Weekends are for artful experiences, CNY celebrations, sustainable living and crushing on boybands.
Get some coffee, pronto! This weekend in January has a mother load of amazing things to do. Hold on tight – there’s A LOT of art to soak in, a spectacular CNY light-up sesh at Chinatown, a rare pilgrimage to witness BTS and a sale that’s too good to be true.
Art: Singapore Art Week
All weekend
There’s never a month that celebrates creativity as much as January. The much anticipated Singapore Art Week will be taking over some of our favourite neighbourhoods and drenching them in art. Kicking off this Saturday is a nine-day sesh of 100 odd events across five precincts. There are several parallel events energising our island so plot your life according to the SAW calendar and hit up exhibits, talks, performances, workshops, film screens and other immersive activities.
Singapore Art Week 2019, various locations
Sustainability: Earthfest 2019
Sunday, 20 Jan
We’re psyched to see EarthFest back for a fourth edition and this year, it’s all about ‘happiness through responsible living’. Think minimalism, zero waste and carbon positive habits. Head to Marina Barrage on Sunday for talks by Green Is The New Black, a book swap by Secondsguru and the Really Really Free Market among other events. Swapaholic will be there for upcycling trinkets and personal styling workshop as well as an insane accessory swap to exchange preloved bags, jewellery, hats, scarves, belts and stuff.
Earthfest 2019, Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018951
Festival: Chinatown Chinese New Year celebrations
All weekend
It’s that time of the year again! Chinatown has been all decked for a few weeks now but the official CNY celebrations commence this weekend. The festive street bazaar with goodies and decorations open shop on Friday and the nightly stage performances start on Saturday. The all-glorious light-up? Sunday marks the official light-up and opening ceremony complete with fireworks and performances. Don’t miss it!
Chinatown Chinese New Year 2019 celebrations, various locations in Chinatown
For more CNY 2019 events and parties
Shop: A Vintage Tale moving out sale
All weekend
A Vintage Tale has been making our retro-lovin’ heart skip a beat or two. And before moving to a bigger space (downstairs from their current store), they’re hitting us with a clearance sale. Get 30% off on 18 – 19 Jan and 50% off 20 – 21 Jan. On 22 Jan, it’s 70% down, and everything goes for $30 on 23 and $20 on 24th & 25th. So are you gonna grab that piece you’ve been eyeing on day 1 or will you hold off till the last day for a steal-deal!
A Vintage Tale, 277 Joo Chiat Road 02-01 Singapore 427531
Art: Artwalk Little India
All weekend
One of Singapore’s most vibrant neighbourhoods is buzzing a lil’ extra this weekend. From 18 Jan – 4 Feb, Artwalk Little India is planning to add a handsome helping of spice to the precinct. This exciting multi-disciplinary public art project includes a trail, traditional dance performances, tons of interesting workshops, a documentary film screen and more.
Artwalk Little India, 18 Jan – 4 Feb, various locations in Little India
Film: Japanese Film Festival
All weekend
Love a good Japanese film? This festival is one helluva way to unwind indoors. This weekend catch 10 amazing movies from the land of the rising sun – we’re particularly intrigued by the opening film ‘One Cut of the Dead’, a horror comedy that offers a cheeky take on the usual terror of typical zombie flicks.
Japanese Film Festival, Shaw Theatres Lido, 350 Orchard Road Shaw House Level 5/6, Singapore 238868
Festival: Light to Night Festival
All weekend
And it’s back – The Light to Night Festival kicks off this weekend and will spread across six weeks. It’s the first of two editions that runs from 18 – 27 Jan as a part of the Singapore Art Week. Expect special public art commissions in and around the Civic District – catch the facades of the National Gallery, The Arts House, Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, and the Asian Civilisations Museum change skin. Don’t miss the many outdoors installations around The Arts House, ACM Green, Esplanade Park too.
Light to Night Festival 2019, 18 Jan – 24 Feb, across various locations in Civic District
Art: Aliwal Urban Art Festival
Saturday, 19 Jan
Save the date, people! One of our fave celebrations of subcultures, Aliwal Urban Art Festival is coming to brighten up your Saturday. Brace yourself for oodles of urban art and subculture – dance battles, graffiti & graphic art, skateboarding, an alternative Kampong Glam walking tour, great live music and tons of workshops. Plus, streetwear and art market with goodies from local indie artists, an obstacle course for drone (wait, what!) and a closing party, of course.
Aliwal Urban Art Festival, Aliwal Arts Centre 28 Aliwal Street, Singapore 199918
Party: Now that’s what I call boyband music! at Nineteen80
Saturday, 19 Jan
If you’re looking for a place to unwind on Saturday night, Nineteen80 is throwing a boyband music party that’s giving all us 90s kids goosebumps. Better practise those synchronized dance movies, this throwback sesh is serious business with Backstreet Boys, N’sync, Boyzone and others on loop.
Nineteen80, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-05, Singapore 088444
Read for more parties in January 2019.
Concert: BTS World Tour Love Yourself Singapore
Saturday, 19 Jan
It would be criminal to talk about this weekend and not mention the BTS concert, even if it sold out seconds after it was released. If you bagged tickets to Korean boy band’s concert, you’re one lucky cookie. For the rest of us, we’ll just have to stalk InstaStories for glimpses.
BTS World Tour Love Yourself Singapore, National Stadium, Singapore
Read for more concerts and gigs in 2019.