Defence Collective Festival 2025
Whether you’re a full-time National Serviceman or have already ORD’ed eons ago, you know the pain of booking in, especially if you reside on the opposite end of Singapore from your camp. Having to undergo BMT in Pulau Tekong as a Westie is truly shag, and we offer our commiserations to Easties who’ve had to report for duty at Sugei Gedong camp.
Thankfully, both Easties and Westies alike will have no trouble taking part in the upcoming Defence Collective Festival 2025. This free, defence-themed celebration of our nation’s defence heritage has festivities on both extremities of the Little Red Dot, so there’s really no reason to give it a miss. Here’s all you need to know before you “book in”.
What to expect at Defence Collective Festival 2025?
The Defence Collective Festival 2025 will be held over 2 weekends in the middle of November, at 3 different locations concurrently. You can find the dates and locations below:
| Location | Dates |
| Singapore Navy Museum | 15th-16th November, 10am-6pm daily |
| Singapore Air Force Museum | 15th-16th November, 10am-6pm daily |
| Singapore Discovery Centre | 15th-16th & 22nd-23rd November, 10am-6pm daily |
Entry to all 3 museums is completely free. However, you can opt to complement your visit with either a Single-Access ($12) or All Access ($32) Pass to unlock more activities at 1 or all 3 of the museums respectively. You’ll receive an Activity Passport to fill up too; complete at least 1 of the paid activities at the festival to redeem a free blind box containing a blind-box style plushie.
Where to celebrate the Defence Collective Festival 2025 in the East?
If you’re staying in the East, the Singapore Navy Museum and Singapore Air Force Museum ain’t too far away when you’re looking for some family-friendly fun on the weekends. But if you still think both museums are a little out of the way, don’t worry.
Eunos MRT.
Image credit: Fanz226 via Wikimedia Commons
There are free shuttle bus services to bring you from either Expo MRT station to the Singapore Navy Museum or Eunos MRT station to the Singapore Air Force Museum. You can take a look at the buses’ schedule on the Defence Collective Festival shuttle service page. The earliest buses depart for the museums at 9.30am, and last ones that go back to the MRT stations leave at 6.30pm daily.
Singapore Navy Museum
Should this be your first visit to the Singapore Navy Museum, there are plenty of maritime-related permanent galleries to check out, and even more naval-themed activities to dip your toes in relation to the Defence Collective Festival 2025.
Image credit: Singapore Navy Museum
Welcoming you into the premises is the museum’s Outdoor Gallery of historic guns and weapon systems from decommissioned ships, which makes for a picture-perfect backdrop. Inside, the Indoor Gallery spans across 3 floors, with exhibits documenting Singapore’s rich maritime history, and sports cool exhibits like rarely-seen Naval Diving Unit gear and models of missiles used in naval warfare.
Of course, you’ll want to check out the Defence Collective Festival 2025 offerings when you’re here as well.
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
For Activity Passport holders, immerse yourself with Military Expert Dior’s Trade Quest to get to the bottom of a “Sea-cret Master Plan” by solving digital and hands-on puzzles. Lieutenant Seymour’s Sensory Chamber also awaits brave visitors; this one will have you stepping into the fins of a naval diver to overcome the challenges posed by the open sea.
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
Creative sailors can also craft their own warships at a Naval Engineering Workshop, or take control of a mini submarine to manoeuvre through an underwater obstacle course at the Submarine Challenge. Other fringe activities include the Military Coins Showcase and an AI Face Swap photo booth for even more photo ops, while the Singapore Navy Museum Merchandise Sale is bound to delight navy enthusiasts.
Singapore Air Force Museum
Image credit: Singapore Air Force Museum
Fans of all things aviation, the Singapore Air Force Museum is where you’d want to be this Defence Collective Festival 2025. Upon arrival, you literally can’t miss the Outdoor Gallery, as it plays host to an impressive arsenal of fighter jets, missiles, and anti-aircraft weapon systems to strike a pose beside.
