SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun
August 2019
Singapore Night Festival 2019: 16 Highlights You Don’t Wanna Miss
As promised, a plethora of illuminating experiences is transforming the Bras Basah.Bugis district into an ethereal wonderland. And it all lights up tomorrow! Boasting 16 Night Lights, over 40 performances and not one but two festival villages, Singapore Night Festival 2019 is bigger than ever before. Furthermore, this year’s SNF also features a Southeast Asian twist in honour of our Bicentennial. We got a sneak peek at the media preview last night, and picked out the best highlights for both young and old.
Curtain Raiser: Transformation of Familiar Spaces
The Singapore Bicentennial edition of SNF kicked off with a teaser ahead of the Festival opening. The National Museum of Singapore is home to three installations that have been open to the public since 8 August. Feel the hypnotic sensation of nature’s power in Whispers at the Gallery Theatre. In Gallery 10, be transported to the edge of glaciers facing global warming in Antarctica in Collapse! Then imagine what homes would be like in a post-apocalyptic future in three-part installation Intergalactic Dreams.
(See also: Singapore Night Festival 2018: 12 High-Lights Families and Kids Will Love!)
Night Lights: Transformation through Illumination
The annual Night Lights return to illuminate iconic façades and unexpected places in our arts, culture and heritage district. We spent over three hours gawking at façade projections and light-art installations. These are the ones we are most excited about:
1. Keep Dreaming by Spectaculaires
The headliner happens at the National Museum of Singapore, which comes to life in Keep Dreaming. Three mysterious characters awaken from their slumber to embark on a whimsical adventure. This was arguably our favourite façade projection, so we don’t wanna give away too much. Suffice it to say, it was full of fun surprises and we think the kids will love it too.
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where National Museum of Singapore, Façade (Zone 1)
2. The Legend of Ramayana by Spectaculaires
Head over to the Banyan Tree located on your left if you’ve been mesmerised by Keep Dreaming. Follow Prince Rama’s quest to rescue his wife as The Legend of Ramayana plays out. Yes, on the tree! The story draws you in with exciting adventures and animated creatures. And the lighting effects make you feel almost as if you’re in an enchanted forest with them!
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where National Museum of Singapore, Banyan Tree (Zone 1)
(See also: The Bicentennial Experience – A 700-year Journey that Families Must See!)
3. Disco Walkway by Aux Media Group
Along Stamford Road, get grooving along the Disco Walkway as neon-coloured panels glow to the beat of the music. Bring out the dancing kings and queens, while introducing the next generation to the music of the disco era. It’ll be a great multi-generational bonding exercise. Don’t be shy!
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where Walkway along Stamford Road (Zone 2)
4. Symbiote by LiteWerkz
Further down the path is Symbiote, a series of airy dome-like structures made of thin, seamless fabric. It’s a response to Singapore’s multi-cultural fabric of society. Our response? Go crawling through the spaces and see them light up in response to you. But be gentle…
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where Walkway along Stamford Road (Zone 2)
5. Tropicana by The Electric Canvas
When you get to the end of the walkway, look across the street diagonally to the Stamford Court. The clock tower will be calling out to you! This is its first-ever façade projection, a playful animation called Tropicana. Just be careful to pay attention to traffic when you’re crossing the street.
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where Stamford Court Clock (Zone 2)
6. Waves of Time by Chips and Toon & The Electric Canvas
Another fun animated adventure digital projection, Waves of Time follows a Prince as he chases his dream. It’s inspired by Sang Nila Utama’s discovery of Singapore, and goes from the underwater world onto our sunny isle. Snag a beanbag on the CHIJMES lawn for the best seat in the house, as the kid-friendly reel brings the façade of the historic CHIJMES chapel to life.
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where CHIJMES (Zone 2)
7. Glow Away by Sansys Collective
Is your kid addicted to Slime? Then a visit to the Campus Green of Singapore Management University (SMU) is a must. Glow Away is an Instaworthy installation filled with UV-activated slime in day-glow colours. It’s also a great reminder of the Festival’s official hashtag – so it should be easy to spot!
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where SMU Campus Green (Zone 3)
8. In:Sight by Tran Tuan Cong & Sansys Collective
While you’re at the SMU Campus Green, you can’t help but be drawn to a series of neon light installations. Each one is open to your own interpretation, perfect for those Insta-stories and Snapchat moments. Challenge the family to see who can come up with the most creative pose.
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where SMU Campus Green (Zone 3)
9. Project:Dome – OCISLY by Lawrence Loh & Sebastien Jurkowski
And you can’t miss the big white dome in the middle of the Green. This is Project:Dome, a pop-up indoor projection space showcasing five brand new works. Our favourite is OCISLY – scan the QR code and affect the atmosphere in the dome with your own emojis. The air-conditioned dome also offers much-needed respite on a humid evening!
