With spooky szn done and dusted, we won’t shame you for beginning to set up the Christmas tree. After all, festive vibes are already trickling in, evident by the various malls’ premature blaring of Mariah Carey’s greatest holiday hits.
There’s still a month before the jingle bells officially start tolling; in the meantime, here are some things to do in November 2023 as you start packing your bags for that well-deserved vacation.
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Image credit: Disney Concerts & AEG Presents Singapore
The only aspect as iconic as Disney’s cast of princesses is the stellar soundtrack that accompanies their childhood-defining films. For those who grew up crooning A Whole New World and Around the Riverbend in the shower, you won’t want to miss Disney Princess – The Concert.
Image credit: @disneyconcerts via Instagram
The Esplanade Theatre will be enchanted with melodies of emblematic Disney tunes on 26th and 27th November. The medley will include oldies like The Little Mermaid’s Part of Your World, and modern inclusions such as Let It Go and Into the Unknown will be sure to captivate the little ones.
The star-studded cast include Broadway names like Aisha Jackson, Steffanie Leigh, so you can be sure they’ve got the voices to do these classics justice.
Venue: 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Date: 26th-27th December
Time: 7pm-9.10pm
Tickets: Disney Princess – The Concert website
For yet another nostalgia-inducing visit, head down to WB100 Celebrating Every Story. This time, you’ll get to learn more about Warner Bros and meet some of their most recognisable cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny and Tom and Jerry.
DC fans will also be in for a treat as there’ll be a lineup of life-sized statues of superheroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman to snap pictures with. For more IG fodder, strike a pose at the Aquaman and Lost Kingdom photo wall which depicts the dreamy Jason Momoa standing front and centre.
Come on Fridays and weekends, and you can complete your day out with complimentary screenings of your favourite WB movies. Check the event’s website for movie timings; the reel of blockbuster hits include this year’s Barbie, and cult classics like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Admission: Free entry
Venue: 21 Beach View Road, Singapore 099699
Date: 10th-26th November
Time: 11am-9pm Daily
Contact: WB100 Celebrating Every Story website
Image credit: @ezzie_j & @bada_umma via Instagram
Don’t let Chaos Lab’s foreboding name mislead you – it’s actually an indoor playground that’ll be set up at Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 from 10th November to 31st December. The laboratory-themed hideout will be the perfect backdrop for the young’uns to unleash their creativity through a slew of interactive hands-on stations.
Highlights include a neon-lit ball pit and a slime station where the kids can keep their hands busy. There’s also a UV area for creative minds to express themselves through playful glow-in-the-dark doodles using fluorescent markers.
Venue: Changi Airport Terminal 2, 60 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819643
Date: 11th November to Q2 2024
Time: 11am-9.45pm, Daily
Tickets: Chaos Lab website
Image credit: Changi Airport Group
Speaking of Changi Airport’s Terminal 2, it’s slated to finally open up its Northern Wing in November, after 3.5 years of renovation works. There’s much to do at the newly-refurbished T2, even one of Changi Airport’s most iconic spots has made a reappearance.
The Flap Pix photo spot is a must-visit; you’ll get to hear the familiar clacking of the decommissioned flight information board as it displays stylised portraits of you and a friend.
Dreamscape.
Image credit: Must Share News
In the transit area, the kids can take it to the slides of the 2 Bears Hideout playground for some bear-themed entertainment. Don’t miss Dreamscape, an immersive indoor garden with over 20,000 plants, a fish pond, and a digital sky that mimics real-time weather conditions.
Afterwards, refuel with some of the terminal’s finest grub at the therapeutic Gourmet Garden as you watch planes land and take off on the distant tarmac. The best part? All of these locations are open 24/7, so you’ll be able to enjoy them even if you’re waiting for an odd-hour flight.
Venue: Changi Airport Terminal 2, 60 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819643
Time: 24 hours, Daily
Contact: 6595 6868 | Changi Airport website
Image credit: Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
Aspiring astronomers and those with a fascination for the otherworldly can book a trip to ArtScience Museum‘s Mars: The Red Mirror exhibition. Visitors will be privy to the secrets of the red planet, as the exhibition explores depictions of Mars throughout history and across cultures.
