24 exciting things to do in Singapore this weekend (Aug 25-27)

It’s your last chance to catch the annual Singapore Night Festival, but if you’d rather skip the crowds for your weekly fill of the arts, overdose on nostalgia at the Singapore Heritage Short Films screening; or be a part of the conversation on who really owns the city at the Substation’s interactive Discipline The City exhibition. Then squeeze in a run at the Forest GreenRace 60 and end the weekend getting to know the friendliest of strangers at the third edition of Human Library.

Friday, Aug 25

PARTY
American DJ Roger Sanchez brings his house and tech-influenced tracks to Ce La Vi for one night only. Having headlined festival main stages globally, Sanchez was first inspired by the explosion of ‘80s hip hop, which feeds clearly into his tracks now. $28 cover charge gets you one premium pour and entry to a night of infectious grooving. Aug 25

WORKSHOP
Refine your photography skills and learn to shoot like the pros at the Singapore DJI Drone Workshop, where you’ll learn to operate the DJI quadcopters safely while taking photos with a bird’s eye view. Aug 25

DRINK/WELLNESS
Uh oh, beer yoga is back. Sign up for a class where you’ll learn how to pair the pleasure of drinking beer while practicing the mindfulness of yoga. It’ll be held at a rooftop pool-deck, but the exact location will only be provided after booking. Aug 25

PARTY
Feed your soul with good music this weekend as German electronic duo M.A.N.D.Y. returns to Zouk. Known for their seminal track “Body Language”, which became a hit and was voted as the “Ibiza Track of the Season” in 2005, both Phillip Jung and Patrick Bodmer will be dropping some of their deliciously original deep tech tracks as well as remixed productions. Aug 25

THEATER
30 text-based performances after the sun goes down make up Late-Night Texting, which returns to Centre 42 for the second time as part of the Singapore Night Festival. From 10-minute short plays to poetry, improv comedy to storytelling, there’s something for everyone at the two-night event. Admission is free. Aug 25-26

FESTIVAL
The annual Singapore Night Festival is back for its tenth edition. This year, they’re bringing back fan favorites from recent years to tie in with the theme “10 Magical Years”, with acts like Bloco Singapura and Grapple MAX Dojo. And yes, there’ll still be your usual dazzling projections on heritage buildings. Through Aug 26

EXHIBITION
Kult Gallery’s launching a new series to showcase the urban art scene from other countries. Title “From the streets”, the first of its series will shine the spotlight on the Philippines, featuring the works of more than 20 artists. Through Aug 26

FOOD
Japanese beef specialty restaurant Fat Cow is offering a special five-course set dinner designed to showcase some of Japan’s seasonal specials this summer. Feast on tantalizing somen, salmon and scallops, and of course, the star of menu, the prized Hida wagyu. Through Aug 31

EXHIBITION
Lego has teamed up with the Piece of Peace executive committee (made up of Parco Co. Ltd., Lego Japan and Bau Communications) to showcase the various UNESCO world heritage listed sites built using Lego blocks as part of ASEAN’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Singapore is the first Southeast Asian country to host this once-in-a-lifetime UNESCO world heritage art exhibition. Through Sep 3

Saturday, Aug 26

FILM
A curated culmination of the entries from the Singapore Heritage short film competition in 2016, this year’s Singapore Heritage Short Films showcases eight of the finalist’s films. Expect a healthy dose of nostalgia since, naturally, the films document aspects of Singapore’s heritage and culture, from dying trades to local pop icons. Aug 25-26

SPORT
Take the scenic (and environmentally friendly) route when you run the Forest GreenRace 60, organized by The Green Race SG. This year’s trail takes participants through the newly opened NPark trails—from 10km to 60km of uninterrupted running—on a single-track trail. Aug 26

MARKET
The seventh edition of the Organic-Friendly Farmers’ Market is all about staying healthy as a family. On level 10 at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway, educate the little ones about posture and good workout habits, while you stock up on seasonal, organic veggies fresh from local and Asian farms. Aug 26

POETRY
Settle in for an evening of queer horror writing by Singaporean writers, at ContraDiction XIII: Homo Bomoh, as part of IndigNation’s closing line-up. Curated by Stephanie Dogfoot, Ng Yi-Sheng and Zarina Muhammad, the event features readings by local poets Cyril Wong, Lune Loh and others; and includes tales of gay hungry ghosts, lesbian werewolves, and queer hantu—just in time for Seventh Month. Aug 26

MARKET
The folks behind the massively popular pop-up markets are back, with The Local People Night Art Market at Singapore Night Festival. If you find yourself wandering off the Singapore Night Festival trail, shop by moonlight for trinkets and locally made wares, as the market runs late from 5.30pm to midnight. Aug 26

THEATER
After its original staging in 2002, followed by two more sold-out runs in 2003 and 2006, Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) and Esplanade are bringing back Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress for a limited time this month. It tells the story of a legendary Empress Dowager of China, and her trials and tribulations she goes through only to become a victim of lies and rumors. Through Aug 27

EXHIBITION
The Substation asks all the tough questions with Discipline The City, a three-act exhibition exploring the politics of space, control and access in Singapore, through a series of experiential installations from local and international artists. Be prepared to leave disillusioned and wondering: who really owns the city? Through Sep 24

EXHIBITION
Asia’s largest mirror maze has landed in Singapore as a new permanent installation at Science Centre Singapore. The visually-appealing maze features 105 mirror cells, more than 17 interactive exhibits and experiments on light, a bunch of holograms and fake exits. Admission is free but you’ll still have to pay admission charges to the center itself.

Sunday, Aug 27

TALK
Mobile human-loaning library Human Library is back for its third edition, this time shifting to the heartlands to start lesser-had conversations. The initiative brings together people, called Books, from different backgrounds and experiences to share their stories and answer questions. This edition’s catalogue includes a wildlife rescuer, suicide attempt survivors, and a person on an infertility journey. Aug 27

EXHIBITION
Enter the whimsical world of Yayoi Kusama at National Gallery Singapore, the first big-scale survey of her work in Southeast Asia. Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow curated by the Gallery’s Russell Storer and Adele Tan, will showcase more than 120 paintings, sculptures, videos and installations spanning over seven decades—some of which have never been shown before. Through Sep 3

ART
Now that The O.P.E.N. is over, check out the 90 different talks, workshops, plays and other boundary-pushing performances at this year’s Singapore International Festival of the Arts (SIFA). Through Sep 9

FILM
Now in its 25th year, the Israel Film Festival has become one of the oldest and longest running ones around. They’re upsizing their offerings this year, screening more than 15 films, documentaries, classics and even a 10-episode TV series over 10 days, across two venues. Through Sep 10

FOOD
After a great first run, local Szechuan cuisine pioneer Si Chuan Dou Hua is bringing back last year’s well-received vegetable-based menu. This time, expect dishes rarely seen in a Chinese restaurant, like the Portobello Mushroom with Truffle and Orzo Pasta served with Szechuan Chilli Sauce, served as part of a course menu ($78-$98) that is filled with meatless (not strictly vegetarian) creations. Through Sep 15

FOOD
The popular Singapore Restaurant Month is now a full-fledged festival, thanks to the Restaurant Association of Singapore bringing together more than 200 chefs who will be preparing a locally-inspired dish at their respective eateries for the very first Singapore Restaurant Festival. Through Sep 30

EXHIBITION
Robots have invaded the ArtScience Museum and everyone’s invited to take a peek at what the future of cybernetics, artificial intelligence and genetic modification might look like at the HUMAN+: The Future of Our Species exhibition. Come with an open mind as you interact with life-like humanoids and find out how robots are already living among us. Through Oct 15