Events and festivals in Singapore
You’re nearly at the end of January – congratulations, you survived the first month of 2019! Now all that’s left to do is to recharge and reward yourself this weekend, and there’s an inaugural coffee festival for coffee addicts, a mind-blowing show by an award-winning mentalist and magician, and an underground bar to explore in the CBD.
1. La Kopi
Source:La Kopi
Coffee connoisseurs, you’re in for a treat at the inaugural La Kopi 2019 – a one-of-a-kind coffee consumer festival with all kinds of quality brews to savour, an exciting live barista competition to witness, a variety of games and activities to participate in, and masterclasses with world-renowned roasters!
Source:La Kopi
Designed to raise awareness and appreciation of coffee roasters and bakeries in Singapore, there’ll be desserts and pastries available to go with your beverages. Up to 70 vendors – some from Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Hong Kong – will set up booths for you to explore, and budding baristas can rub shoulders with the likes of the 2018 Japan Aeropress Champion and the folks from The Cupping Room HK.
Source:La Kopi
An origami dripper demo by Trunk Coffee Japan and pour-over coffee demo by Hoshikawa Cafe are also some of the highlights of the event, and guests can also relieve their childhood days with old-school games like marbles (gor li), hopscotch, and five stones.
Address: Singapore Expo Hall 5B, 1 Expo Dr, Singapore 486150
Date & Time: 25th & 26th January: 11AM – 9PM | 27th January: 11AM – 7PM
Website
2. Decathlon Singapore Lab
Source:@xavierlur
If you’re on the hunt for some affordable yet sturdy sports gear, you’re in luck because major sports retailer Decathlon just opened a brand new 24-hour outlet at Kallang and it’s the largest one yet in Singapore at 5000 square metres.
Source:Xavier Lur
Source:@xavierlur
Known as Decathlon Singapore Lab, this megastore not only offers its usual diverse range of budget-friendly goods, but also uses AR and virtual simulation technology to enhance customer experience. Think hiking path with a gravel surface for in-store testing of products, foot scans to ensure that you purchase shoes that are best-suited for your feet, and free health assessments at their Active Health Lab!
Test the grip of your shoes on various surfaces! Source:@xavierlur
Plus, if you don’t have time to head down and scour this outlet for a particular item, simply place your order online and get it ready for collection at any store of your choice within just 2 hours. It’s an unprecedented level of efficiency, and it’s all because they use conveyor belts to manage their online orders.
Address: 230 Stadium Boulevard, Singapore 397799
Opening Hours: Opens 24 hours
Website
3. Chi Kinjo
Source:@life_as_chikinjo
If adventure is what you’re craving for, head out when the sun sets and explore Chi Kinjo, a badass new izakaya in Telok Ayer with an underground bar, flashy Japanese-inspired decor, and refreshing spins on traditional Japanese dishes.
The Crouching Tiger Roll, which is made with 3 different types of prawns. Source:@life_as_chijinko
Helmed by the same folks behind the popular bars Sum Yi Tai, Mona Lounge, and Eliza, Chi Kinjo’s mysterious backstory is set in old-school Kyoto when chaos was rife. Serving everything from starters and hot small plates to maki, aburi nigiri, and hot big plates, Chi Kinjo’s underground bar is also a highball den, and those bored of the usual cocktail selections can opt for interesting concoctions like Blackcurrant Oolong ($14).
Gin & Ginger and Shiso Watermelon. Source:@life_as_chijinko and @life_as_chijinko
Address: 29 Stanley Street, Singapore 068738
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 5PM – 1AM
Website
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4. Psyche! by Phoenix
Source:APACTix
Prepare yourself for a night of electrifying and mind-boggling performances at Psyche!, a highly-raved show by Australia’s award-winning mentalist, hypnotist, and magician, Phoenix.
Source:@mentalistphoenix
Using micro-expression training, psychological tricks, body language reading, and lie detection to influence and predict the audience’s thoughts and abilities, you’ll feel like he’s a genuine mind reader with unstoppable powers. Apparently he’s able to make people sleep at will.