Image credit: Katie Paterson
Visual depictions in the form of intriguing installations will be scattered throughout – there’s a huge inflatable model of Mars that mirrors its many craters, crevasses, and volcanoes. Another art piece that’s literally out of this world is Scottish artist Katie Paterson’s hand-blown hourglass, which contains bits of martian dust and fragments from asteroids.
Venue: 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
Date: 25th November 2023-7th April 2024
Time: 10am-7pm, Daily
Tickets: Mars: The Red Mirror website
Movie buffs will be grateful for this month’s offering of flicks. Similar to the recent Korean Film Festival 2023, the vOilah! French Film Festival will be screening French movies on the house.
Although you’ll need a paid ticket to catch some of the festival’s movies like the Palme d’Or-winning Anatomy of a Fall, there’ll be free showings of family-friendly films at select heartland locations. These include cutesy, animated features like Around The World In 80 Days and Little Vampire, which will be available at Our Tampines Hub and Canberra CC.
You can also head to Palawan Green to catch some of these movies, as the festival has worked in conjunction with Sentosa’s Movies by the Beach programme for a free beachfront movie date. Do check the French Film Festival’s website beforehand to get the full deets of the films that interest you.
Admission: Free screenings at Sentosa Palawan Green & CCs, paid tickets from $14.50
Venue: Alliance Française de Singapour, Shaw Theatres Lido, Shaw Theatres PLQ, Sentosa Palawan Green, The Projector, Heartbeat@Bedok, Our Tampines Hub, Tampines East CC, Canberra CC, Cairnhill CC, Hillview CC, Block 188 Marsiling Road
Date: 9th-21th November
Time: Various timings
Watch your LED-lit roller skates light up as you groove to the rhythm of the live band.
Image credit: Rollermania 3.0
You’ll want to spend an afternoon at the best thrift stores in Singapore before showing up to RollerMania 3.0, as it’s rolling back the years with a skating experience ripped straight from the 70s. Get ready to rock ‘n’ roll at a neon-hued skating rink that’s suitable for beginner and intermediate skaters alike.
Apart from the countless interactive photo spots, there’s also the Fiestamania carnival on site that promises amusement rides, game booths, and retro arcade machines. The dress code’s retro-themed, so come unabashed in your favourite pair of bell bottoms and gaudy sequined tops.
Admission: From $12
Venue: TBC
Date: 17th November 2023-1st January 2024
Time: Mon-Thu 12pm-10pm | Fri-Sun 11am-11pm
These Nintendo goodies were spotted at Tokyo’s pop-up; you can expect to see something similar when the one at Jewel Changi is up and running.
Image adapted from: @sachiyo_314 via Instagram
For those who’ve not had the chance to visit Super Nintendo World and cop some of the Japan-exclusive souvenirs, you can look to purchase some at the Nintendo Pop-Up Store which will be stationed at Jewel Changi. You’ll be able to get your hands on merch from popular franchises such as Super Mario, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon.
As an added incentive, you’ll be able to redeem an exclusive postcard once you hit a minimum spend of $80 in a single transaction. Even if you’re just window shopping, stickers will be given out to shoppers who check into their Nintendo accounts. The pop-up’s here to stay till the end of December as well, so consider doing your Christmas gift-runs here.
Venue: Jewel Changi Airport, Level 04-220 & 221, 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666
Date: 17th November 2023 – 1st January 2024
Time: TBC
Contact: Nintendo Pop-Up Store Facebook
Even if flying to winter destinations isn’t on your agenda during the holiday season, it doesn’t mean you have to give high-octane sports like snowboarding and skiing a miss when you’re stranded in sunny Singapore.
At Trifecta Singapore, you’ll be able to do just that and more. The 49,611sqft facility located right beside Somerset MRT will allow thrill seekers to skate, snowboard, and even surf in an indoor, controlled environment. Newbies need not worry, as they’ll also be conducting classes for these board sports starting from $40.
Once you’ve had your adrenaline fix, cool down and refuel at Butter, an eatery next door that’s designed like an aesthetic seaside surf bar. For all your board-related paraphernalia, head to the neighbouring The Ride Side to get kitted up for your future sessions.
