With National Day fast approaching, it’s no wonder that a number of events in store for us this weekend are out to celebrate anything local. A number of marketplaces will be running this weekend – opt for the Singapasar if you’re looking to explore homegrown design-centric brands, or the Sunday Social Market if you’re just looking to chill. For something a little more educational and meaningful, visit the Piece of Peace LEGO Exhibition or be part of the audience for some Southeast-Asian narrative films that will be screening at Poetic Justic: Personalising Politics on Screen. If you’re all for just having a good time, then rocking out to the beats at Sundown Festival, hyping with the dance crews at KOD S.E.A. Street Dance Cup, or winding down in the pool at Pool Vibes Only will be perfect for you.
1. Piece of Peace World Tour Singapore 2017
True to its name, this UNESCO World Heritage Exhibition will be taking pieces from all over the world and reconstructing them on table-tops with an art medium you might not have guessed – LEGO bricks.
This exhibition will be featuring the likes of 44 World Heritage sites from all over the world, inclusive of the Leaning Tower of Pisa from Italy, the statues of Easter Island from Chile, and the Sydney Opera House from Australia. In celebration of ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary, the exhibition will also feature heritage sites from nine countries in the region such as Malaysia’s Kinabalu Park in Sabah and Indonesia’s Borobudur Temple. At the exhibit’s opening, Singapore has also unveiled its very own piece: a reconstructed version of Singapore Botanic Gardens, the talk of the town when it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.
But this exhibition isn’t one where all you do is spectate. Be part of the action at the Brick By Brick SG Area, which allows you to build your very own Singapore-inspired LEGO creations. Let your imagination run wild – the most creative pieces will be kept and incorporated into a topographical map of Singapore at the end of the day!
Date: 27 July – 3 September 2017
Venue: Fort Canning Arts Centre
5 Cox Terrace
Singapore 179620
Time:
Mon–Thurs: 10AM – 9PM
Fri–Sun: 10AM–12AM
Admission:
Above 17: $17/$19 (Weekday/Weekend)
4–16 years old, above 60: $13/$15 (Weekday/Weekend)
2. Singapasar 2017
Held annually by The Farm Store, Singapasar is a marketplace that will be playing host to a multitude of local designer brands, serving as a platform for the launch of their newest products as well. Products range from that of food to accessories, stationery, and even furniture, and are largely localised flavours or designs that will tell tales of our Singapore heritage.
Some of the carefully curated labels to look out for include BooksActually, Singapore’s most popular independent bookstore dedicated to showcasing local work, Miniature Asian Chef, a store specialising in miniature Singapore food accessories, and Carrie K., a local label that crafts its own artisanal jewellery.
What better days are there to hold a market dedicated solely to homegrown brands than the National Day weekend? If you hadn’t succeeded in securing a bid for NDP tickets and are looking for some way to celebrate our country, you might want to consider showing our local brands some support.
Date: 4 – 6 August 2017
Venue: National Design Centre
111 Middle Road
Singapore 188969
Time:
Fri: 4PM – 9PM
Sat, Sun: 11AM–8AM
Admission: Free
3. Poetic Justice: Personalising Politics on Screen
Watch as contemporary Southeast-Asian filmmakers interweave their own narratives into actual political events from their own national histories. In Poetic Justice – Personalising Politics on Screen, seven of such films will be screening over the weekend, with films originating from countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and even Singapore.
The intriguing plots of these movies can be found here, and they are definitely a fresh breath of air if you’re the type to have your mind glued on catching the latest movie blockbuster. A panel discussion with filmmakers Anocha Suwichakornpong (ดาวคะนอง By the Time It Gets Dark), Edmund Yeo (River of Exploding Durians 榴莲忘返), Green Zeng (The Return) and Yosep Anggi Noen (Istirahatlah Kata-Kata or Solo, Solitude) will be held on Sunday from 4.30PM – 6PM, where filmmakers will examine the concept of poetic justice in fictional imaginings of their nation’s past, as well as the ethical considerations of a creator involved in this process.
