping for a good cause. Oorganised by Peace of Art (a 100 percent pro bono non-profit organisation), visitors can expect more than 50 sustainable vendors, over 20 sustainable craft workshops, live performances, fitness sessions, preloved bazaar, and more. All event proceeds go to charity.
Christmas on A Great Street (Light-Up Ceremony)
Nov 16; Shaw House Urban Plaza
Christmas on A Great Street, the signature year-end light-up of Orchard Road heralding the holiday season, returns for the 40th year with a street party, Christmas villages, carnival rides and games, pop-up stores and F&B kiosks. This year’s light-up theme “A Child’s Dreamscape” is a sweet one, featuring cotton candy clouds replete with Christmas trees, bells, teddy bears, reindeer, and candy canes.
Nintendo Pop-up Store
Nov 17, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024; Jewel Changi Airport
Fans of games such as Super Mario, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon and Pikmin are in for a treat this Nov. For the first time in Southeast Asia, a Nintendo Pop-up Store in Singapore will open in Jewel Changi Airport for a limited time period, from Nov 17, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024. The Singapore store will feature merchandise from popular games which were previously only available at Nintendo Tokyo, Nintendo Osaka, and Nintendo Kyoto stores.
Immersive Disney Animation
Nov 18 to Dec 31; Sands Theatre
Immersive Disney Animation celebrates 100 years of Disney animation excellence and promises to transport visitors into the dynamic and enchanting realms of beloved Disney characters. Sands Theatre will be transformed into a hybrid of an immersive, 3D environment throughout the 90-minute experience. Explore the art, music and animation techniques that have brought timeless classics like The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and The Lion King to life. Tickets for Immersive Disney Animation are now on sale via Marina Bay Sands Ticketing, Sistic and Trip.com.
Voyage to Chinese Vineyards
Nov 22 and 23; 5 on 25, Andaz Singapore
Andaz Singapore will be hosting a gathering of rare and exclusive chinese wines at Cantonese restaurant 5 on 25. The two-night wine pairing dinner event is jointly hosted with Meiyu Li, the first female sommelier in Mainland China to attain the Advanced Sommelier accreditation. Savour rare and exclusive wines sourced from 10 remarkable Chinese wine estates spanning eight regions. Many of these wines have been exclusively imported for this event, offering a unique tasting journey through a wide array of vintages. Each diner is priced at $248 per guest. Visit here for reservations.
Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2023
Nov 24 to 26; Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, Levels 3 and 4.
Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2023 is back this Nov with the best of Japanese entertainment and pop culture icons. From premieres of the latest anime titles to the best of Japanese entertainment and pop culture icons, the 15th edition of the festival will present the most popular and trending content in the market.
Jumptopia Playful Wonders
Nov 25, 2023 to Jan 7, 2024; Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Hall C
Kiztopia, Singapore’s mega-indoor edutainment playground, brings back its eagerly-awaited, annual festive bouncy castle wonderland, for the third consecutive year. Jumptopia Playful Wonders spans 45,000 square feet and features two carefully curated zones and 10 specially-designed giant inflatables for a fusion of adventure, culinary delights, and non-stop entertainment. For the first time, there is a dedicated non-ticketed zone for everyone to soak in the one-of-a-kind festive exuberance.
Japanese Film Festival
Oct 5 to Dec 20; various locations
The Japanese Film Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Singapore in a big way. With more than 27 films, including all-new contemporary hits, indie films and must-see retrospectives, this year’s festival will be the longest-running yet. The shows, screening from now till Dec 20, are shown at Shaw Theatres Lido, Asian Film Archive at Oldham Theatre, The Projector (Golden Mile Tower and Picturehouse), Our Tampines Hub and ArtScience Museum (more details will be revealed soon). There are live-action, animated, comedic films, as well as other film genres expressing uniquely charming, powerful, unsettling, and intimate stories of relationships.
For Art’s Sake
Oct 14, 2023 to Jan 28, 2024; various locations
GOFY, a Singapore-grown creative community uniting urban artists from the Southeast Asian region, presents the second edition of For Art’s Sake with 80 artworks from 63 Southeast Asian urban artists installed in 21 commercial venues across the island. The contributing artists hail from six different countries across the region – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The exhibition offers a fresh take on how art is purchased, presented and circulated, making the encounter with art approachable and accessible by melding it with daily life. Artworks are available for purchase from $80.
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.
Universal Studios Singapore Halloween Horror Nights 11
Sep 29 to Nov 4 (selected nights); Universal Studios Singapore
For the first time ever, Netflix’s global hit zombie series All of Us Are Dead will be coming to Universal Studios Singapore Halloween Horror Nights 11. Southeast Asia’s iconic scare event, organised in partnership with the streaming service, will feature a terrifying new experience based on the Korean horror series. Other spine-chilling haunted houses include Rebirth of the Matriarch and DIYU: Descent into Hell. Visitors will also meet the fearsome legendary Chinese pirate Madame Dragon at Dead Man’s Wharf; The Hacker, a destructive A.I. being who reigns supreme over a terrifying cyber-hellscape; and the tormented villagers at The Cursed Kiramam.
LKY100 – The Boy Who Became Prime Minister
Now till Jan 14, 2024
Discover a different side of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at Children’s Museum Singapore’s exhibition, LKY100 – The Boy Who Became Prime Minister. The exhibition, held in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Mr Lee’s birth, traces his story from childhood to his career as a statesman, and examines the values he espoused and the legacy he left behind.
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.
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.
Ang Mo Kio Heritage Trail
Ongoing; Ang Mo Kio town
The refreshed Ang Mo Kio Heritage Trail, first launched by the National Heritage Board (NHB) in 2011, covers a total of 40 heritage sites and includes 10 heritage markers. The trail also reveals new stories about its history. Using fresh research and interviews with town residents, it examines the town’s transformation from plantations and farms to a bustling residential and commercial hub.
VibranSEA exhibition and Aquarist Lab
Ongoing; S.E.A Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa
Deepen your understanding of ocean life and aquatic systems at S.E.A. Aquarium’s two new experiences – VibranSEA and the Aquarist Lab. VibranSEA will offer greater insight into our oceans through art, science and educational displays. Over at the Aquarist Lab, visitors have a window, literally, into marine nursery habitats and plankton culture set-ups. It offers an intimate perspective into how aquarists breed, nurture and care for juvenile marine animals, and culture microorganisms.
