Now that we all know Taiwan’s famous Shilin Night Market will arrive on our shores this year — well, some form of it, at least — here’s a closer look at what to expect.
Come April, the local edition of the street market will take over 200,000 sq ft at Singapore Turf Club, with five dining zones and more than 300 booths hawking snacks, drinks, and artisanal goods. The two-weekend event — set to the theme of “Eat, Shop, Play, Fun” — covers food, fashion, lifestyle, and design, with interactive arcade games, KTV corners, huge lantern installations, and music performances galore. Plus, keeping things fresh, each weekend will spotlight a different line-up of vendors from both Taiwan and Singapore.
Cuisine highlights include Gong Cha’s Bubble Tea Funhouse, where you can create your own tailor-made concoction with the various flavors and toppings available. And the Taiwanese brand will debut a series of drinks in collaboration with an “iconic pop culture artist,” whoever that is.
No complaints though, because bubble tea is life.
Also look out for new items like Hot Star’s mala-flavored chicken chop, two cream puff flavors by Kazo, and baked pineapple tarts from ChiaTe Bakery. Jim Beam will set up a pop-up bar as well, serving fizzy highballs, and local food influencer MissTamChiak will helm a stall called Chiak Liang, selling those popular Taiwanese peanut ice cream rolls.
Other food stalls coming to our shores from Taiwan include Blackball, Chun Cui He, OneZo Tapioca, and Devil.
When you’re done stuffing your face, shop your way through Taiwanese brands such as Penguin Hand, Miher, Apoozi Studio, Kousan Craft, InJoy, WoodMan, and Mood, the latter of which offers a complimentary shoe cleaning express service. Look out for homegrown retailers as well, including the likes of Amusse and Cocoonese and their range of eco-friendly, handmade pouches and bags.
Travel booking platform Klook makes an appearance too, with a stall inspired by Taiwanese convenience stores, offering travel essentials like shuttle bus passes to Jiufen packaged in the form of food items.
For more fun times, head over to the play corner, where you’ll find 60 arcade games, including human claw machines and carnival activities, eight KTV booths, open mic sessions, and fortune tellers.
You can also get snap happy with photo spots scattered across the grounds, plus a 10,000 sq ft light windmill forest by Lanternfest Creative and the “Streets of Taiwan” art mural wall by Taiwan-based artist Debby Lin. In between activities, jam to the tunes of local band Too Much Drama and catch a movie with daily screenings from 6pm.
FIND IT:
Shilin Singapore is on from Apr 19-21 & 26-28, 3pm-11pm at The Grounds @ Kranji, Carpark B at Singapore Turf Club, 1 Turf Club Ave. Free admission.
MRT: Kranji
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