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where SMU Campus Green (Zone 3)
10. Sk(r)etch by Ca Kway Teow x 3M
Calling budding graffiti artists! Sk(r)etch is a bus stop-inspired installation by 3M, in collaboration with a group of student architectural designers and artists from NUS. With a coin or something else that works, doodle away the black paint on the boards. Help to reveal colourful mosaics of Singapore icons. Tip: remember to shine a flashlight at it (or take a picture with your camera’s flash on) once you’re done!
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Where Queen Street (outside Kum Yan Methodist Church) (Zone 4)
(See also: Rainforest Lumina 2019 (Season 2): A Multimedia Night Walk at the Singapore Zoo)
Performances: Redefining Experiences
As the main performances will be happening live only on the second weekend of the Festival, we didn’t get to preview these. However, here are some family-friendly highlights we’ve been told to look out for. Do check back for our reviews next week!
11. MMO by Sweet Tooth
Look out for MMO (Mystical Meandering Occurrences) roaming Bras Basah.Bugis. They are three ethereal mascots taking on mythical and physical characteristics of planets and other-worldly beings who burst into spontaneous performances in front of your eyes! Follow them from the National Design Centre and down Queen Street.
When 29 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 11pm
Where Various venues (Zone 4)
12. Fuerza Bruta
Headlining the second weekend is Fuerza Bruta’s globally sold-out immersive theatre show. It’s a 360-degree sensory theatre party happening all around you in a kinetic explosion of aerial acrobatics and visual effects. With just three 30-minute shows each night, spaces are limited, so get your tickets now!
When 29 to 31 August: 8.30pm, 9.45pm, 11pm
Where Cathay Green (Zone 5)
(See also: Fuerza Bruta at the Singapore Night Festival 2019)
13. Sita’s Magical Forest by Asparas Arts
If the light projection at the Banyan Tree captures your imagination, then head to the Dhoby Ghaut Green Festival Village. A child-friendly storytelling and dance production sees Rama’s wife recounting her adventures with the animals in Sita’s Magical Forest.
When 29 to 31 August: 7pm – 7.30pm
Where Dhoby Ghaut Green Festival Village (Zone 5)
14. Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana by Asparas Arts
In Anjaneyam – Hanuman’s Ramayana, the beloved monkey god Hanuman’s tale is told through bharatanatyam and Javanese dance. This cross-cultural production will involve artists from Singapore, India and Indonesia.
When 29 to 31 August: 8.30pm – 9.30pm
Where Dhoby Ghaut Green Festival Village (Zone 5)
(See also: September School Holidays 2019: 26 Fun Events and Activities to Keep your Little Ones Busy)
Festival Villages: Double the Revelry
After wandering around catching all the Night Lights and live performances, you’re bound to get hungry and thirsty. Head to the atmospheric Festival Villages for a snack, drink and breather, complete with live entertainment all night long.
15. Armenian Street Park Festival Village
With their Brazilian drums, Baracuda Batucada brings heart-thumping samba funk performances to the Festival. Other performers include Amanda Tee, Ciao Turtle, Fyrdauz Macbeth, Mantravine, Sasha M, and Yongkytown. Food stalls to expect at the newly pedestrianised Armenian Street Park include Alley, Dengdeng Gua Pauer and Lobster & Burger.
When 23 to 24 August & 30 to 31 August: 6pm – 12midnight | 29 August: 8pm – 12 midnight
Where Zone 2
16. Dhoby Ghaut Green Festival Village
Fans of MOTUS, Flame of the Forest, and Neon Feast should head to the Festival Village at Dhoby Ghaut Green. Alongside such local talents, regional bands will also be taking the stage at the Festival for the first time. The line-up includes Malaysia’s SONUO, the Philippines’ MenAcoustic, and Thailand’s The Note. F&B partners here include Bao Makers, Ikan1986, Fooditude, Sofnade, and Whatthefish!
When 23 to 24 August & 29 to 31 August: 6pm – 12midnight
Where Zone 5
Apart from these highlights, there’s plenty more to discover at the Singapore Night Festival 2019. Find out more at www.nightfestival.sg. The 12th edition of the annual event promises to be a blast. So see you there! #sgnightfest
Singapore Night Festival 2019
When 23 to 31 August: 7.30pm – 12midnight
Performance nights 29 to 31 August
Festival Villages 23 to 24 August & 29 to 31 August
Where Bras Basah.Bugis district
Admission Free entry; ticketing charges apply for selected programmes
Web www.nightfestival.sg
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