SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
August 2022
14 Fun Family Things to Do this National Day Long Weekend and Beyond
Yes it’s another long weekend, this time to celebrate Singapore’s 57th birthday. And in case you’ve forgotten, school-going children have another day off on Wednesday, 10 August so it’s a really long weekend indeed. We’ve shared about all the food, fun, and fireworks for SG57 earlier but guess what? There’s more. Read on for some of Singaporeans’ favourite things to do — shopping, eating, and going out — this long weekend, and the rest of August. Then get the kids, garb up in your reds and whites, and get ready to celebrate this National Day long weekend with your nearest and your dearest. It’s going to be shiok ah!
1. Watch a Heartwarming tale of Sibling Love
First staged in English in 2019, Gretel and Hansel is a reimagined storytelling (this time in Mandarin) is adapted from the well-loved fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm. It highlights the importance of sibling relationships, and shows how Gretel and Hansel use their wits, bravery, and trust in each other to overcome the wicked witch in the forest and find their way home.
Till 9 Sept. More details and tickets (including a family package) here.
2. Spot the Reds and Whites at the S.E.A. Aquarium
Did you know that there are red and white, and even star-shaped native marine life? See if you can find Russell’s Lionfish, with its white and reddish-brown stripes and venomous spines (tip: check the Sea Urchin Habitat), and the Knobbly Sea Star, which is also known as the Chocolate Chip Sea Star (tip: look into the Discovery Pool)! Don’t miss the aquarium’s Underwater City Zone which demonstrates this year’s National Day theme of “Stronger Together, Majulah!” with hard corals that support communities of fishes and marine life. What’s more, for the month of August, all admission tickets come with an $8 meal voucher that can be used at S.E.A. Aquarium or Malaysian Food Street and an $8 S.E.A. Aquarium retail voucher!
Till 30 August 2022. Find out more here.
3. Forge a Forward Future at the Singapore Discovery Centre
Enjoy a slew of family-friendly activities for all ages, from a laser tag tournament and a silent disco to kid-friendly crafts, and carnival and console games. Kids can also create their very own future Singapore skyline with the SDC’s friendly mascot, SingaPaw, and go on a self-guided trail to learn about the history of lighting, from gas lamps to LEDs. P/S: If the weather permits, try paddle boating on Discovery Lake. It’s perfect non-device fun that gets the kids moving too!
6, 7, and 9 August, at the Singapore Discovery Centre. Free admission. Get more details here.
(See also: Fall in for Camp 1N at the Singapore Discovery Centre, the Best 24 Hours you’ll have with your Kids)
4. Celebrate Le Le’s 1st Birthday
It’s party-time from day till night as River Wonders celebrates Le Le’s first birthday with a Panda-stic Party! Come on down and pen your wishes for the first Giant Panda cub to be born in Singapore, pose with Giant Panda mascots or at Instagrammable photo points around the park, do some craft activities, and create your own Glo-Art masterpieces. After dark, get dazzled by the bamboo-inspired birthday cake display which sparks fireworks and follow light displays along the Amazonia Boardwalk and learn fun facts about our Giant Pandas.
5 August to 11 September, from $36 for The Panda-stic Party bundle, which includes admission to the day and night event. Get tickets and more details here.
5. Explore Human Connections at Patricia Piccinini: We Are Connected
Patricia Piccinini has created a world of beautifully bizarre hybrids and strange new beings that appear, at first glance, to be just like us. Upon closer observation, we discover that they are very different. And yet, not so much, when it comes to feelings, emotions, empathy, and love. As we observe them, Piccinini’s hyperrealistic sculptures nudge us to consider what it would be like to exist in a multi-species world. How would living with these hyper realistic creatures change the way we view ourselves, and humankind? Are we really that different, afterall? Kids can make their own hybrid puppets, and read books related to the themes of the exhibition too.
10am – 7pm, ArtScience Museum. Pre-purchase tickets here.
:: EXTRA! :: Join Patricia Piccinini for a cosy reading session of her newly-released children’s book Every Heart Sings. Kids will be invited to follow the journey of the skywhale family as the book delves into themes of nature, family, evolution, care and wonder.
6 August, 11am and 2pm, Rainbow Room at the ArtScience Museum. Book your complimentary slot here.
6. See the National Day Light-Up 2022
Let the kids sleep late (just one night, it’s okay!) and take a post-dinner family stroll to view and enjoy the light up of six historical and culturally significant landmarks around the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct – Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Central Fire Station, National Design Centre, National Museum of Singapore, Stamford Arts Centre and The Cathay – in red and white for National Day. The National Museum of Singapore is lit as well, but only till 10 August.
Till 27 August, 7.30pm–12am daily, various arts and cultural landmarks in the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct.
7. Play at the Sports Hub’s National Day Fiesta
It’s carnival time here for the first time in three years, and the Sports Hub is going big! Come on down bright and early to try your hand at an array of games for all ages. There will be face painting and airbrush DIY tattoo booths, game stalls featuring old-school games, snack giveaways, and more!
