Hello, July!
There’s no need to mope over the end of the June holidays. This month, there’s still a host of exciting activities and scrummy new eats to dive into!
This month’s line-up includes a trippy circus, an out-of-this-island trip to pulau ubin, interesting art exhibitions, and new food spots to tickle your tastebuds. Whether you’re an adventurer, an art lover, or a die-hard foodie, here are some ways to keep yourself busy for the first half of July!
Here’s a calendar of 10 electrifying events and eats to try out this month!
Play & Discover
1. Singapore International Festival Of Arts
Who says Singapore’s art scene is dead?
The Singapore International Festival of Arts is just one of the many arts events happening this month!
From street performances to public film screenings, to even talks over brunch, everyone’s invited to this celebration of the Arts!
Helming the event are the best of local and international artists.
Maybe you’ll recognize some of the more established names like Robert Wilson, Michael Nyman, London Sinfonietta, and the Berliner Ensemble in the line-up.
This year, there are even some of the newest productions from Korea and the US, such as the award-winning The Chorus, Oedipus, and Robert Move’s Martha.
They’ll be showcasing quality works in theatre, dance, and music you don’t want to miss!
Singapore International Festival Of Arts
Where: Various Locations
When: 28 Jun – 9 Sep
Website
2. Pink Dot
Let your pride shine at the brightest event of the year!
Pink Dot is set to bring together family, friends, and lovers of all kinds at its annual event.
Singapore as we know it is still quite the conservative society.
As such, LGBTQs (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered individuals) still face strong opposition here.
Pink Dot recognizes that openness, understanding, and tolerance are important tenets of our society.
That’s why they hope to bring change for the better through honest conversations, rather than cover-ups and covert lives.
Through one giant celebration, with special guests like Nathan Hartono, Pink Dot ultimately hopes to bring LGBTQ individuals closer to their families and friends.
After all, love always wins.
Pink Dot
Where: Hong Lim Park, New Bridge Road, Singapore 059299
When: 1 Jul, 5pm
Website
3. Closing of Sungei Road Thieves Market
Sadly, another remnant of Singapore’s past will soon be no more.
After eight decades of existence, Singapore’s oldest flea market in Sungei Road will be turning its last page.
The open-air market was already reduced by half once, to make way for Jalan Besar MRT station.
This time, all of it will be cleared for residential and commercial developments.
Known as the “Thieves Market”, stolen items were once notoriously sold here.
Popular with tourists, foreign workers, and locals, it offers all sorts of nibs and nubs ranging from household items to jewellery and electronic items!
Come down and have a glimpse of this lesser-known bit of history before it’s gone for good!
Sungei Road Thieves Market
Where: Sungei Road
Last day: 10 July
4. Cirque du Soleil – KOOZA
Get ready for some jaw-dropping action.
Cirque Du Soleil is back in Singapore with KOOZA, its most chilling and thrilling show yet!
KOOZA combines acrobatic performance with the art of clowning, while exploring the themes of fear, identity, and power.
Expect breathtaking acts like Hoops Manipulation, with up to 7 spinning hoops at once, as well as the Double Highwire, where the acts skitter and ride bicycles across wires criss-crossed diagonally at up to 25 feet above the stage.
There’s also the Skeleton Dance, a crazy trip to the dark side, and the Wheel of Death, an enormous spinning contraption that can’t be tamed.
Cirque du Soleil has brought so much wonder and delight to more than 300 cities, and it’s landed on our shores once again.
Don’t hold your breath, this is one circus show you’ll want to catch!
Cirque du Soleil – Kooza
Where: Under The Big Top Tent, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
When: 13 Jul – 20 Aug
Contact no.: 6348 5555
Website
5. Gallery Children’s Biennale
No more dragging your children around to boring art exhibitions.
The National Gallery’s newest and most colourful display will have them clamouring to go again and again.
Themed “Dreams & Stories”, the Children’s Biennale invites not just children, but your inner child, to embark on a creative journey.
Exhibitions are interactive, and truly let you delve right into and explore the world through the eyes of different artists.
The Obliteration Room, for example, lets you stick colourful stickers all over the furniture and walls of a completely white room. Watch as the space magically transforms as more and more colourful spots are added to it!
A series of public programmes, film screenings, special family tours, and artist-led workshops for children are also in the line-up.
Here, there’s something for everyone to discover, whether young or young at heart!
