Say hello to the neighborhoods of Jurong, Chinatown, Jalan Besar, Bras Basah.Bugis, and Toa Payoh, as this year’s Singapore Heritage Festival invites you to peer into their streets and landmarks for a glimpse of history and culture.
Spanning across three weekends in April, the 15th edition of the fest features more than 120 activities at various locations, with highlights like a ’70s-inspired drive-in cinema, trips to candy and biscuit factories, and a carnival at the iconic Dragon Playground.
The first weekend (Apr 6-8) takes you all the way to Jurong for a retro drive-in cinema screening flicks like They Call Her Cleopatra Wong, Army Daze, and Chicken Rice War, as well as a roving performance by theatre group Sweet Tooth called Jurong Songbook, which tells the Jurong story with music and song.
You can also take the opportunity to tour Sembcorp’s facilities for an inside look at how the island operates, or go on an architectural guided trail of Jurong Town Hall, one of Singapore’s national monuments.
Next up, Jalan Besar (Apr 13-14) and Chinatown (Apr 14-15). Tyrwhitt Road will be home to an artisanal market and a street party, featuring cabaret performances, tunes by indie artists, and screenings of movies like It’s a Great Great World and Wayang Boy. Meanwhile, Chinatown hosts traditional opera performances, storytelling sessions, and tea appreciation workshops.
The final weekend takes you to Bras Basah.Bugis (Apr 20-21) and Toa Payoh (Apr 21-22), with the Armenian Street Party, a theatrical tour behind the closed doors of the main Singapore Art Museum building, and Toa Payoh’s Dragon Playground transformed into a carnival ground for the first time, featuring LED dragon dance performances, outdoor film screenings, local dishes by second and third generation hawkers, and a vintage car boot flea.
Oh, and those interested in going behind the scenes of food factories can sign up for programmes like the Khong Guan Biscuit Factory Tour, where you’ll watch how your favorite childhood snacks are made; the Ya Kun Kaya Toast Tour, to find out what goes into the brand’s coffee; and the Cheng Sugar Factory Tour, to explore the production process of the homegrown company, which is the only rock sugar manufacturer in the country.
Singapore Heritage Festival is on from Apr 6-22 at various locations and times. Free; with some ticketed events.
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