Weekends are for chasing lights at night, soaking in art, getting your CNY on and screaming your lungs out.
Oh my word, it’s February and the fun has no intention of stopping. We’ve lined up a curated list of 10 downright incredible things to do in Singapore this weekend. Whaddya waiting for?
CNY: Chinatown Chinese New Year celebrations
All weekend
It’s starting to look a lot like Chinese New Year! Our favourite neighbourhood is all decked up in red and gold for the most auspicious festival. It’s a marvellous sight – thousands of handmade red and gold lanterns line the roads while a big family of pigs welcomes everyone on the main street. It’s the last weekend to catch the festive street bazaar that’s brimming with goodies and decorations, the nightly stage performances, and more.
Chinatown Chinese New Year 2019 celebrations, various locations in Chinatown
Find more CNY 2019 events here.
Food: Le Petit Chef at The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
All weekend
Move over Ratatouille, the world’s smallest chef is in town! A part of i Light Singapore- Bicentennial Edition, Le Petit Chef is one special dining experience. Get tickets and watch the famous lil’ chef battle creatures right on your table, only to serve you one incredible four-course meal. Talk about dinner and a show!
Le Petit Chef at La Brasserie, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326
CNY: Spring Surprise at Gardens by the Bay
All weekend
This weekend, Gardens by the Bay is celebrating Chinese New Year in style! Be the first to catch an LED performance of the auspicious Chinese myth (yup, the dragon) and Chinese Orchestra performances by Singapore Chinese Orchestra as well as Ding Yi Music Company. And of course, no CNY festivity is complete without the majestic lion dance on poles at the Supertree Grove. There will also be family friendly games, festive marketplace and of course, vibrant lanterns. It’s gonna be grand!
Spring Surprise, till 10 Feb, various timings, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Trail: BalikSG augmented reality trail
All weekend
Fresh on the App store is a fun new app developed by National Heritage Board and the National Parks Board for Singapore Bicentennial. Call your friends, clock in your steps and learn and a thing or two about history this weekend with BalikSG, an augmented reality trail app. Just download BalikSG for Singapore River Trail – follow the instructions to see important historical events in AR. We gave it a shot and trust us it’s pretty cool! Watch the bridges evolve, see the early settlers, walk into a painting where Sir Stamford Raffles, Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Sultan Hussein Shah are signing the historical 1819 treaty, listen to a conversation with Raffles and William Farquhar, see Singapore’s first town plan and more.
BalikSG on Apple App Store and Google Play Store
CNY: River Hongbao 2019
Sunday, 3 Feb
Need a fun Sunday activity? Attend day 1 of River Hongbao festival, one of Singapore’s most classic CNY events. Thousands flock to the float every year to watch and marvel at mega-sized colourful lanterns, eclectic live performances and plenty of fireworks every day (check the schedule to time yourself). Highlights include a Popular Food Street for scoffing local snacks, “A Harbour and Home: The Singapore River Through Time” exhibition that takes you through Singapore’s past in a replica of a junk boat, and a fun amusement park complete with carnival games and rides for the kiddos.
River Hongbao 2019, till 10 Feb, 2pm – 11pm, The Float @ Marina Bay, 20 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039805
Event: Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
All weekend
Marina Bay area is calling out to you this weekend. This year, it’s back and it’s bigger than before. Get set to shriek – we’re counting 40 rides and games for thrill-seekers out there. Play for plushies, stuff face with fun food, pick up a skill from local artisans manning art and crafts workshops and most importantly, take tons of Insta-worthy pictures!
Prudential Marina Bay Carnival, 22 Dec 2018 – 24 Mar 2019, Bayfront Event Space
Festival: i Light Singapore – Bicentennial Edition
All weekend
Say hello the biggest and brightest i Light Singapore! With 33 sustainable light art installations, i Light spreads across Marina Bay, up the Singapore River all the way to Fort Canning this year – all to commemorate Singapore Bicentennial. We hear it takes five full hours to complete it all. There’s a lot to cover – apart from all the lit (pun intended) light art installations, don’t miss the bridges. TL;DR: Catch the massive multimedia show on the river, walk past Singapore’s iconic bridges for glorious artworks, take a breather at The Lawn@Marina Bay for an eco-conscious marketplace and workshops and drop by The Incubator at Esplanade Park for an immersive indoor show.
i Light Singapore – Bicentennial Edition, various locations.
See our Singapore Bicentennial guide for the complete lowdown here.
Trail: Gillman Barracks Art & History Tour
Saturday, 2 Feb
How well do you know Gillman Barracks? Get your art on this weekend with Friends of the Museums (FOM) who are hosting a free trial of contemporary arts cluster. Get a lesson in history, visit galleries and fill your Saturday with some amazing art. Limited slots, so register asap!
Gillman Barracks Art & History Tour, Gillman Barracks 9 Lock Rd Singapore 108937
Art: Artwalk Little India
All weekend
Last weekend to catch Artwalk Little India! Adding a handsome helping of spice to an already vibrant prescient, this multi-disciplinary public art project must not be missed. Catch traditional Indian dance and music performances, walk around to appreciate the new murals, sign up for workshops, sign up for a dinner theatre storytelling experience and more.
Artwalk Little India, 18 Jan – 4 Feb, various locations in Little India
Festival: Light to Night 2019 – Bicentennial Edition
All weekend
The Civic District is buzzing this weekend! Traces and Echoes, the themed for the second edition of the Light to Night festival 2019, is all about Singapore’s collective memories, tales and people from the early days. Seven iconic monuments will come alive with art skins that all tell tales. What more? This weekend, the National Gallery has an open house. Access all the exhibits (including Minimalism), comedy shows, live music, a festive food village and more!
Light to Night Festival 2019 – Bicentennial Edition, various locations in the Civic District.
Check out our Singapore Bicentennial guide for the complete lowdown.