Looking for the best things to do in Singapore? This weekend is for extravagant parades, sustainable shopping, gin tasting and non-stop brunching.
Get out of the rut and put some sizzle into your weekend plans with these cherry-picked events that guarantee a good time – from funky markets and Insta-worthy events to award-winning plays and more CNY fun!
Party: Go out on the lash at Kinki
16 Feb
You’ll be seeing double this Saturday at Kinki’s Eatmepoptart Rule, Britannia! party. Head up to this rooftop time for a bloody blast – DJs weelikeme & KiDG will be killing it like always with Britpop, punk rock, mod, new wave and whatever else they fancy.
Kinkilicious x Eatmepoptart present: Rule, Britannia!, Kinki 70 Collyer Quay, #02-02 Customs House, Singapore 049323
Festival: Catch Chingay & other CNY celebrations
All weekend
This year’s Chingay Parade on 15 – 16 February is bound to extra spesh. With a theme like Dreams Funtasia, the Bicentennial edition of this extravaganza promises to be bigger and brighter. Get those tickets and head down to the F1 pit building this weekend for the 47th edition of the Chingay Parade finale. It’s absolutely lit with multi-ethnic performances, massive, elaborate floats and magical fireworks. Don’t miss the 270 x 7metre painting created by three multi-disciplinary artists to commemorate the Singapore Bicentennial.
Psst: Don’t have tickets but want in on the fun? Hang around Chinatown’s New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street (17 Feb from 6 pm onwards) for Chingay 2019 @ Heartlands and catch the floats go by. Besides, it’s also the last weekend to catch this year’s CNY special events like the underwater dragon dance at Dive into a Sea of Abundance at SEA Aquarium and advice seeking at Fortune Street at Resorts World Sentosa
Chingay 2019, F1 Pit Building 1 Republic Blvd, Singapore 038975
Read for more CNY 2019 events and parties.
Drink: Get into the spirit with Brass Lion Gin
15 Feb
Here’s a plan – Take your pals to the EC Proof Flat on Hongkong Street for a proper spirit appreciation and cocktail making sessions. This Friday’s spirit is Singapore’s own Brass Lion Gin! And the founder Jamie Koh will be hosting the session taking you through the process, botanicals and yet-to-be-released editions.
Salon Social Spirit Tasting – Brass Lion Gin with Founder Jamie Koh!, EC Proof Flat, 43A Hongkong Street Singapore 059682
Sustainable: See green at PlantsActually Pop-Up Market
All weekend
To offset the carbon footprint caused printing of their books at Math Paper Press, BooksActually is hosting a plant pop-up market. They’ve been growing and selling little plants in a bid to slowly but surely cancel or at least reduce their tree-killing karma (their words not mine). We think it’s a fabulous excuse to visit Tiong Bahru and pick up a plant baby!
PlantsActually Pop-Up Market, BooksActually, No. 9 Yong Siak Street, Tiong Bahru, Singapore 168645
Shop: Treasure hunt at Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market
Yasss, our fave vintage market is back and we’ve got our wallets ready. Go to Katong Square and bring home unique finds like vinyl records, vintage jewellery, retro watches, haute couture and objets d’art from resident vendors like A Vintage Tale, Vinyl Kakis, My Record Place, The Wishing Well and plenty more. Our latest finds? A Swedish board game from the 70s and bakelite egg cups from the 50s!
Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market February Edition, 1pm-10pm, Katong Square 88 East Coast Road, Singapore
Read for more markets and pop-ups in Singapore.
Theatre: Sit front row at Off Centre
All weekend
Newsflash: It’s the last weekend to catch the critically acclaimed local play Off Centre presented by The Necessary Stage. Back on stage 26 years after its premiere, this play honestly addresses the stigma that surrounds mental illness, something that sadly is still relevant. Follow the story of a friendship between two schizophrenics Saloma and Vinod as they deal with their own conflicts and social prejudice.
Off Centre presented by The Necessary Stage, Victoria Theatre, 9 Empress Pl, Singapore 179556
Shop + Sustainable: Swap your accessories at The Green Collective
16 Feb
We’re regulars at Raye Padit’s The Fashion Pulpit, swapping out outfits in a more responsible way. This weekend, they are collaborating with our go-to eco store The Green Collective SG, for an Accessories Swap. Trade up to five pre-loved accessories like necklaces, bags, shoes, hats, bracelets, and rings for handmade, upcycled items from Taikensonzai, You Living and Zhai Eco. Register online, drop off your items between 12 noon and 3pm and start swapping at 4pm.
Bling it On! Accessories Swap, 4pm-7pm, The Green Collective SG, Kinex Mall #01-36 to 41, 11 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437157
Read for more markets and pop-ups in Singapore.
Festival: Bright and shiny at Singapore Bicentennial
All weekend
What’s Singapore Bicentennial you ask? Well, we fleshed it out in our guide but TL;DR it’s a commemoration marking the 200th anniversary of the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles while also reflecting our island’s history 700 years pre-Raffles. Kickstarting the event are i Light Singapore and Light to Night Festival. Spend time exploring i Light that spans from Marina Bay area to Fort Canning and includes light art installations, eco market, outdoor movie screening, Silent Disco sessions at ArtScience Museum and more. And around the Civic District, seven iconic monuments will come alive with art facades or skins for Light to Night Festival.
i Light Singapore & Light to Night – Singapore Bicentennial edition, various locations.
Party: A brunch with a view at Ce La Vi
16 Feb
How does four hours of free-flow Veuve Clicquot champagne and buffet spread with a side of skyline sound? Ce La Vi’s Sky High Brunch is one helluva party with great tipples, modern Asian food and laidback house beats to set the mood.
Sky High Brunch at Ce La Vi, Marina Bay Sands, 1 Bayfront Avenue Marina Bay Sands Tower 3, Singapore 018971
Shop: Have a ball at So Gelam Market
15 – 17 February
And it’s back. Right near vibrant Haji Lane, So Gelam Market’s February edition will be setting up shop. Come on down, we bet this space will spark joy with you and the fambam. If you’re looking to shop, play and chill this weekend, this is where you need to be.
So Gelam Market, 15 Feb 8pm-11pm; 16 Feb 2pm-11pm, 17 Feb 2pm-9pm, Baghdad Street, Singapore 199651