Things to do in Singapore in August 2018
August is upon us, and while the biggest event of the month is of course National Day, there are loads of other new activities waiting in store for you to enjoy. From an outdoor film festival to a celebration of esports and music, here’s what you can look forward to this month.
1. Move to the tunes of Baybeats 2018
Plainsunset at the 2016 edition of the festival
Image credit: @amonwongch
Gear up for one of the hottest music festivals at the Esplanade – and for free, too. Baybeats is back again, with an impressive lineup of artistes both local and international. Chill out to the soothing melodies of Kin Leonn, or rock out to the smashing tunes of Trust the Chaos.
The Esplanade will be split according to music intensity, beginning from the calm Chillout Stage (Concourse) to the intense Arena (Outdoor Theatre) to the hardcore Powerhouse (Waterfront Carpark). Miscellaneous performances will be held separately in the Annexe Studio. Go ahead and pick your poison.
For the full lineup of artists who’ll be performing, visit this link.
Dates: 17-19 Aug
Times:
- 17 Aug: 6:30PM-3AM
- 18-19 Aug: 6PM-12:10AM
Venue: Esplanade
Price: Free
2. Learn how liquid nitrogen ice cream is made at the Molecular Gastronomy Food Festival
Man-made caviar from the Spherification Factory zone
Image credit: Eatbook
If the idea of making liquid nitro ice cream within mere seconds from scratch intrigues you, satiate your curiosity at Seletar Mall’s Molecular Gastronomy Food Festival. Held over a period of 2 weeks, this festival features a Food Science Lab that will showcase how a variety of different foods can be created using scientific methods.
Liquid nitrogen ice cream
Image credit: Eatbook
Apart from the ice cream, expect to see man-made caviar take shape in beakers before your eyes, or even mango-flavoured egg yolk forming on petri dishes.
Image credit: Eatbook
In order to gain admission into the festival, simply spend a minimum of $30 at Seletar Mall. This will also entitle you to try all the food available for free! For more details, check out Eatbook’s article here.
Date: 27 Jul-9 Aug
Venue: Seletar Mall
Price: Minimum expenditure of $30 at the mall for free admission
3. Be wowed by the stunning light displays of Singapore Night Festival 2018
Fans of light installations and all things glowy will want to check out Singapore Night Festival, where the entire Bras Basah/Bugis precinct will be transformed into a mesmerising world of light displays.
Watch these pretty lights liven up SMU’s Water Feature.
Image credit: Singapore Night Festival
To help you better plan your exploration ahead of time, make use of this interactive map. Admission is FREE for all exhibits.
Glowing toadstools with Alice in Wonderland vibes
Image credit: Singapore Night Festival
A light projection on the façade of SAM that makes you feel like you’re looking at Aladdin’s Agrabah from a distance.
Image credit: Singapore Night Festival
When you’re done touring the light displays, be sure to check out the lineup of performances. Fondly reminisce the good old days with jazz remixes of N-Day songs like “One People, One Nation, One Singapore” in the National Library, or even be stunned by a crackling lightning performance at Cathay Green.
Date: 17-25 Aug
Time: 7:30PM-12AM
Venue: Bras Basah/Bugis area
Price: Free
4. Enjoy free yoga and local movies at Gardens by the Bay
Image credit: Gardens by the Bay
Gardens by the Bay has a slew of activities lined up for you during this National Day period. For starters, True Yoga will be holding a free yoga session at the Supertree Grove on N-Day itself. Be sure to stay till the end, as they’ll be giving out goody bags containing spoils from Nivea, Quaker, and more.
“Ah Hui, jiak ba buay?” – endearing scene from Money no Enough
The N-Day fun doesn’t end with yoga, as there’ll be a Pop-Up Cinema in GBTB’s Cannonball Room. 4 local productions will be screened, including Jack Neo’s iconic Money no Enough and Royston Ang’s moving Bunga Sayang. For detailed information on the films, click here. And the best part is that you can enjoy all 4 films FOC!
Find out more about GBTB’s National Day activities here.
Date: 13 Jul-22 Aug
Venue: Gardens by the Bay
Website
5. Visit TWO: A Tale of Convergence, Singapore’s first AR photo exhibition
Beauty of the concrete jungle through Futurama.
Image credit: Leica
Combining the distinct styles of 2 photographers Lee Yik Keat and Geoff Ang, TWO: A Tale of Convergence is an exhibition that offers a unique twist on urban photography through augmented reality. Simply download the Artitive app for free, scan the pictures with your smartphone, and watch as they bloom into movement and music.