The National Day Parade will also be broadcast live at the OCBC Square. Bring your own picnic mats, snacks, and get ready to cheer and sing! Goodie bags will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. To cap off the celebrations, there’ll be fireworks by Stadium Riverside Walk too
9 August, 9am–9pm, OCBC Square, Sports Hub. Free admission. More details here.
8. Join a National Day sing-along
Remember familiar childhood tunes and Singaporean songs, such as past and present NDP theme songs and local folk songs? Sing them along with VOS Artistic Director Darius Lim, Joyce Ang, and local band The Passerby in these two free hour-long sessions at Capitol Singapore. The first 150 audience members per session will receive one complimentary mini flag each, while stocks last. Don’t worry if you can’t recall the lyrics, they’ll be available on-site – or just hum along lah!
6 August, 6pm and 8pm, outdoor plaza at Capitol Singapore.
9. Get your National Day #OOTD
Eating is every Singaporean’s favourite past-time, and we sure do it in uniquely Singaporean ways. Do you love eating prata with sugar? Ice kacang without the kacang? Then wear your love for that eating style with an “Eat This Way Then Shiok” T-shirt, which features comic-strip designs of SGAG icon Xiao Ming trying out quirky food pairings that we all know and love.
Customise yours at the UTme! T-shirt customisation service at UNIQLO Orchard Central Global Flagship store.
10. Go Loco-licious at Jack’s Place
Jack’s Place has gone “loco-licious” to celebrate Singapore’s 57th and it’s a real melting pot of all our local delights, like Chicken Satay Kueh Pie Tee, Chik Kut Teh sauce on Chicken Chop, Orh-Luak on Grilled Ribeye Steak, and Garlic Butter Lobster Nasi Lemak. Unlikely pairings yes, but we’re putting our trust (and our taste buds) in Jack’s capable hands.
Available at Jack’s Place restaurants islandwide this August. Get 20% off appetisers with More details here.
11. #SupportLocal with Local For Good
The Local For Good campaign by DBS Foundation spotlights over 10 homegrown social enterprises that are doing good for the environment and society impact through their businesses. This August, in celebration of National Day, they’re offering 57% off selected products and experiences, from a 2.5-hour Edible Garden City tour and gardening combo, to a signature manicure at The Nail Social, and even a special-edition low-sugar, high-protein Singapore Kueh Platter from GentleFoods.
Get details on all the enterprises and the deals here.
12. See past NDP Artworks in Our Gift to Singapore
Sixty-three artworks by persons with disabilities featured in National Day Parade (NDP) collateral from 2020 to 2022 are exhibited for the very first time. These works highlight the unique perspectives of their creators, and each is accompanied by stories of the artists as well as their inspiration behind the artwork. Organised by SG Enable, the focal agency for disability and inclusion in Singapore, this exhibition is held in partnership with an international art gallery, Opera Gallery, and a creative agency, Third Space.
Till 10 August, 11am – 8pm, Opera Gallery in ION Orchard.
13. Get member privileges at Mandai Wildlife Reserve Parks
Good news for Friends of Wildlife (FOW) members! From 8 August 2022 you get extra perks such as:
- Priority access to park events before they are open to the public
- Priority bookings for tours, staycations, and events
- Member rates and discounts on everything
- Exclusively curated members-only workshops
Not a member yet? The first 1,000 sign ups from now till 31 August 2022 will receive an exclusive welcome pack with a Mandai Wildlife Reserve branded foldable umbrella, a foldable bag, a Friends of Wildlife branded notebook and stickers.
There’s lots of Wild About Singapore fun at the Parks this National Day month too. Watch the African Lions at Singapore Zoo break open a pinata to get their favourite treats, see the Straw-headed Bulbul forage from a National Day-themed hanging feeder at Jurong Bird Park, and visit the Sunda Pangolin at Night Safari. Remember to download the ‘Wild About Singapore Checklist’ for all the festive enrichment activities and complete the checkpoints to redeem national day-themed animal magnets.
Get details about FOW and sign up at www.friendsofwildlife.sg
14. Visit the Subway Big Museum of Taste
The world’s first Museum of Subway (certified by the Singapore Book of Records) is in Singapore! Follow the giant seven-metre sub to a fabulous world of Subway where you can try your hand at nine interactive games over four zones, get points to put together your own digital Subway sandwich — through which you will also be helping to create a record for the “Largest Sandwich Making Game” — and learn more about the iconic brand through fun games. You can even put on an apron and pose behind an actual Subway counter!
Do not miss the gift shop where you can collect a free cookie and a coke at the end of your visit. There’re limited edition merchandise such as Subway socks, tumblers, tees, and bags to buy (hard to resist as they’re really cute!), and even a corner where you can recreate an iconic k-drama scene in a Subway restaurant.
Admission is free! Just spend $12 in any Subway Singapore restaurants to redeem one ticket, or $20 to redeem two tickets. All tickets have to be redeemed via www.subwaymuseumsg.com; tickets are not available for purchase at the museum. Children aged 12 years old and below enjoy free entry.
10 to 30 August, 10am–9pm (Mon–Thurs); 10am–10pm (Fri–Sun), at 11 Prinsep Link. More details here.
Featured image: Singapore Sports Hub
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