Mid-Autumn festival 2019 in Singapore
Image adapted from: @gardensbythebay
Mid-Autumn festival is right around the corner, and with mooncakes and lanterns abound, we know the festive season is approaching with fervour. But other than indulging in mooncakes, there’s more than you can celebrate this occasion with – including elaborate lantern displays, cultural performances and even fireworks.
Mark your calendar for these Mid-Autumn festival events happening in Singapore this year:
1. Vivocity – Alice in Wonderland-themed
They’ve blessed us with an adorable display of Tsum Tsum lanterns last year, and they are back again this year with a brand new Alice in Wonderland-themed light-up. Head to VivoCity’s outdoor Sky Park at Level 3 to have your own whimsical adventure down the rabbit hole.
Explore the highlights of Alice’s adventures through the 5 zones available, including the Queen’s Castle and A Mad Tea Party, complete with giant cupcakes and crazy-looking stacks of teacups.
The dazzling light displays stand out brightly against the night sky and will provide you with incredible backgrounds for photo opportunities.
Read our article on VivoCity’s Alice in Wonderland pop-up here.
Date: 23 August – 22 September 2019
Time: 10AM-10PM
Price: Free
Address: Vivocity Shopping Mall, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
Light-up begins at 7PM daily.
2. Jurong Lake Gardens – food street, sunset tours, and performances
Image credit: @tamanjurong
There’s no shortage of festivities at Jurong Lake Gardens either, with lantern displays, performances, and lantern-making workshops to take part in. Of course, food can never be left out and the food street here promises an array of cuisine to fill your belly with.
Setting up of the Food Street in progress
Image credit: @tamanjurong
You can also register for a sunset tour of the gardens to learn more about the flora and fauna present as you follow the guide through a route that’ll also let you view the lantern displays.
Image credit: @cwaikong
After the tour, catch a variety of performances at multiple venues across the gardens. These include drum performances, a lunar-themed dance, tunes by a Chinese string quartet, and a storytelling session accompanied by live erhu music.
Image credit: @tamanjurong
If you’re up for something pumped with more adrenaline, there are even dragon boat trials you can try out for. Or take it slightly easier with some yoga or DIY lantern making.
Find out more about the schedule of programmes available here.
Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 @ Jurong Lake Gardens
Date: 6 September – 15 September 2019
Time: 6PM-11PM
Price: Free
Address: Jurong Lake gardens, 104 Yuan Ching Road, Singapore 618665
3. Jurong Point – Sanrio-themed lanterns
The colourful lantern tunnel at Jurong Point is hard to miss – other than its prominent spot right before the main entrance to the mall, it is probably the first thing that will catch your eye when you tap out from Boon Lay MRT Station.
Take a closer look at the lantern tunnel and you’ll realise that each lantern is adorned with the faces of iconic Sanrio characters like Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kerokerokeroppi and Gudetama.
Hello Kitty takes on the role of Chang Er here
Peppered around the mall are other Sanrio-themed photo spots. It’s not often you get to see these characters clad in traditional Chinese costumes!
Date: 16 August – 15 September 2019
Time: 10AM-10PM
Price: Free
Address: Jurong Point Shopping Mall, 1 Jurong West Central 2, Singapore 648886
4. Wan Qing Mid Autumn Festival – laser shows and LED rose field
Image credit: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
At Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival, “sky lanterns” in the form of large traditional lantern-shaped helium balloons will light up the evening sky. Laser shows are also added into the mix, and with beams of light and mist effects, they’ll take you through a brief history of the occasion as orchestral music plays in the background.
Image credit: Sun Yat Sun Nanyang Memorial Hall
Reminiscent of the famous field of LED roses in Seoul or Cebu, we now have our own field of illuminated roses to spam pictures of – right in the front lawn of the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. You can also join a workshop to learn how to make your own “Moonflower” from wire mesh and solar-powered LED bulbs.
“Moonflowers of Autumn”
Image credit: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Find out more about the programme schedule here.
Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival
Date: 7 – 8 September 2019
Time: 10AM-9PM
Price: Free
Address: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
Website
5. Chinatown – lantern walk with dragon dance and fireworks
Samsui women
Image credit: Chinatown Festivals
No mention of Mid-Autumn Festival is complete without Chinatown. Lining New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and South Bridge Road are light displays that are reflective of Singapore’s progress since the olden days.
Image credit: Chinatown Festivals
Don’t expect the lantern walk scheduled here on 8 September to be a serene stroll under the moonlight – with the addition of a percussion band and a dragon dance troupe, the atmosphere here is sure to be buzzing with excitement. The lantern walk will be wrapped up with a series of performances at Lucky Chinatown and finished off with a burst of fireworks.
