Whether we are observing Ramadan or not, the month is a great time for all of us to enjoy the smorgasbord of tasty delights that abound at every bazaar around town. If you’re on the lookout for places to hit up, here’s a roundup of Ramadan bazaars and pasar malams around Singapore so you can check them all out.
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Before we get into it, the term bazaar is Persian in origin. Also known as souk, these were marketplaces bustling with small stalls and shops, traditionally located in the heart of town. Then you have pasar malam, the Malay word for night market or bazaar, which started in 1950s Singapore as weekly night markets.
Today, these are especially popular during festive seasons for the multitude of food stalls that make their appearances at the bazaars, alongside stalls retailing clothes, knick knacks and more. At the larger ones, you’ll even find carnival games.
One of the busiest seasons for bazaars is Ramadan: the sacred fasting month for Muslims when they abstain from food and water from dawn to sunset. It’s a time of worship, spiritual discipline, and a way of empathising with the less fortunate. Ramadan bazaars hence are the most festive after sunset, when fast has broken for the day.
As the Muslims ready themselves and their homes for the end of Ramadan, these bazaars are also places where they might stock up on festive goodies, and purchase their new clothes for Hari Raya Puasa. Also known as Eid-Al-Fitr, or “Festival of Breaking Fast”, it’s a time of celebration for Muslim families, with family visitations and practices such as seeking forgiveness from their elders.
These Ramadan markets run for anywhere from a single weekend, to as long as 6 weeks, starting even before the fasting month begins. The most popular are in Geylang Serai and Kampong Gelam, with auxiliary ones in many heartland locations. Some can also be found in shopping mall atriums.
| Bazaar | Address | Opening Dates | Opening Hours |
| Geylang Serai Bazaar | Geylang Serai Wisma | 8th March – 9th April 2024 | 10am-11.59pm, Daily |
| Kampong Gelam Bazaar | Kampong Glam | 2nd March – 5th April 2024 | 2pm-11pm, Daily |
| CelebFest Ramadan 2024 | 1 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039593 | 29th – 31st March 2024 | 12pm-10pm, Daily |
| Bazar Raya Utara @ Woodlands | Opposite Admiralty MRT Station | 6th March – 10th April 2024 | 10am-10pm, Daily |
| ecoHarmony Festival Bedok Ramadan Bazaar | Block 131 Bedok North Avenue 3, Singapore 460131 | 20th February – 9th April 2024 | 10am-10pm, Daily |
| Raya Bazaar: LalooLalang x MeYou Rumah Kita Market 2024 | 43 Malan Road, Gillman Barracks, The Southern Depot, Singapore 109443 | 16th – 17th March 2024 | 2pm-10pm, Daily |
| Tampines MRT Hari Raya Fair 2024 | Open field next to Tampines MRT Station | 9th March – 7th April 2024 | TBC |
| Mak Besar Hari Raya Food Bazaar | 1 Tampines Walk, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore 538523 | 23rd March – 7th April 2024 | Mon-Fri 3pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-10pm |
| Mega Raya Expo 2024 | 1 Expo Drive, Singapore Expo, Hall 6A, Singapore 486150 | 29th – 31st March 2024 | 10am-10pm, Daily |
| Bazaar Raya Utara | 11 Canberra Road, Singapore 759775 | 6th March – 4th April 2024 | 12pm-10pm, Daily |
The biggest and most highly anticipated Ramadan event every year has got to be the Geylang Serai Bazaar. This year, the bazaar is back with 500 stalls, of which 150 serve food and beverages.
Chilli crab prata waffles at Praffles.
It may be 200 fewer stalls than there were last year, but at this year’s gig, every F&B stall will have to stock at least 2 options which are priced at $3━to ensure the offerings are accessible to one and all. The most exciting night at this year’s Geylang Serai Bazaar will be the eve of Hari Raya Puasa, when the entire bazaar will run till 6am on the morning of 10th April.
Date: 8th March – 9th April 2024
Time: 10am-11.59pm, Daily
Address: Geylang Serai Wisma
Image credit: Eatbook
Already in full swing is the Kampong Gelam Bazaar: this year’s event is their biggest and longest-running yet, with more than 80 food stalls.
If you’re headed there, you must put The Shakehouse on your list of things to try; their Special Chicken Burger ($8) sees a thick, grilled chicken patty with fried egg and caramelised onions, with a sweet mayonnaise sauce. Drinks-wise, the Pink Matcha ($8) at Gaosyp x Offday Coffee is the one to get.
Colourful drinks by Air Balang.
Image credit: Eatbook
Keep this guide to dining at the Kampong Gelam Bazaar handy for your bazaar outing. There are light shows at Sultan Mosque and movie screenings at the open air cinema too. On 23rd March, there’ll also be a record-breaking, 240m-long mass iftar.
Date: 2nd March – 5th April 2024
Time: 2pm-11pm, Daily
Address: Kampong Glam
Contact: Kampong Gelam website
Image credit: @kugiranmasdo via Instagram
CelebFest takes place twice every year at Suntec City Convention Hall, and the first session of 2024 will run from 29th-31st March. Find them this season at Convention Halls 403 and 404, and expect the good old favourites of retail booths as well as F&B options.
