Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar
Singapore Design Week 2025 is just around the corner, and even if you aren’t interested in design, you can’t miss Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar. This key programme is happening from 11th to 21st September 2025, marking the return of Urban Ventures after 6 years – all while bringing art, music, culture, and community together at the eclectic Jalan Besar neighbourhood.
What is Urban Ventures?
Maculelê demonstration at Urban Ventures in 2018.
Image credit: @urbanventuressg via Instagram
Urban Ventures is an event series that used to transform places like Keong Saik Road and Temple Street into festival grounds, complete with live music and a dance floor. After a 6-year hiatus, it’s finally making a comeback, and its core pillars have remained the same. Expect art installations, DJ sets, workshop spaces, and a thrift market – all mashed together into something unforgettable.
Highlights at Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar
Makers’ Trail
Self-guided walking tour through the neighbourhood
Image credit: @muilingphua via Instagram
Instead of the usual cookie-cutter heritage trails, the Makers’ Trail is a self-guided walk through Jalan Besar with a focus on homegrown businesses in the district. It’s designed to be a rediscovery of a neighbourhood that’s often compared to the streets of Penang.
As you wander, look out for interactive installations along the street that have been co-designed with local businesses and makers, using materials sourced straight from Jalan Besar’s many mix of industrial workshops and hardware stores.
Each installation also features a downloadable blueprint via QR code. That way, you can take a piece of Jalan Besar home by recreating the designs yourself.
Image credit: Chye Seng Huat Hardware
The trail will also bring you through Jalan Besar’s independent cafes and family-run shops, including Chye Seng Huat Hardware – a metal store turned cafe with its own roastery, and Druggists – a craft beer restaurant.
This own time, own target trail is open from 11th to 19th September 2025 within the Jalan Besar District. You can find more details about the trail on Urban Venture’s Instagram.
Admission: Free
Venue: Jalan Besar District
Date: 11th-19th September 2025
Time: 24/7
Street Festival
Block party over 2 days
Image credit: @urbanventuressg via Instagram
Get ready to throw your hands in the air and dance. On 20th and 21st September 2025, Hamilton Road will be closed to vehicles for the BREW block party. Hosted by local music label Darker Than Wax, they’ll be bringing in a superb lineup of DJs, including Dexter Colt, Halia, and Ray Kong.
Here’s a fun fact: the sound system is solar-powered – that means good beats, good vibes, and a slightly smaller carbon footprint while you dance it out.
Image credit: @theskateboardingsocial via Instagram
There will also be THE URBAN PICNIC, bringing skateboarding culture together with urban design through custom-built street obstacles, installations, and skate competitions. Even if you don’t skate, there are photos and video competitions to capture the best mid-air trick moments. Those interested in joining the skate jam can find more details on The Skateboarding Social’s Instagram.
Image credit: @urbanventuressg via Instagram
For those who want to just chill, there are community workshops that you can participate in. Activities include crafting a mini shophouse, which will be a small part of a larger community art installation celebrating Jalan Besar’s iconic and colourful shophouses. This workshop is open to both kids and adults who are itching to create something with their hands.
Admission: Free
Venue: Hamilton Road
Date: 20th & 21st September 2025
Time: 3pm-10pm
How to get to Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar?
The 2 main locations are the Jalan Besar District for the Makers’ Trail and Hamilton Road for the Street Festival.
To get to Jalan Besar, take the train to Jalan Besar MRT Station on the DTL. If you decide to take the bus, services 23, 64, 65, 67, 130, 139, 147, 170, and 857 will get you there as well.
Hamilton Road is at the other end of the Jalan Besar District. The closest train station is Bendemeer MRT Station, also on the DTL. Take Exit B and walk 4 minutes to Hamilton Road. Or hop on bus services 13, 67, 133, 141, and 145, and alight at Bef Kallang Bahru.
Immerse yourself in Singapore’s art & music scene in Jalan Besar
Whether you enjoy art, music, skating, or are just looking for hyperlocal community events, there’s plenty to do at Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar.
Find out more information about Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar
For more events this month:
Cover image adapted from: guineapig33 via Flickr, @theskateboardingsocial & @urbanventuressg via Instagram