Bird’s eye view of a cityscape in Citadel.
Image credit: Leica
Date: 27 Jul-24 Oct
Time: 10AM-8PM|
Venue: Leica Galerie, Fullerton Hotel
Price: Free
6. DIY a unicorn bouquet and browse craft items at Maker Faire Singapore
Check out Just Love Craft’s usage of quilling and animated lights to craft these Singapore landmarks.
Image credit: Maker Faire Singapore
To those who dig DIY craft items, Maker Faire Singapore is for you. With over 200 booths, 60 workshops and talks that cover crafts, 3D printing, papercraft, robotics, and woodwork, there’s no end to what you can learn how to create with your own two hands.
Try your hand at making one of these Animal Blooms.
Image credit: Maker Faire Singapore
A full list of Maker Faire’s creators can be found here.
Date: 17-19 Aug
Time:
- 17 Aug (students only): 2PM-5PM
- 18-19 Aug (public): 10AM-6PM
Prices:
Adults: $10 (1-day pass), $15 (2-day pass) | Children (3-12 yo): $5 (1-day pass), $8 (2-day pass)
FOC for: Local student groups (of at least 20 and above) | Seniors (60 yo and above) | Tampines residents
Venue: Our Tampines Hub, Community Auditorium
7. Join a free dance-workout and massive live NDP screening at the National Day Fiesta
Workout Lah! 2017
Image credit: @sgsportshub
If you weren’t able to get tickets to this year’s NDP, not to worry: Singapore Sports Hub is collaborating with GetActive!Singapore to put together a National Day Fiesta. From fitness programmes to quizzes testing your knowledge of Singapore, there is sure to be something to for everyone. The best part? ALL activities are FOC!
If dancing is your type of exercise, give Workout Lah! a try. This Singapore-themed cardio-fusion dance will help you work off those pesky calories while celebrating the joy of being Singaporean.
There’ll also be a massive live NDP-telecast-cum-picnic to wrap up the fiesta at 5PM, and you’ll be given free popcorn and picnic mats.
Date: 9 Aug
Time: 12PM-9PM
Venue: Singapore Sports Hub
Price: Free
8. Dig into a supper buffet till as late as 5.30AM
You can’t go wrong with prata – even at 1AM
Image credit: Eatbook
You know when you’re feeling super hungry at 12AM and just need to fill up your belly? Then you should treat yourself to a hearty supper buffet, starting from Al Jasra Restaurant, where you can get a prata buffet for just $7.90 – and they’re open 24/7! If you prefer something soupy, tuck into a mala hotpot at Ma La Hui Cui Guan – serving up spicy delectables until 5.30AM.
For more recommendations on late-night supper spots, check out our article here.
9. Watch a League of Legends tourney and Nick Jonas performance at YOUTHx’s Hyperplay
Image credit: Challenger TV
For avid fans of esports like League of Legends, YOUTHx’s Hyperplay is one festival you don’t want to miss. Held from 4-5 August, the event will bring together the best of esports and music over 2 days’ worth of cosplay, live music, and LoL galore.
Even if you’re new to LoL, all spectators are welcome to watch the Hyperplay tournament, where all 10 ASEAN teams will compete in a series of intense LoL matches to achieve regional victory.
Image credit: Hyperplay
Esports is not the only thing on the menu, as Hyperplay’s collab with MTV Spotlight brings international artistes like Nick Jonas and Alessia Cara to the stage.
Although early-bird tickets have already been fully redeemed an exclusive number of tickets will be made available at the door on both days.
Find out more in our article here.
Date: 4-5 Aug
Time: 10AM-9PM
Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Prices: Tickets go from $38 onwards
10. Adopt a dog or cat at Paws for a Good Cause
Image credit: Mercylight
If you’re on the lookout for a furry friend, check out Paws for a Good Cause, where you may just meet your dream pet and give it a forever home. Taking place at both City Square Mall and Quayside Isle, the pet adoption drive will have both dogs and cats up for adoption at the former, while the latter will only have dogs.
Image credit: PurelyAdoptions
Date: 4 Aug (City Square Mall) and 18-19 Aug (Quayside Isle)
Venue and time:
- City Square Mall: 10AM-4PM
- Quayside Isle: 5PM-8:30PM
11. Groove to the beats of your choice at Silent Disco Asia’s 2nd Birthday Party
Image credit: Silent Disco Asia
If you’ve ever gone to a nightclub and wished that you could change the music without incurring the wrath of those around you, give Silent Disco Asia’s 2nd Birthday Party a shot. At this event, you’ll be given a set of noise-cancelling headphones which you can use to switch between 3 different live DJ channels.