Source:Mentalist Phoenix
On top of that, there’ll be stunning visual effects and death-defying acts like escaping from a water tank, so you can be sure that you’ll be kept on the edge of your seat throughout the entire show.
Purchase your tickets here!
Address: Capitol Theatre, Capitol Piazza, 11 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178905
Date & Time: 26th January | 6.30PM
Ticket Pricing: $78 – $140
Website
5. Far Ocean CNY Warehouse Sales 2019
Source:Farocean
Skip the crowded restaurants and their exorbitant prices this Chinese New Year Eve by staying in and whipping up a hearty homecooked meal instead! Far Ocean, a global seafood company that specialises in harvesting wild-caught, sashimi-grade fishes, is holding its annual Far Ocean CNY Warehouse Sales once again and has up to a whopping 70% off steamboat and reunion dinner essentials.
Source: Far Ocean
This includes a ‘Mix & Match’ promotion on selected items, whereby shoppers can purchase 1 product for just $15, 2 products for $12 each, 3 products for $10 each, and 10 products for $10 with 1 extra FOC.
They have CNY snacks for sale too! Source: Far Ocean
With a simple fish dish alone in most eateries capable of setting you back by up to $40, think of how much money you can save when you purchase shabu-shabu meat cuts and fresh seafood at discounted wholesale prices instead!
Address: Far Ocean, 15 Fishery Port Road, Singapore 619735
Date & Time: 19th – 22nd January, 26th – 27th January, 2nd – 3rd February | 9AM – 5PM
Website
6. Light to Night Festival
Source:National Gallery Singapore
The Light to Night Festival is back again for its 3rd edition and it’s bigger and better with a 6-week long festival! Comprising of 2 parts, there’ll be a marquee event for the Singapore Art Week running from 18th – 27th Jan, and Art x Social, a carnival with art, music, food and drinks from 25th – 26th Jan and 1st – 2nd Feb.
Source:@nationalgallerysingapore
Occupying a large part of the Civic District, those looking for interactive art installations that will stimulate our 5 senses can wander about the indoor and outdoor areas of National Gallery Singapore, The Arts House, Asian Civilisations Museum, the Esplanade Park, Victoria Theatre, and Victoria Concert Hall.
Source:@whole.is.home
Themed Traces and Echoes, all the works on display are inspired by personal stories and memories, and the ever-popular light show Art Skins on Monuments will be available too from 8PM onwards.
Refer here for more information on the festival!
Address: Civic District
Date & Time: 18th January – 24th February | 5PM – 12AM
Website
7. Singapore Art Week 2019
Source:Singapore Art Museum
Besides the Light to Night Festival, artsy folks are in for another treat – the Singapore Art Week. Already in its 7th year running, the 9-day celebration of the visual arts will take over various venues across Singapore, ranging from galleries and museums to independent art spaces and neighbourhoods.
ARTWALK at Little India. Source:National Arts Council
Choose from a wide range of over 100 events lined up, which includes exhibits, art fairs, talks, performances, workshops, film screenings, and more. One such programme to look out for is Gillman Barracks’ well-known Art After Dark, a wonderful combination of stimulating visual art and heart-pumping live music.
Source:Gillman Barracks
Check out the full list of activities here!
Date: 19th – 27th January
Website
8. Japanese Film Festival
Source:Japanese Film Festival SG
Whether it’s spine-chilling horror flicks or saccharine sweet rom-coms, Japan has always been known for their film industry, and film buffs can now catch a specially curated series of acclaimed works by established directors at the Japanese Film Festival 2019.
One Cut of the Dead starts with a non-stop one-take 37-minute shot. Source:Singapore Film Society
These include award-winning horror comedy ‘One Cut of the Dead’, one of the biggest Japanese indie hits of 2018 that puts a cheeky spin on the usual zombie flicks, ‘Before We Vanish’, a thought-provoking piece on an alien invasion that leaves humans devoid of any feelings and memories, making them unrecognisable to family, and ‘Yakiniku Dragon’, a heartwarming melodrama on the Zainichi Korean culture in Japan.
