Fun and festive activities this December holiday
Image adapted from: Yoga and Movie Under the Stars
Although the year is coming to a close, there surely isn’t an end to the number of exciting activities lined up for the holiday season. With school holidays or annual leave to clear, there’s all the more reason to loosen up with a few more outings and adventures before 2018 swings in.
This list of fun things to do in December will keep your holiday season fulfilling and well-spent:
Events
1. Wknd Folks Christmas Pop-Up Market
This pop-up market is a dog-friendly one – so bring your furfriends along! Image credit: @skinnyblooms
Wknd Folks is back even bigger and better at their Christmas Market, this time offering more Christmas-related items for those who wish to get one-of-a-kind gifts for your loved ones – complete with beautiful packaging thanks to a gift wrapping station.
Some local vendors that are going to be present include florist SkinnyBlooms and jewellery brand Circus Fling, as well as smoothie bowl kiosk Uluwatu Bowls Co. Check out Haiku.Fever, where well-versed Dave Tai will spin a Haiku for you right on the spot, about any subject you can think of for him to write about.
Dave here will write a haiku on the spot for you about anything under the sun. Image credit: @wkndfolks
Highlights of the event include floral arrangement,metal flower jewellery workshops, as well as live acoustic music. You can also have your face painted or get temporary henna and tattoos when you’re here. Those with kids in tow will be glad to know that there’s a bouncy castle to keep your little one busy.
Date: Sat – 2 Dec | Sun – 3 Dec
Time: Sat – 11AM – 8PM | 11AM – 6PM
Venue: Buzz in the Woods, 320 Tanglin Road
Website
2. Santa Run for Wishes
Image credit: Santa Run for Wishes
It’s the season of giving, so take some time to sweat it out for someone else at this year’s Santa Run for Wishes – a run organised to raise funds to help grant wishes of ill children. With 2km and 5km runs going at $52 for adults and $42 for children, the Santa Run is more affordable than most big-name runs. Family packages can also be bought at $188 for 4.
Date: 9 Dec 2017
Time: 7.30AM – 11AM
Venue: The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Website
3. Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
Star Flyer – a 35m tower. Image credit: The Straits Times
Stretching 3.5 football fields wide across from the Marina Promontory to the Bayfront event space, Prudential Marina Bay Carnival is Singapore’s largest carnival yet. Look forward to a host of over 40 rides like Orbiter Cars, cyclone coasters, pirate ships, and even a log flume ride. But the queen of all rides is surely the Star Flyer – a 35m tower that’ll give you the sensation of flying.
Chomp down on local fare like chendol soft serve and lemongrass chicken rice bowls, on top of carnival fare like candyfloss.
Local powerhouses TheLionCityBoy and Kexin Tay will be performing at the event as well.Date: 8 Dec 2017 – 1 Apr 2018
Time: 10AM – 7PM
Venue: Marina Barrage
Price: Free
Website
4. Zoukout 2017
Image credit: @zoukoutofficial
End your year with a blast with the annual Zoukout, and party it up to EDM tunes from dusk till dawn at Siloso Beach – alongside international headliners like Axwell Ingrosso, DJ Snake.
If you’re in for the full experience, sign up for their hotel packages, which allow you to continue with an afterparty back in a hotel room at W Singapore, Hard Rock Hotel, Genting Jurong or Park Hotel Alexandra. The package also includes a pair of event tickets, breakfast on the house and transfers to the event venue.
Date: 8 – 9 Dec 2017
Time: Doors open at 6.30PM
Venue: Siloso Beach, Sentosa
Ticket Prices: At the door: Day 1: $158 | Day 2: $168
Advance 2-day Festival Pass: $228
Website
5. Yoga and Movie Under The Stars
Image credit: Yoga and Movie Under the Stars
Enjoy a moonlit film at a private open-air rooftop backyard at Suntec city, all cuddled up with your loved one. A Christmas favourite, The Polar Express will be screened, and you’ll get 1 free glass of wine, free-flow snacks, hot green tea, and popcorn – everything you need for a perfect movie night.
Come 60 mins earlier at 6.15PM before the movie screening if you would like to participate in a gentle yoga session, just to get those tense muscles relaxed for the chill night ahead.
Date: 24 Dec 2017
Time: 7.15PM – 10.15PM for movie, 6.15PM for yoga session
Venue: Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Price: $28 – get your tickets here.
6. Flashbang Flea Market
Old school arcade games that will be available at the flea. Image credit: Flashbang Singapore
A pop-up market with stalls housed in shipping containers – reminiscent of Bangkok’s Artbox – Flashbang features over 120 stalls with food and games, neon light installations, and music performances.