Date: 4 – 6 August 2017
Venue: The Arts House at The Old Parliament
1 Old Parliament Lane
Singapore 179429
Time: View screening timings here.
Admission: $10. Book tickets here.
4. KOD S.E.A Street Dance Cup 2017
An extremely groovy fight is about to go down at this weekend’s Keep On Dancing (KOD) S.E.A Street Dance Cup, an annual dance competition that pits Southeast Asia’s best dancers against one another. Teams will be battling it out in this qualifying, knockout tournament in order to win themselves a chance to be flown to Korea to represent their country in the final KOD Asia Cup, one of the biggest international dancing competitions in the region.
Categories include Hip Hop, B-boy, Locking, and Popping, and if you know the difference between these genres, then you’re likely part of the crowd that’s in the know about this massive dance battle. But if you don’t, then why not take the weekend off to watch teams fight not with their fists, but with their moves?
Date: 5 – 6 August 2017
Venue: Refuge
CHIJMES
30 Victoria Street, B1-03
Singapore 187996
Time: 12PM – 8PM
Admission: $10.
5. Sundown Fest
In the past years, Sundown Festival has been featuring regional acts hailing all the way from countries such as Korea and Japan. This year, as though in the spirit of National Day, the performance lineup will consist solely of local music acts, a first for Sundown Festival.
Taking to the stage will be performers The Summer State, a pop/rock band that has opened for international acts such as Simple Plan and Mayday Parade, Jack & Rai, acoustic duo veterans in the local music scene, and Derrick Hoh, who has come a long way since finishing third at Project Superstar 2005. Other acts include Lingkai, Jason Chung, Farrago, Lee Teng, Ashdown, Jean Goh, and Axel Brixxy, making for an exciting evening at City Beach Resort on 5th August.
General admission tickets are priced at a mere $15, which is incredibly worth-it for a night of rocking out and partying to some of the best artistes in Singapore. Get ready to work up a sweat dancing to the poppy music of our local bands – though you’d also be able to get a chance to cool-off by chilling to the mellow, acoustic tunes of our singers.
Date: 5 August 2017
Venue: City Beach Resort, Labrador Park
8 Port Rd
Singapore 117540
Time: 4PM till late
Admission: $15. Book tickets here.
6. Sunday Social Market
Sunday Social will be bringing you a marriage of the best things in life – food, music and fashion – with the Sunday Social Market. A passion project of DJ Zig Zach and boutique owner Jade Amar, this marketplace may slightly resemble Singapasar, which will be happening over the weekend as well. However, what sets it apart is its lounge vibes. With its focus on good music to set the tone, music selectors Giuseppe G, Nic RiffRaff Anastas, and Muto Masashi will be on hand to string together the best house music to electrify the atmosphere.
Featured vendors include COVER ME NOT, a swimsuit line created specially for petite women, Lilla Lane, a Singaporean independent boutique, and Irvins Salted Egg, home to Singapore’s best crispy, salted-egg fish skin. With it being hosted by roast joint Camp Kilo Charcoal Club, expect delectable juicy ribs and roasted whole pigs to be served as well, alongside the good food already made available by the stalls.
Date: 6 August 2017
Venue: Camp Kilo Charcoal Club
66 Kampong Bugis #01-01
Singapore 338987
Time: 2PM – 7PM
Admission: Free
7. Pool Vibes Only
The weather has been blazing hot recently, so what better way to spend a lazy Saturday than to relax in a pool with an icy beverage in your grasp?
W Singapore Sentosa Cove is hosting a pool party open to the public, and entry is completely free as long as you RSVP by this Friday, 4th August. Groove to chill-out beats and unwind with tropical cocktails by the pool, or join in for some Sunset Yoga from 6PM–7PM for a good stretch.
Tickets at the door are $20 nett, and inclusive of a free beverage as well. The perfect opportunity to drag your girlfriends – or boyfriends – along for a relaxing afternoon escaping the heat.
Date: 6 August 2017
Venue: W Singapore Sentosa Cove
21 Ocean Way
Singapore 098374
Time: 2PM – 7PM
Admission: Free if RSVP by 4th August. $20 at the door (inclusive of a free drink).