Source:Singapore Film Society
Those interested to know more about Japanese films can also participate in masterclasses and post-screening Q&A sessions with notable directors Shinichirou Ueda, the man behind ‘One Cut of the Dead’ and Wishing Chong, the prolific playwright and screenwriter who produced ‘Yakiniku Dragon’.
Check here for movie timings.
Address: Shaw Theatres Lido, 350 Orchard Road Shaw House Level 5/6, Singapore 238868
Date & Time: 18th January – 10th February
Website
9. Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
Source:@trippingtroopers
Singapore’s largest funfair is back for its 2nd edition! Occupying the Bayfront Event Space once more, the Prudential Marina Bay Carnival will feature plenty of photo-worthy street food, up to 50 different types of plushies to bag home, and more than 40 rides and games, which consists of both crowd-favourites and new additions.
Source:Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
Some of the popular attractions include the 35m-tall Star Flyer, heart-stopping Mach 5, and the Das Fun Schiff Viking ship, and the brand new centrepiece of this round’s carnival is the Wave Swinger, a giant carousel swing!
Source:Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
Admission to the carnival is completely free-of-charge so you can pop in and snap away with the many photo ops, but do take note that you’ll have to pay for the rides.
Source:Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
Note: Opening hours are extended till 2AM on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Address: Bayfront Event Space, 12A Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018970
Date & Time: 22nd December 2018 – 24th March 2019 | 4PM – 11PM Daily
Website
10. One Piece Puzzle Hunt
The puzzle hunt map and collectible cards! Source:One Piece Puzzle Hunt
One Piece fans, Singapore’s first-ever One Piece exhibition might be over, but the augmented reality One Piece Puzzle Hunt is still taking place across the entire Sentosa Island. With an accompanying storyline that starts with you being shipwrecked, players will have to track down the stations via an app (iOS and Android) or a Supplement Board located at every checkpoint, and then solve their puzzles to move on to the next location.
On top of that, all players will receive an exclusive set of Straw Hat Pirate cards as a souvenir. The game will take approximately 2 hours or more to complete, and registration can be made in front of iFly at Beach Station.
Purchase your tickets here!
Address: Sentosa Island
Date & Time: 14th December 2018 – 13th February 2019 | 10AM – 7PM (Last registration at 5PM)
Ticket Pricing: $30
Website
11. A Wizarding World Holiday at Changi
Source:Changi Airport
Potterheads, rejoice – the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is now in Changi Airport with life-sized mock-ups of the iconic Hogsmeade Village, Diagon Alley, Whomping Willow, and Newt’s Menagerie!
Source:Changi Airport
Some of these setups even have daily snow and light shows, and avid fans can try on Hogwarts robes and take GIFs in front of a Magical Photo-Taking Mirror. There are games for you to try your hand at too, such as the Wand Challenge where you’ll learn spell-casting movements, the Quaffle Toss, where you can challenge your friends to a game of Quidditch, and the Niffler Challenge Game, where you’re supposed to stack as many coins as possible atop a giant Niffler replica!
Source:Changi Airport
As an added bonus, fans can bag home exclusive Harry Potter merchandise as well, which include Wizarding World-inspired plush toys, scarves, and travel pillows. The best part of all? Admission is free!
Source:Changi Airport
Address: Terminal 3, Departure Hall, Public Area
Date & Time: 16th November 2018 – mid-February 2019
Website
12. Rainforest Lumina
Source:Rainforest Lumina
We’ve never had the chance to see the sunset at the Singapore Zoo, but in celebration of its 45th birthday, we can now do so with their latest attraction, Rainforest Lumina. It’s the first multi-sensory night walk in Asia, and the 1km light trail features over 10 interactive zones with various light installations and projections such as the Luminous Pathway, Shimmering Islands, and Lantern Passage.
Source:Rainforest Lumina
Source:Rainforest Lumina
A total of 7 time slots are available every night, so book yours here!
Address: Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Date: From 1st July 2018
Ticket Pricing: $22 (Adult), $16 (Child 3 – 12 years old)
Website
Featured image source: @xavierlur