Day activities include craft workshops by local entrepreneurs and even virtual reality installations and interactive walls. When night dawns, installations designed by local artists will light up beautifully for photo opportunities. Old school arcade games will also be there for some friendly competition between you and your pal.
Date: 9 – 30 Dec
Time: 3PM – 11PM, Daily
Venue: 96 Somerset Road – the open air carpark at Grange Road and Orchard Fountain Corner
Price:Free
Website
7. Noise Singapore Showcase
Image credit: The Facade
You might already be familiar with local artistes like Charlie Lim, Lewis Loh, and The Facade – but what you may not know is that they’ve all been past winners of the Noise Singapore Mentorship programme in various categories. This year, Noise Singapore is holding yet another showcase-cum-competition, where you’ll get to watch rising stars put forth some of their best performances and compositions.
There will also be a Christmas Market with shopping and food booths. Concert-goers will be glad to know that they’ll get access to stations for free face-painting and manicures.
Date: 16 Dec 2017
Time: 6PM – 10:30PM
Venue: Venue
Price: Free
8. Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay
Image credit: @christmaswonderlandsg
Get more into the yuletide spirit at Garden by the Bay’s Winter Wonderland – where you’ll get to ice skate, try your hand at carnival games, and go on rides like a ferris wheel and bumper cars. There’ll also be hearty European dishes and mulled wine to warm your tummy with. Complete your night by attending a performance by Circus Abyssinia, an acrobatic troupe from Ethiopia that will wow you with their gravity defying stunts.
Date: 1 – 26th Dec 2017
Time: 4PM – 11PM, Daily
Price: online purchase: $4 – $8 | at the door: $6 – $10
Click here for more information.
9. Pets Jingle
Image credit: Pets Jingle
If you’re a pet owner, bring your furbaby for Pets Jingle, the largest Christmas festival in Singapore for pets! The 2-day festival is hosting vendors selling pet goodies, some at discounted prices, and healthcare seminars for pet owners to learn about taking better care of their furry friends.
Dog owners, doll up your pet in festive gear and sign them up for the Best Christmas-Themed Dressed-Up Canine Contest – there’ll be prizes to be won!
Sign up soon here – because the first 1000 RSVPs will walk away with limited edition goodie bags!
Date: 9 – 10 Dec
Time: 11AM – 9PM
Venue: Singapore Turf Club
Price: Free
10. EOY J-Culture Festival
Image credit: EOY J-Culture Festival
One of the largest Japanese sub-culture festivals in Singapore, EOY J-Culture Festival at Marina Barrage offers an avenue for lovers of cosplay, anime, and J-pop to congregate. Other than dressing up as your favourite character, you can also look forward to performances by J-pop artists from both overseas and home, as well as booths selling illustrations and anime-related trinkets.
Date: Sat – Sun | 9 – 10 Dec 2017
Time: 10AM – 7PM
Venue: Marina Barrage
Price: Free
Website
Things to do
1. Get 1-for-1 drinks at Sentosa’s Thirsty Thursdays
Image credit: @olabeachclub
You don’t have to wait till Friday to drink when there are 1-for-1 drinks at all Sentosa Bars every Thursday this December!
If you want to chat with friends over Tiger draught beers and house pours indoors, head to Hard Rock Hotel and RWS. For those who prefer clinking glasses by the beach, head to Bikini Bar, Ola Beach Club, and Wave House for a chill night. The newest AJ’s Bar also offers 1-for-1 pasta and sandwiches on top of their drink discounts.
Note: Free GrabShuttle pickups are available at VivoCity, Mapletree Business City, Mapletree Business City II, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Harbourfront Tower One and Keppel Bay Tower. Click here for more info on bus routes.
Date: 5 Oct – 28 Dec 2017, every Thurs
Time: 6PM – 10PM
Venue: Click here for all participating bars
2. Take in the magical Christmas lights at Orchard Road
Walk of Wonder at Forum
We’ve all been looking forward to Orchard Road’s annual Christmas light up, and this year’s is no short of magical. One of the most eye-catching light installations you can look forward to is the Walk of Wonder at Forum – a “tunnel” illuminated by blue fairy lights.
This year, there will also be more buskers and carollers on the streets to heighten the festive vibes, as well as a pop-up Christmas Village with food stalls and carnival rides!
Read our article on Orchard Road’s Christmas Village here.
Date: Runs till NYE
Time: All day – lights come on at 6PM
Venue: Whole street of orchard road.