Lantern Light-Up
Date: 31 August – 28 September 2019
Time: Sun-Thur 7PM-12AM | Fri-Sat 7PM-2AM
Price: Free
Address: Along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and South Bridge Road
Mass Lantern Walk
Date: 8 September 2019
Time: 7PM-10PM
Price: Free
Address: Starting point Kreta Ayer Square | Ending point along New Bridge Road
Website
6. Singapore River Festival – riverside LED kite show and human claw machine
Image credit: Singapore River Festival
At Singapore River Festival, you can watch as LED kites light up the night sky above the Singapore River, creating an impressive light show you don’t get to witness every day. Take this opportunity to cruise down the river in a boat ride – your $25 ticket also allows you to join a lantern walkabout on top of that. You’ll receive a LED lantern, F&B vouchers and a lucky draw ticket as well.
Image credit: Singapore River Festival
There’s even a human claw machine game at this festival, where you’ll be strapped to a harness inside a giant machine and have a chance to grab prizes.
Human claw machine
Image credit: Singapore River Festival
Singapore River Festival
Date & Time: 14 September 2019, 3PM-10PM |15 September 2019, 2PM-6PM
Address: Robertson Quay
Lantern Walkabout & Boat Ride
Date: 14 September 2019
Time: 6PM-10PM
Price: $25/pax | $80/4 pax
Address: Clemenceau Jetty
Get your tickets here.
7. Moonfest at The Esplanade – cultural music and dance acts
Image credit: Esplanade Theatres by The Bay
The Esplanade is a place we head to for our occasional dose of art and culture, and this venue is not to be missed out for Mid-Autumn Festival either.
Image credit: Esplanade Theatres by The Bay
On the evening of 13 September, enjoy cultural performances put up by Nam Hwa Teochew Music Ensemble at the Forecourt Garden. NUS Chinese Dance will also be taking the stage at the Outdoor Theatre.
Image credit: Esplanade Theatres on The Bay
The young ones will also be delighted by the mascots that will be in the area from 13-15 September, including Chang Er and Mr. Mooncake, with eye-catching LED lights incorporated into their costumes.
Find the programme schedule here.
Moonfest: A Mid-Autumn Celebration
Date: 13-15 September 2019
Time: Varies
Price: Varies
Address: Esplanade Theatres by The Bay, 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981
Website
8. Gardens by the Bay – lanterns floating on water
Image credit: @gardensbythebay
As if the lit-up Supertrees at Gardens by The Bay aren’t magnificent enough on a normal day – this time they are accompanied by Mid-Autumn light installations and lantern displays floating on water, said to be their largest ones yet.
Image credit: @gardensbythebay
Witness the combination of tradition with the futuristic at the Supertree Grove as a giant revolving lantern lights up as the sky darkens.
Image credit: @gardensbythebay
Don’t miss out on the fun of the mass lantern walk – you’ll even be able to snag a free LED fabric lantern* if you turn up early enough.
Mass Lantern Walk
Date: 14 September 2019
Time: 7:15PM (Lantern Collection) | 7:30PM (Start of walk)
Meeting point: SG50 Lattice
*While stocks last, limited to one lantern per participant.
Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 Gardens by The Bay
Date: 30 August – 15 September 2019
Time: Refer to website for various timings
Price: Free
Address:18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Website
9. FamFest at Goodman Arts Centre – kid-friendly event with face painting and flea market
Image credit: @kyzerfoo
At the upcoming Mid-Autumn-themed FamFest, Cafe Melba at Goodman Arts Centre will be bustling with activity from a flea market, arts and crafts activities, face painting, and games for the children. Not forgetting the well-loved bouncy castle, of course!
Image credit: Cafe Melba at Goodman Arts Centre
Soak in the carnival vibes with barbequed food and a variety of drinks from Aperol Spritz to red and white wines. There are plenty of benches around where you can sit back and chill, but feel free to bring your own picnic mat if you like. With a DJ on the scene, you know there’ll be some great music you can groove along to as well.
Image credit: Cafe Melba at Goodman Arts Centre
FamFest
Date: 8 September 2019
Time: 11AM-6PM
Address: 90 Goodman Road Goodman Arts Centre, Block N #01-56, Singapore 439053
Website
10. The Yards @ Joo Chiat – release wishing lanterns into the sky
The celebrations at The Yards @ Joo Chiat will be in full swing on 7 September with live performances, food stations and carnival games. Tickets are priced at $6 each and all party-goers will receive a goodie bag, lanterns, mooncakes, food coupons and ice cream.
There are other activities you can also look forward to including lantern-making, lantern riddles, Chinese painting, wushu and singing performances.
For those who have never had the chance to release colourful sky lanterns from a railway track in Taiwan – you can now try it out in a smaller scale at the end of the event.
Joo Chiat Mid-Autumn Celebration
Date: 7 September 2019
Time: 6:30PM-9:30PM
Price: $6
Address: 406 Joo Chiat Place Level 1, The Yards, Singapore 428084
You can purchase your tickets at Siglap South Community Centre or online here.
Mid-Autumn festival events in Singapore
Many Singaporeans are avid foodies and the one element we most look forward to every Mid-Autumn Festival is the myriad of mooncakes that will be available for sale whenever the season rolls around. But beyond the durian snowskins and newly minted bubble tea mooncakes, Mid-Autumn festival is so much more than just that.
With these Mid-Autumn events, there are fireworks displays, light shows and so many workshops for you to take part in. The best part is, most of these are free to join!