Gallery Children’s Biennale
Where: National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
When: 20 May – 8 Oct
Contact no.: 6271 7000
Website
6. Pesta Ubin
We’ve all heard of Pulau Ubin, our most happening offshore island.
This July, the yearly Pesta Ubin celebrates all there is to this little island!
Pesta Ubin is a kampung-style open house, during which people step up to share their special slice of Pulau Ubin with the public.
That means activities are heartfelt, organic, and passionately led by the community.
Expect kampung photo booths, map colouring booths for the kids, and even kayaking with the family.
The event is set to highlight all of Ubin’s unique charms, its culture, kampung life, nature, and wildlife, on both land and sea.
Leave the city attitude behind and get a taste of the kinder, gentler way of life here.
What’s more, most Pesta Ubin activities are free of charge and don’t require registration!
So, simply take a bumboat to Pulau Ubin and join in the fun!
Pesta Ubin
Where: Pulau Ubin
When: 10 May – 16 Jul
Website
7. Imaginarium: To The Ends Of The Earth
How much do you know about the planet we live in?
This nature-focused art exhibition brings you in for a closer look at the environments we reside in.
This is Singapore Art Museum’s seventh edition of the family-focused exhibition.
Young and old explorers alike are invited to see how people, flora, and fauna, adapt to their ever changing surroundings.
The lovely exhibits include a giant lizard’s tail, and a magical floating mountain.
There are even real life plants and mushrooms incorporated into the art pieces.
Walking amongst them will surely bring you closer to appreciating Earth’s many marvels.
With such inspiring and engaging artworks, be prepared to see the world that much differently by the end of it!
Imaginarium: To The Ends Of The Earth
Where: Singapore Art Museum, 71 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189555
When: 6 May – 27 Aug
Contact no.: 65899 580
Website
Eat
8. Sama Curry & Café
The mention of curry most often brings to mind a spicy, thick gravy.
Well, Sama Curry & Café throws off all expectations as the first ever Japanese soup curry restaurant in Singapore.
Originating straight from Sapporo Hokkaido, Sama Curry reinvents curry in a delicious soupy bowl.
You’ll first get to take your pick from the Marathon Chicken, Oink Oink Hamburg, Keema Natto, Ocean Trophy or Vegetarian bear.
Then, choose from 30 levels of spiciness for just the right punch.
Lastly, select a soup base from Japanese wafu, Shrimp, Tomato or Coconut–and your perfectly customized curry bowl is done!
Remember to finish off your meal with their specialty Hokkaido Crab Cream Croquette!
Sama Curry & Café
Where: OUE Downtown 2 Gallery Level 2, 6a Shenton Way Singapore 068809
When: Mon – Sat: 11am – 9pm
Contact no.: 6224 0590
Facebook
9. Gain City Durian Feast
Love it or hate it, durian is here to stay.
Gain City is holding a Gain City Durian Feast for all those who can’t get enough of our national fruit!
Held for the third year running, Gain City is bringing durian lovers together for a sumptuous feast.
Get ready to pry open the spiny shell, and delve into the luscious flesh of the fruit you love so much.
You’ll also get to enjoy the cool breeze on the Gain City Megastore rooftop, mixed with the deliciously pungent scent of durian.
Remember to get your tickets online for this finger-licking good event!
Gain City Durian Feast
Where: Gain City Megastore @ Sungei Kadut, 71 Sungei Kadut Drive, Rooftop, Singapore 729577
When: 7 – 9 July
Contact no.: 6333 1212
Website
10. Singapore Food Festival
There’s no question that our Singaporean love for good food runs deep in our blood.
Well, there’s no better time to eat like a local than at the annual Singapore Food Festival!
Here, local culture, proud tradition, and contemporary dining are served up on a platter.
This is all done through unique culinary experiences, local chef collaborations, and workshops, which showcase Singapore’s rich heritage and culture.
Highlights include pairing traditional kueh with artisanal tea and coffee, learning to take great food photos like a professional, and an immersive food-and-dance experience!
Whether you’re a serious foodie or just a curious, hungry soul, you’ll get to savour a myriad of flavours and hear the stories behind the traditional snacks of Singapore.
So bring your appetite for a feast of the island’s best!
Singapore Food Festival
Address: Various Locations
When: 14 – 30 Jul
Website
The month of July is chockfull of fun-filled activities! With so much happening this month, there’s no reason for you to bum around the house during your weekends!
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