Get ready for traditional Cantonese opera performances, Hainanese bak chang crafting workshops and even a Dragon Boat-style rowing machine contest at Chinatown’s Dragon Boat Festival 2024 from Jun 7 to 9.
After all, how much do you really know about the ancient Chinese festival (which falls on Jun 10 this year) apart from the customary feasting on delicious rice dumplings?
Take this as your chance to brush up on the Dragon Boat Festival’s rich history and cultural significance, while having a ball of a time with friends and family in the lead-up to the big day itself.
The festivities are jointly organised by the Chinatown Business Association and its programme partners. Highlights from the three-day street festival include a tell-all exhibition by the Sun Yat-Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall titled Dragon Boat Festival: Of Thumping Drumbeats and Delicious Dumplings.
As its name suggests, the exhibition grants visitors a glimpse into the past of the festival, separating fact from fiction and history from legend, before diving into the evolving nature of hearty rice dumplings, as expressed through different Chinese dialect groups.
Speaking of rice dumplings, there’ll even be a chance to whip them up yourself, Hainanese-style. Note that you’ll need the patience to painstakingly stuff bamboo leaves with glutinous rice, savoury meat, mushrooms and chestnuts before wrapping it all up into a beautiful pyramid.
Alternatively, sign up for A Sip of Heritage with Rice Wines workshop where you can explore the traditional Chinese medicine benefits of rice wine, savour the different varieties of rice wine, and learn how to make sweet, fermented rice wine with glutinous rice balls.
Participate in the “Guess the Number of Bak Changs in an Old-School Gunny Sack” contest, or try a slew of other kid-friendly activities like lantern riddles, dragon boat craft workshops and traditional childhood games.
Get your adrenaline pumping for the Dragon Boat (Rowing Machine) Race and compete to burn the greatest number of calories in five minutes. You’ll stand to win Chinatown F&B vouchers worth $30.
There’ll even be an opportunity to do some good. Buy a Wish Dumpling Sachet for $5 and hang well-wishes on a wishing wall; all proceeds go to the Association of Persons with Special Needs. While doing good is its own reward, donors will also stand a chance to win a 2D1N staycation package by Amara Singapore and Dorsett Singapore.
Admission to the Dragon Boat Festival, happening from Jun 7 to 9, is free. Tickets for selected workshops can be purchased here. For a detailed event line-up., visit www.chinatown.sg.