Onwards to the Level 1 Gallery, get inspired by exhibits featuring the valiant airmen and women who served through different generations and learn more about their lives in the RSAF. Right now, the Indoor Gallery is closed for renovation, but there’s still a slew of things to do at the museum, courtesy of the Defence Collective Festival 2025.
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
For Activity Pass holders, embark on Lieutenant Eli’s Sky Search for a scavenger hunt around the museum grounds, or race down Captain Ted’s Little Pilots’ Runway. The latter’s for the little ones, and they’ll get the chance to pilot an electric kart along a circuit that mimics a flight path.
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
Other festival highlights at the Singapore Air Force Museum include the Design-A-Badge and Aircraft workshops for some artsy fun, as well as the Sky Blasters: NERF Challenge, which puts your precision with a toy rifle to the test. Finally, see if you’ve got the reflexes of a fighter pilot at the Combat Fighter: The Reaction Game.
Where to celebrate the Defence Collective Festival 2025 in the West?
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
As for Westies, you can head right to Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC) to experience all the Defence Collective Festival 2025 has to offer. Much like the above 2 locations, there is a free shuttle bus service you can take there too; this one will bring you from Jurong East MRT straight to SDC’s doorstep.
Singapore Discovery Centre
I’m sure we’ve all been to SDC, perhaps for a learning journey or 2 when we were children. But to jog your memory, the museum houses a couple of interactive attractions that shine a spotlight on the culture, history, and future of the Little Red Dot. More recently, they’ve even added the Mission SG: Operation Broken Oath experience that you can have a go at using your SG Culture Pass credits.
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
Its close proximity to the SAFTI Military Institute also means that there are military-inspired activities to do here. The museum conducts guided tours of the military institute itself and runs a laser tag complex called the Black Lake Facility. For a more tactile shooting experience, swing by Crossfire Paintball, the country’s only multi-tiered paintball arena.
The connection to the Singapore Armed Forces doesn’t end there. As part of Defence Collective Festival 2025, there’s a whole host of army-themed activities lined up for visitors to SDC.
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
Those with Activity Passports can try their hand at Explorer SingaPaw’s Cultural Quest that celebrates the nation’s vibrant multicultural spirit. Meanwhile, Recruit SingaPaw’s Escape Maze will have kids take on the role of soldiers-in-training to tackle obstacle-filled rooms that test their wit and resilience.
Image adapted from: Defence Collective Singapore
Speaking of kids, kit them up in the appropriate gear; the festival has kids’ uniform rental ($10) services available on-site for adorable snaps. They can also get a little taste of the iconic field camp experience with Let’s Get Outfield!, where they’ll camo up and pitch a basha tent. See if you’ve got the muscles to overcome the Warrior Challenge, and learn valuable basic first aid skills at the First Responder station.
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
When you’re feeling peckish from your PT session, head over to the museum’s Bottle Tree Cafe Restaurant to feast on Asian and local zichar-style cuisine. Additionally, only on 15th and 16th November 2025, you can flash your digital SDC membership card to enjoy a $1 cup of kopi or teh right here, limited to the first 500 cups per day.
Celebrate Defence Collective Festival 2025 at both ends of Singapore
Image credit: Defence Collective Singapore
East or West, there’s always a convenient spot for you to soak in Defence Collective Festival 2025’s exciting happenings. It’s the perfect occasion for little ones to learn more about the lives of folks who keep our Little Red Dot safe every day, while having a whale of a time at that.
By the way, if you’re planning on making the most out of your visits by purchasing Single-Access or All Access Passes, we’ve got a sweet lobang for you. Key in the promo code <SINDCFXSMART> for $2 off Single-Access Passes, or <ALLDCFXSMART> for $4 off All Access Passes.
Learn more about Defence Collective Festival 2025
This post was brought to you by Defence Collective Singapore.
Cover image adapted from: Defence Collective Singapore, Singapore Navy Museum