SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
September 2020
Mid-Autumn Festival 2020: Full of Heart-warming Family Fun Experiences
With everything gone haywire in 2020, it’s comforting that some things stay the same. For example, our appreciation of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival! Yes, it’s that time of year again to listen to fanciful stories about Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit. Or gaze at the moon while savouring mooncakes and tea. And take lots of cute photos of the little ones carefully balancing their lanterns while wandering through the park. Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 falls on 1 October — and there’s lots of fun to be had, at home and around town.
Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 Cultural Celebrations
Uncovering Mid-Autumn Festival Traditions with Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC)
How much do you know about the local Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations? Find out more at SCCC’s SINGAPO人 exhibition. It highlights how Chinese culture in Singapore has evolved in a way quite unlike other communities around the world. To encourage a better appreciation of our distinctive Chinese Singaporean culture, the SCCC has also launched a series of online programmes.
#stayhome highlights The kids will love watching Chang’e’s journey from the moon to an HDB flat in Moonlit Memories, an adorable animated short movie. Then explore a modern re-imagination of traditional Chinese myths and legends by 20 local artists. Join the Mid-Autumn edition of Kaki Says to discover legends such as the origin of mooncakes in Yuan China. And learn the tricks to solving lantern riddles in Keeping Traditions Alive: Riddle Me This. Stay tuned to SCCC’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram accounts!
When 11 September – 31 October
Where Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre & online
Web www.singaporeccc.org.sg
Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 (Digital Edition)
Take an evening to visit the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall with the family. Its thematic lantern installation “Rolling in Abundance” features four huge roly-poly fish lanterns the kids will love. The installation also embodies hope for more abundant years to come and promises great photo ops under the stars.
#stayhome highlights Then experience the inaugural digital edition of the well-loved Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival from the comfort of home. Learn about the festival’s heritage via Facebook through an exciting line-up of family-friendly cooking classes, storytelling sessions, interactive craft demonstrations, and more.
When 14 September – 11 October
Where Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall & online
Web www.sysnmh.org.sg
Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2020
Be enchanted by 700 sculptural lanterns along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, and South Bridge Road. Apart from depicting traditional Chinese motifs and mythology, including Chang’e, it also illustrates this year’s theme — “Family”. It’s a reminder for Singaporeans to unite as one big family to overcome the challenges and emerge stronger.
#stayhome highlights For the first time, the opening ceremony for this annual mega community event will take place virtually, and live-streamed via Facebook. Other virtual activities include an Online Lantern Painting Competition, Online Photography Competition, and Online Escape Room for a family challenge!
When 17 September – 16 October (light-up from 7pm to 12midnight daily)
Where Chinatown & online
Web www.chinatownfestivals.sg
(See also: 11 Meaningful Festivals that we Celebrate in Multiracial Singapore)
Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 Light-Up at Gardens by the Bay
Keeping the traditions alight, Gardens by the Bay celebrates the festival with a mix of onsite and online offerings. Lantern sets illuminating the outdoor gardens embrace the themes of reunion and unity — especially meaningful in these extraordinary times. Apricot Grove, for instance, is inspired by fabled medical practitioner Dong Feng and a tribute to our healthcare workers.
#stayhome highlights In place of live performances and activities at the Gardens, take part in a series of virtual programmes. Catch a virtual preview of the lantern displays, music and dance performances, a mooncake-making demonstration, Chinese craft tutorials, and more. Visit gardensbythebay.com.sg/midautumn for programme schedules.
When 18 September – 4 October (light-up from 7pm to 10pm daily)
Where Gardens by the Bay & online
Web www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 by Jurong Lake Gardens (Online Edition)
Last year, families had great fun as a newly refurbished Jurong Lake Gardens hosted a mythical Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. This year, Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 by Jurong Lake Gardens goes online with a series of performances put together by Arts@JLG.
