Singapore Lam Ann Association presents the country’s first-ever Singapore Hokkien Lam Ann Cultural Festival taking place from Sep 29 to Oct 8.
A celebration of the colourful culture and storied heritage of Nan’An province in Fujian, China, the festival brings a jamboree of Lam Ann cuisine, history and arts, brought to life amidst exciting activities and live performances.
The festival will be strategically held right beside the historical Hong San See Temple (the Singapore Lam Ann Association is the only association that is seated within the same compound of a temple).
Gazetted as a national monument in 1978, the Hong San See Temple has seen extensive restoration carried out on its facade and grounds, after which it was awarded the Award of Excellence for the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation.
Food for thought
Get a taste of Lam Ann culture with close to 20 food stalls peddling a variety of over 40 Hokkien signatures. Some highlights include Oyster Omelette that features fresh oysters coated in sweet potato starch and fried to crispy perfection; Honglai Chicken Feet that’s infused with a blend of Chinese herbs; Five Spice Meat Roll, a symbol of prosperity; Braised Pork Belly Bun, a Fujian snack stuffed with pork belly, pickled vegetables, peanuts and cilantro; and Hokkien Dumpling that boasts a flavour that is briny, meaty and savoury.
For a sweet taste of tradition, there is the Black Ku Kueh, a century-old delight that is a steamed blend of glutinous rice flour, mugwort and dried sweet potato powder, and Quanzhou Peanut Soup, a serving of well-wishes and blessings in a bowl.
Enjoy the food amid a lively lineup of cultural activities and family workshops suitable for all ages. Bring the kids for a full day of fun such as lantern making, miniature piglets mooncake baking, lantern riddles, clay sculpting, calligraphy, Chinese ink painting and more. For the adults, take a walk down memory lane at a sharing session with Dr Chua Chee Lay, the one and only former Mandarin tutor of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew.
Singapore Hokkien Lam Ann Cultural Festival is happening from Sep 29 to Oct 8 at 30 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238974. Visitors are encouraged to register for free entry tickets here.