It’s called CelebFest for a reason, because you can look forward to performances by local and regional celebrities, with previous appearances by guitar group Kugiran Masdo, pop-rock band Akim & The Majistret, and singer Andi Bernadee.
Date: 29th-31st March 2024
Time: 12pm-10pm, Daily
Address: 1 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039593
Contact: CelebFest Ramadan 2024 website
Image credit: Berita Harian
Northies, the space opposite Admiralty MRT Station is set to come to life again on 6th March, when Bazar Raya Utara @ Woodlands kicks off. Housing more than 110 F&B stalls, as well as 70 retail stalls, you can buy your baju and festive snacks, and feast too, all in one place.
Keep your eyes peeled for more than your usual bazaar favourites: there are also supposed to be celebrity stalls featuring big names like Abby Elite, Safura, and Dato Khadijah Ibrahim.
Put this bazaar on your calendar for this weekend, because there’ll be a light-up ceremony at 7.30pm on 9th March. The opening event will be hosted by Suhaimi Yusof, with acts by SKD, Nas Trojan and Fuad Rahman. If you miss this evening, there’ll be an art exhibition that runs throughout the month too.
Date: 6th March – 10th April 2024
Time: 10am-10pm, Daily
Address: Opposite Admiralty MRT Station
Don’t feel left out if you’re an Eastie, because you can still flex that East side is the best side, with ecoHarmony Festival Bedok Ramadan Bazaar that’s already ongoing next to Bedok Sports Complex. This sustainable Ramadan bazaar has more than 200 stalls, plus movie screenings and live entertainment. It runs for a whopping 6 weeks too.
Expect stalls hailing from the region, as well as local names. According to the ecoHarmony Festival Instagram page, there will even be hammocks so you can take a break from all the walking and eating. Don’t miss the terraced dining area, and prayer space as well. Kids aren’t left out too, with carnival games including a mini pirate ship, spinning tea cups, bouncy castles and more.
Date: 20th February-9th April 2024
Time: 10pm-10pm, Daily
Address: Block 131 Bedok North Avenue 3, Singapore 460131
Contact: ecoHarmony website
Image credit: eldastore via Instagram
If you’re looking for unique fits this Hari Raya, consider heading to the LalooLalang x MeYou Rumah Kita Market 2024. Running for just 2 days, it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it event that promises specially curated brands━both local and from the region.
Candle makers Lokal Kandle will be there, as are cruelty-free makeup brand So.Lek. Get your mummy-and-me outfits from Irsa the Label, or elegant baju kurung from Elda Store, who will also be setting up shop at this market.
Date: 16th-17th March 2024
Time: 2pm-10pm, Daily
Address: 43 Malan Road, Gillman Barracks, The Southern Depot, Singapore 109443
Contact: MeYou Market website
Image credit: Eatbook
Coming in hard in the east is the upcoming Tampines MRT Hari Raya Fair 2024, which starts this weekend, on 9th March. Besides the location and dates, it’s not clear what the operating hours will be for this fair, but the news is out that there will be Hari Raya goodies and clothes on sale.
Date: 9th March – 7th April 2024
Time: TBC
Address: Open field next to Tampines MRT Station
Image credit: @ourtampineshub via Instagram
For something cosier, head to the Central Plaza at Our Tampines Hub for their Mak Besar Hari Raya Food Bazaar 2024. The 2-week long bazaar will feature stalls from home bakers so you can stock up on the Raya goodies ahead of time. It couldn’t come at a better time: it’ll take place over the last 2 weeks of Ramadan so your snacks corner is replenished just in time.
Date: 23rd March – 7th April 2024
Time: Mon-Fri 3pm-10pm | Sat-Sun 12pm-10pm
Address: 1 Tampines Walk, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore 538523
Contact: Our Tampines Hub website
Image credit: @amendaleckers via Shopee
Held for a single weekend each year during the fasting month, Mega Raya Expo is huge, and very popular. Definitely get through the doors early to have the best picks of food, fashion and shopping.
Vendors you can expect this year include home baker Amenda Leckers and her beautiful kueh lapis, and batik specialist Alfitry Textures. Admission to this event is free.
Date: 29th-31st March 2024
Time: 10am-10pm, Daily
Address: 1 Expo Drive, Singapore Expo, Hall 6A, Singapore 486150
Image credit: @marsilinghome via Instagram
Skip the commute to Geylang Serai and Kampong Gelam if you’re a Northie, because you’ve got Bazaar Raya Utara on your doorstep.
Held at the open space beside Sembawang MRT Station and Sun Plaza, this edition of the Ramadan bazaar will feature more than 60 stalls, with celebrity performances from the likes of singers Aiman Tino, Siti Sairah and her daughter Ummi Umairah, and Kaka Azraff.
Date: 6th March-4th April 2024
Time: 12pm-10pm, Daily
Address: 11 Canberra Road, Singapore 759775
It’s time to eat, shop and celebrate together with our Muslim friends. Jio them or tag along to visit these Ramadan bazaars and pasar malams before they end their runs for this year.
If you’re looking for things to do, check out:
Cover image adapted from: @stanley_chee via Instagram, Eatbook
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