Image credit: Silent Disco Asia
Unlike at a regular disco, you can still chat with your friends here without having to shout – simply remove the headphones and you’re good to go.
Date: 25 Aug
Time: 10PM-2AM
Venue: Marina Bay Sands Observation Deck
Prices: $38 (early bird)* | $45 (regular)*
*Prices are inclusive of 1 complimentary drink worth $20 and access to MBS Observation Deck and Ce La Vi Club Lounge.
12. Bounce your calories away at Singapore’s trampoline parks
Image credit: @zoomparkasia
Working off those calories from that last cake you ate doesn’t have to involve pounding the track for an hour – try jumping around at Singapore’s trampoline parks. Bouncing around doesn’t seem like it’d do much, but you’d be surprised by how effective it is in giving your body the workout it needs – your legs will likely be aching the next day.
Check out a list of trampoline parks you can visit in our article here.
13. Check out locally made products with Made in SG: Creator’s Market
Shop Pew Pew Patches’ adorable themed patches
Image credit: Pew Pew Patches
Check out WeWork’s Creator’s Market, a pop-up market selling the best locally-made products, including the endearing iron-on Pew Pew Patches and Hush Candles’ hand-poured soy candles. Be it food, clothing, or accessories, there’s something sure to satisfy everyone! Admission is free, but be sure to register your attendance here.
Pick up some of Hush Candles’ fragranced soy candles.
Image credit: Hush Candles
And that’s not all: Shak and Aarika Lee & The Next Movement will be there to grace the stage with performances. So come for the local crafts, stay for the good music.
Date: 4 Aug
Time: 11AM-5PM
Venue: WeWork 71 Robinson Road, #14-01
Website
14. Catch a movie outdoors with Films at the Fort
Outdoor movie screening
Image credit: @filmsatthefort
Going to the cinema is so last Wednesday. These days, we watch movies outdoors. Okay, I kid, but hey, enjoying a movie out in the open is vastly different from going to a cinema. Films at the Fort, an open-air cinema, will be held over 3 weeks at Fort Canning Park, with screenings of the nerve-wracking A Quiet Place and the poignant Adrift. The full film lineup can be viewed here.
The first 750 participants each night will receive a free inflatable backrest cushion to use and later take home. Be sure to head down to the HOOQ lounge cushion tent and activate a 1 month free subscription to claim it.
If you’re feeling hungry midway, The Providore will be there to whip up nosh like Spiced Falafel ($12.50), pizza ($19.50), and popcorn ($3). The full menu can be viewed here.
Date: 3-19 Aug
Price: $31.89/person
Venue: Fort Canning Green (in Fort Canning Park)
Website
15. Have a neon light photoshoot on the streets of Singapore
If you think you need to fly to far-flung places like New York to do a photoshoot that reveals your true hypebeast self, think again: our very own streets in Singapore are more than worthy of aiding you in your quest.
For starters, check out this garish LED signage outside Peace Centre that belongs to a not-so-family-friendly KTV bar with strong siam diu vibes. Unconventional, yes, but it’ll give your Instagram feed that “I’m too cool for you” aesthetic.
For a full list of the locations we’ve found, check out our article here.
16. Break a world record and raise funds for charity with Singapore World Resistance Bands Challenge
Image credit: @abvolution
If you’ve ever wanted to break a record, participate in the Singapore World Resistance Bands Challenge, where you’ll attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest resistance bands class. At the end of this free-to-join class, you’ll be rewarded with a complimentary resistance band.
While participating in this event, you can also choose to pledge $0.10, $1, or $20 for every rep you do, where all proceeds will be donated to Singapore Cancer Society.
Date: 4 Aug
Time: 12PM-6PM
Venue: Singapore Sports Hub (100plus Promenade)
Website
17. Put your knowledge to the test and join a pub quiz night
A trivia sheet from Molly Malone’s.
Image credit: @mochafrapppp
The next time you make plans to have drinks with friends, give a pub quiz a try. Even if you’ve never really tried trivia puzzles, don’t worry – they’re not as intimidating as they seem. In fact, most of them are pretty chill, and there are no penalties for answering wrongly. But of course, if you do win these quizzes with your friends, you’ll be amply rewarded, with Molly Malone’s offering a free bucket of 5 beers.
For a list of pubs and bars that conduct trivia nights, check out our article here.
Activities and events in August 2018
With all these activities to keep you entertained, National Day is not the only thing there is to look forward to in August. The fun persists before and even beyond, so be sure to plan your next outings fruitfully!