Books Beyond Borders’ The Bookstore will serve as a tranquil haven for thrifty bookworms. Located opposite the famed Maxwell Food Centre, The Bookstore is, well, a bookstore that sells vintage reads at an affordable price. Past sales have seen books sold for as low as $1 apiece, but we heard that the books are priced slightly higher here to keep up with rental costs.
You’re more than welcome to enjoy a good book at their quaint little reading nooks in-store.
Image credit: @booksbeyond.borders via Instagram
You can discover a diverse range of titles from out-of-print Marvel and DC comics from the 90s, to the entire collection of the Game of Thrones series. The store also accepts book donations – donate at least 5 of your pre-loved reads and you can get up to $5 off your purchases.
Address: 33 Erskine Road, 01-08, Singapore 069333
Opening hours: 11am-8pm Daily
Contact: Books Beyond Borders website
If the kids are budding wildlife enthusiasts, book a playdate with adorable critters at the new KidzWorld, nestled within the Singapore Zoo. It’s split up into 7 different zones, each with its share of animal-inspired fun. The main attraction will be the petting zoos, which’ll let the little ones come face-to-face with rabbits, cats, dogs, and even free-roaming goats.
Other than flooding your IG story with snippets of your day amongst the prancing falabella horses, there’s also the safari-inspired outdoor playground Play Trees, in which tots can expend their boundless energy by riding the slides, enjoying the wooden swings, and crossing a rope bridge. Entry to KidzWorld is free, but you’ll need a Singapore Zoo ticket to access it – so do plan accordingly.
Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
Opening hours: 8.30am-6pm Daily
Contact: KidzWorld website
Keeping in line with the recent openings of intergalactic-themed nightlife haunts – last month’s joint was the futuristic ARK11 – you’ll now be able to sing your hearts out at the swanky new Chao K Party.
Image credit: Chao K Party
It’s a KTV situated in Bugis with an interior reminiscent of one that you’ll find in a spaceship with its LED-illuminated walls and screens. 2-hour packages start at $16, and fueling your night will be an impressive catalogue of hits as you can choose from songs in over 10 different languages.
Image credit: Chao K Party
If you need to down some liquid courage to get the vocal cords going, they’ve also got your standard selection of alcohol ranging from beer to hard liquor. Small bites are also available to supplement your karaoke sesh, and you can even take a breather at their rooftop bar before heading back to belt out yet another killer solo.
Address: 496 North Bridge Road, #03-01/04-01, Singapore 188739
Opening hours: 12pm-3am Daily
Contact: 8873 9997 | Chao K Party website
With Deepavali drawing oh-so-close, you’ll find no shortage of festive vibes over at Singapore Sports Hub’s Rangoli & Rhythm celebration, which is taking place on 10th and 11th November at OCBC Square. Keep your eyes peeled for the flurry of Bollywood dance-offs and mesmerising peacock dance performances.
You can also don elegant sarees and add personal flair to your very own clay lamp at the event’s Diya painting station. Don’t forget to put the finishing touches to the giant, community-built Rangoli, and be sure to catch the resident snake charmer making his rounds.
Those wondering where to get their hands on Deepavali snacks can do so here, but we recommend dropping by Singapore Night Bazaar’s Deepavali Bazaar at Birch Road. You’ll be able to taste and dabao traditional bites like Muruku, Gathiya, and the sugar-filled Adhirasam.
Rangoli & Rhythm Celebration
Venue: OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub, Singapore 397718
Date: 10th-11th November
Time: 4pm-10pm, Daily
Contact: Singapore Sports Hub website
Deepavali Bazaar
Venue: Between Birch Road & Burmah Road
Date: 14th October – 11th November
Time: 2pm-10pm, Daily
Contact: Singapore Night Bazaar Facebook
As the festive spirit slowly starts to get going, here are some of the best things to do in November – before everything inevitably revolves around Christmas. From eventful airport visits to discovering a good read, the year’s already starting to pang kang and wind down, and so should you.
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Cover image adapted from: Rollermania 3.0, Fever & Chaos Lab, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
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