Virtual events, film festivals, breast cancer awareness month and other fun things to do in Singapore this October.
Well, hello there! You’ve made it to the last leg of the year. For us, the “ber” months are simply the best. There’s a spring in our step as we countdown to Halloween, the festive season and the new year (at long last!). Things are definitely looking very different this time but that’s not stopping us from having a fun-filled month. Ahead, we look at all the coolest things to do in October.
Best things to do in Singapore this October 2020
Eat: Pink Hope High Tea at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
7 – 31 Oct
In support of breast cancer awareness month, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore’s The Lobby Lounge unveils a Pink Hope High Tea set in collab with The Estee Lauder Companies. The pink-themed three-tier set includes local kuehs, rose-infused scones and other sweet and savoury treats. Each order serves two and includes two hot beverages like tea, coffee, kopi or teh tarik.
Pink Hope High Tea, The Lobby Lounge, Shangri-La Hotel Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350; 3pm-5pm, daily; $42++ (weekdays), $48++ (weekends). Top up $25++ for a glass of Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne.
Culture: Singapore Writers Festival (SWF)
From 30 Oct
Singapore Writers Festival is back. This time, it explores the theme of intimacy and the meaning of relationships and interactions during the pandemic. How apt! In its digital edition, SWF offers interactive programs, workshops and cross-cultural dialogue with special literary guests.
Singapore Writers Festival, 30 Oct – 8 Nov 2020, online.
Festival: Perspectives Film Festival: Breakthroughs in Cinema
23 Oct onwards
The youth-run film festival, which spotlights international emerging directors, has partnered with Projector Plus. Cinephiles can enjoy a line-up of eight international award-winning films themed around ‘truth’, from heartwarming family tales to gritty thrillers. Watch them any time, anywhere.
Perspectives Film Festival 2020, 23 Oct – 1st Nov, online.
Halloween at Resorts World Sentosa
All month
Celebrate Halloween in style with Resorts World Sentosa as it brings the spook to various attractions, hotels and restaurants. Places such as Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, Malaysian Food Street and Equarius Hotel are offering exciting Halloween-themed deals, meals and activities. Great for all ages! Psst… stay tuned for our full Halloween guide.
Halloween at Resorts World Sentosa, until 1 Nov, various locations.
Celebrate Oktoberfest with Erdinger
All month
The Oktoberfest events may be cut short due to Covid-19 but fret not – Erdinger has something up its sleeves. Enjoy a limited edition of a ‘How to Oktoberfest’ kit with every purchase of a bundle of 12 500ml Erdinger Weissbier Wheat Beer Bottles (from $73.80). The kit comes with two sleek glassware, themed Oktoberfest t-shirts and all the decor you’ll need for an Oktoberfest party at home.
Available online via Shopee, Lazada, Redmart and Amazon PrimeNow
Festival: Painting with Light
2 – 25 Oct
National Gallery Singapore presents Painting with Light, a festival of international films on art. Select from a line-up of 20 short films and full-length feature films that explore the tangible and intangible aspects of home – especially during the ever-changing global and local environments.
Painting with Light, online.
Eat & Play: Rasa Sunset in Paradise
All month
Who needs Bali when you can have a sunset BBQ right here in Singapore? Rest your legs for a special poolside BBQ dinner with scrumptious BBQ platters, coconut cocktails and mocktails at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa. Beach access, sun beds, swimming pool access and sea sports activities like kayaking and pedal boating are also available.
Rasa Sunset in Paradise, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, Singapore; From 4pm-9pm, $95 (adult); $47.50 (child), available on Fri, Sat, Sun, eve of public holidays and public holidays.
Festival: Discover sustainable design with Singapore Archifest
All month
This year, the architectural festival is going offline and online to showcase the impact and positive change that architecture can have on our current climate. There are over 100 programmes to choose from including virtual exhibitions, film screenings, physical pop-ups and online workshops.
Singapore Archifest 2020, until 31 Oct, visit the website for the full line-up.
Festival: Understand the lives of people with dementia
Until 16 Oct
In its third run, The Enabling Festival is going virtual to reach out to more people and raise awareness about dementia. The theme this edition is “Do You See What I See?” and it spotlights caregivers of the dementia community. Take time to explore the various programmes, which include talks by healthcare professionals, movement classes, informational movies and personal stories from caregivers.
The Enabling Festival 2020, online.
Fitness: A virtual run
Until 10 Oct
Run for a good cause with Limitless, a non-profit organisation that’s dedicated to empowering the youth of our society. It’s only a 5km race, so you have no excuses! All funds raised will be given to its youth mental health programmes and every participant is entitled to two masterclasses led by mental health experts.
Sign up online, clock-in period till 10 Oct.