Website
3. Go for an art jamming cum open mic session
Image credit: Splash Academy
If you’ve always wanted to unleash your inner Picasso, head down for Splash Academy’s Art Jamming event to create your own masterpiece. Brushes, paint, canvas and easels are all provided, so all you need to do is show up and get in touch with your artistic side.
At the same time, there will also be an open mic jam session. Again, just show up and jam ‘cause with fellow music-lovers as mics, mixing board, cables, and even drinks are all provided!
Date: 3 Dec 2017
Time: Art Jamming Session 1: 3PM – 5PM | Art Jamming Session 2: 5.30PM – 7.30PM
Venue: Kult Kafe, Emily Hill, 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120
Price: $30 for up to 2 people for Art Jamming – inclusive of paint and canvas
Website
4. Earn money while you exercise
While it’s usually almost a chore taking me out out of our busy schedules to exercise, perhaps some cash incentives might bribe you to get on that running track.
Download some FREE exercise apps that let you clock dollars when you run or walk – you’ll be surprised by how much more motivated you’ll become!
Read our article here to find out more about the apps you can download to kickstart your fitness journey.
5. Go for a FREE Karaoke session at the Esplanade
Image credit: Esplanade
Jio your KTV squad to Keep Calm and K-On, and sing along to over 60,000 songs on Esplanade’s Waterfront canopy stage. If you’ve always wondered what performing on stage is like, this is your chance to break out of your comfort zone and shine.
Read our article on the overarching Voices at Esplanade event here.
Date: 8 Dec 2017 | 9 – 10 Dec 2017
Time: 6PM – 12AM | 5PM – 12AM
Venue: Esplanade Waterfront Canopy
Price: Free
6. Have an affordable Halal steak feast for under $25
A good slab of steak doesn’t come cheap, especially if it’s Halal. But if you’re a Muslim, or have Muslim friends, check out these 7 affordable Halal steaks you can enjoy for under $25. So go ahead and celebrate the end of the the academic or work year with these tasty, quality steaks that will meat your expectations.
7. Unwind at Level Up, Clarke Quay’s new arcade-bar
For fans of Stranger Things – this bar is a dream come true. Level Up at Clarke Quay looks just like the arcade scene in the Netflix series. Equipped with over 10 game machines – from Time Crisis and racing machines to the old-school Street Fighter, this bar is already a great hit amongst the young and young at heart.
You can also try your hand at kiap-ping some stuffed toys from Craftholic from their claw machine. BFs, you know what to do to make your girl’s night.
Read our firsthand review of Level Up here.
Address: 3A River Valley Road, #02-04, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179020
Opening Hours: Mon – Thurs: 5PM – 2AM | Fri – Sat: 5PM – 3AM | Sun: 2PM – 11PM
Telephone: 62662276
Website
8. Go on a pub crawl and enjoy 4 shots for only $5
Image credit: @sgpubcrawl
Imagine spending just $5 (U.P. $35) for 4 shots from 4 different bars – that’s what you’ll get to do when you join this TGIF/Saturday Escapade with Singapore Pub Crawl. Need a stronger buzz? Top up $15 for 2 additional cocktails. On top of that, you’ll get VIP entry to some of the hottest clubs in the city area! This event will be great for your squad to let your hair down and meet new people.
Date: Fri and Sat nights in Dec
Time: 7.30PM onwards
Meeting Point: Fat Pigeon statue, UOB Plaza
Website
9. Treat yourself to an affordable afternoon tea session
If you’ve always wanted to live the tai tai life, sipping tea all day and chatting with your girlfriends over little cake, that dream isn’t too far out of reach.
Afternoon tea is usually an expensive affair, but we’ve found of 11 affordable afternoon tea sets from only $13/pax that you can indulge in without splurging too much. One of these places even has a Science lab-themed tea set!
10. Admire stamps with designs of cartoons like Pokemon and Totoro
Image credit: sgcafe
Cartoon lovers, heads up: the Singapore Philatelic Museum is holding an Anime X Stamps exhibition for the first time, showcasing limited edition collectible stamps and original production artwork for 80 different Japanese animation classics – from Pokemon and Doraemon to Naruto.
Side activities include cosplay session, sushi-making demonstrations, and piano performances of classic animes like Totoro. There will also be toys and collectible figurines on sale.
Date: 16 Nov – 30 Apr 2018
Time: 10AM – 7PM, Daily
Venue: Singapore Philatelic Museum 23-B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807
Price: Free
Things to do in December 2017
It’s finally the end of the year, and we deserve to be rewarded for a year of hard work. Make sure you take some time off and enjoy the holiday season with family and friends, rejuvenating through activities you love. Don’t forget to share the love and spread festive cheer. Happy holidays!