#stayhome highlights Learn about the story of Chang’er and Hou Yi through animation and dance. Then relax and unwind to soothing music by local artistes on traditional instruments such as the erhu and the tabla. On 1 October, listen to Music under the Moonlight as you enjoy tea and mooncakes at home. It’s all coming to you on the NParksSG YouTube channel.
When 18 September – 4 October
Where Online
Web www.nparks.gov.sg
(See also: 6 On-trend Activities to Boost #stayhome Family Bonding in Phase Two and Beyond)
Esplanade presents Moonfest Online
For its 16th edition this year, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s annual Moonfest – A Mid-Autumn Celebration goes online. To shed new light on traditional Chinese arts are a special selection of free-to-access digital programmes. These include xiqu, dance, folk songs, puppetry, poetry, and crosstalk, performed by Singapore artists and arts groups.
#stayhome highlights Look forward to performances streamed live from the Esplanade Concourse. Interactive activities that you can participate in together with your little ones include DIY craft activity, osmanthus jelly mooncake-making, and Wing Chun martial arts. The performances and activities will be available on Esplanade Offstage and Huayi’s Facebook page. Look out for the special virtual edition of the Lantern Walkabout too!
When 25 September – 4 October
Where Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay & online
Web www.esplanade.com
Mid-Autumn Festival 2020 Family Reunions
Mid-Autumn Imperial High Tea at Si Chuan Dou Hua
Relax over Si Chuan Dou Hua’s Imperial High Tea with loved ones this September. The Mid-Autumn edition sees nine exquisite dim sum items paired with a snowskin mooncake and choice of premium Chinese tea. At the TOP of UOB Plaza outlet, the menu also includes a refreshing cocktail made from Da Hong Pao tea. Mid-Autumn inspired set menus are also available for lunch and dinner.
Exclusively available at TOP of UOB Plaza and PARKROYAL on Beach Road outlets at $48++ and $38++ per person respectively. UOB cardmembers enjoy a one-for-one promotion. Call 6535 6006 (TOP of UOB Plaza) or 6505 5722 (PARKROYAL on Beach Road) for reservations and enquiries.
(See also: Mooncake Festival 2020 Goes Online this Mid-Autumn – Pros, Cons, and Mooncakes Galore!)
Mid-Autumn Topaz Set Menu from Pan Pacific Singapore
For a gastronomic reunion at home, Hai Tien Lo presents a celebratory six-course Mid-Autumn Topaz Set Menu. Masterfully crafted by Executive Chef Ben Zeng, it features delicacies such as Pan-fried Foie Gras and Sliced Crispy Barbecued Suckling Pig stuffed with Prawn Paste. The indulgent meal ends on a sweet note with Chilled Autumn Chrysanthemum Tea and Pomelo with Hai Tien Lo’s Mooncake.
Available for self-collection or free delivery till 1 October at $236+ for two persons. Pre-order online, call 6826 8240, or email [email protected] for enquiries.
Play Mooncake Master
After a sumptuous reunion dinner, gather the fam for a game of Mooncake Master. Pick, share, and arrange mooncake quarters. Choose what to keep and what to share with your neighbours. Should you satisfy customers or aim for mooncake beauty? Whichever strategy you choose, compete for the glorious title of Mooncake Master. Uncover all of the fun and none of the calories — unless you snack on real mooncakes while you play! This interactive strategy board game is designed by Origame, the proudly Singaporean board game publisher behind Chope! and Kopi King.
Available online and at game shops islandwide
(See also: September School Holidays 2020: Home and Away Fun for Everyone)
Watch Netflix’s Over the Moon
This October, gather the family in front of the TV for Mid-Autumn movie night. Fuelled by determination and a passion for science, a young girl builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. There she ends up on an unexpected quest, and discovers a whimsical land of fantastical creatures. Netflix’s Fall 2020 release is a heart-warming and empowering family-friendly animated musical that’s perfect for the season.
Premieres on Netflix Singapore on 23 October.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2020, folks!
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