Fitness: Outdoor workouts with GuocoLand and CruCycle
All month
Now that all outdoor exercises have resumed, GuocoLand has partnered with CruCycle for endorphin-pumpin’ weekend workouts at the Urban Park communal space. Select from CruCycle or CruYoga workouts for a solid sweat sesh.
Register online, Level 1, Guoco Tower Urban Park, 1 Wallich Street, Singapore 078881
Pink Hope High Tea Set at Sofitel Singapore City Centre
All month
Another high tea special in support of breast cancer awareness month can be found at Sofitel Singapore City Centre. Also an Estee Lauder Companies collaboration, the afternoon tea set is hosted at 1864 Lobby Lounge. Savour a mix of pink-hued sweet and savoury treats. Each set will also feature a QR code for you to learn more about cancer. Remember to post your high tea experience with the hashtags #TimeToEndBreastCancer and #UnitedinHopeSG. The Estee Lauder Companies will donate $5 per post, up to $10,000, to support breast disease research at Singapore General Hospital.
Pink Hope High Tea Set, $78++ (serves two), email [email protected] or call 6428 5000 to make a reservation.
Exhibition: Planet or Plastic?
All month
The ArtScience Museum welcomes its first exhibition post-circuit breaker with a thought-provoking topic. Joining hands with National Geographic, Planet or Plastic? is a photography exhibition that uncovers the origins of plastic and its environmental impact through mass production. All 70 powerful photographs – shot by renowned photographers around the world – depict the global and local waste crisis. The exhibition also spotlights innovative marine scientists, ecologists, biochemists, conversationalists and even local beach clean-up community Seven Clean Seas for their efforts to solve this worldwide problem.
Planet or Plastic?, till 28 Mar 2021, ArtScience Museum, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
Exhibition: Every Body Plays a Part: A Showcase of Public Health Crises and Responses in Singapore
All month
Now here’s a fitting exhibition for the current climate. The National Museum of Singapore is launching an online showcase about the city’s past experiences with infectious diseases, highlighting how some of these measures are still in place for today’s pandemic. The exhibit brings together 39 never-before-displayed artefacts and a newly-commissioned photograph.
Every Body Plays a Part, available online
Eat: Lazy Breakfast at Andaz
All month
Andaz Singapore has recently reopened and, together with its third birthday celebrations, is kicking things off with a lazy breakfast-themed weekend lunch. Served right to your table a la minute, brunch munchies include one breakfast main (from avocado toast to breakfast beef burger) and unlimited a la carte plates (cold seafood, cold cuts, chia seed pudding, salad, cheeses and eggs, just to name a few). Feeling thirsty? Sip on free-flow local beverages, detox juices, coffee, tea and more! End your day on a sweet note with unlimited waffles, berry crumble tarts and soft serve ice cream.
Lazy Breakfast, Alley on 25, Andaz Singapore, 5 Fraser Street, Singapore 189354; $50++, top up $45++ for free-flow beer, wine, Prosecco and soft drinks, available on weekends & PH, 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Shop: The Lounge by Zerrin returns
All month
Sustainable purveyor Zerrin welcomes its third edition of The Lounge pop-up. Expect some of the best indie sustainable fashion designers, beauty and jewellery brands under one roof. That’s not all! Look forward to livestream interviews and collection walkthroughs with the designers themselves, as well as personal styling sessions and virtual talks covering the impact of fast fashion, the power of swapping, and more!
The Lounge by Zerrin, The Social Space at Marina One, 2nd floor, Singapore 018935; till 8 Dec 2020.
Workshop: Remember When #6: From Memories to Monologues
Until 15 Oct
Seniors can participate in a creative writing workshop to translate life memories into monologues. Led by theatre director and drama educator Jeffrey Tan, the seven session workshop will be held online. Participants will recite their work during the eighth and final session at The Arts House’s Play Den.
Remember When #6: From Memories to Monologues, $25 for all 8 sessions.
Arts: Proposals for Novel Ways of Being
All month
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – no coronavirus is going to stop the arts scene from thriving. Case in point: The National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum are joining forces with 10 other local and indie art institutions to launch a new initiative. Titled Proposals for Novel Ways of Being, the project will feature a series of online and physical exhibitions by over 170 local artists.
Proposals for Novel Ways of Being, till Feb 2021.
Arts: @Home, Truly
All month
Do we have our history buffs in the house? Fuel your mind with the highs, lows and everything in between of Singapore’s storied history with a granddaughter and grandfather duo. This is a digital version and teaser of Home, Truly: Growing up with Singapore, 1950s to the Present, a physical exhibition that will open later this year.
@ Home, Truly, till 31 Dec, online.
Congrats! You’re up to date with all the best things to do in Singapore this October.
