While there are several large-scale public festivals in
Singapore with national and cultural celebrations like
Lunar New Year, National Day Parade and
Mid-Autumn Festival, nothing brings history, art and people together in a precinct like the Singapore Night Festival.
Organised by the
National Museum of Singapore, the Festival takes over Bras Basah and Bugis, the arts and heritage district in the heart of Singapore's civic centre. While the festival doesn't run from night to day like the White Night arts festival in
Amsterdam, London or
Melbourne, the Singapore Night Festival offers 2 August weekends of FREE entertainment and entry to several museums for more than 500,000 locals and visitors.
The Festival kicked off in a 'Bold and Beautiful' fashion on 22 August, promising more than 130 activities spread across 10 venues. You and your family can also enjoy spectacular light installations and live performances from 70 musicians, visual artists and performing arts groups.
The entire Bras Basah and Bugis precinct is transformed into a giant space of unimaginable urban beauty between 7pm and 2am. With so much happening over a large area, the festival grounds have been divided into 5 distinct zones, each with its own unique activities.
Pretty Arty
This is where you can enjoy an ensemble of grand and vivid performances at the National Museum of Singapore (NMS). Highlights include a musical extravaganza featuring percussion, serenades,live projections, aerial dances and fire displays by Pheonix's artists and the world famous 'Earth Harp' played by William Close from the US. You can also try your hand at the earth harp in the museum.
The grounds next to NMS will also play host to Night Lights, featuring light artworks by local and foreign artists. Highlights include towering mystical heads by Clement Briend of France and a garden with glow-in-the-dark pebbles designed by Agathe de Bailliencourt from France.
Roundabout Midnight
Photo courtesy of National Heritage Board
Let your wildest imagination take flight with a curation of enigmatic works at Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and Queen Street. Highlights include a mother nature-type multimedia projection on the facade of SAM, exhibition of balloons lit by changing neon lights, emerging bands and musicians from NOISE Singapore's music programme and many more.
Young Hearts
Photo courtesy of National Heritage Board
Your senses will be tickled by budding artists and their playful and thought-provoking performances at the Singapore Management University (SMU) and the School of the Arts (SOTA). Highlights include creating your own glow-in-the-drak paintings, standing under giant umbrellas, musical showcases by local talent such as The Pinholes, Fast Colors and Lost Weekend, installations with hidden messages and many more.
Block Party
Be prepared for a wild night of fun with raucous gigs along Armenian street including The Substation, Peranakan Museum and Armenian Church. Closed to traffic, the street carnival with a main stage includes performances by emerging and established bands and musicians like The Observatory, Caracal and The Analog Girl.
There are also romantic comedies curated by The Substation Moving Images, roving brass bands by Timbre Music, swing to samba beats with Bloco Singapura and many more.
Festival Village
Photo courtesy of National Heritage Board
There will be a trendy flea market, food and beverage and entertainment at Cathay Green opposite SOTA. Beers are on happy hour all night and don't forget to walk in and out of the Cyanea curtain of lit tentacles by Cumulus from France.
With only 2 days of FREE festivities left on 29 and 30 August, you don't want to miss Singapore's best night event of the year.
