As we head towards the final stretch of 2023, October feels like the last corner before we officially hit the November-December EOY period.
If you’re looking for fun new things to do in October, we’ve compiled a list of activities and places for you to check out. Here’s a round-up featuring the latest partying spots, new hotels in town, and bidding Singapore’s first panda cub a fond farewell.
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When indulging in retail therapy this month, these malls should be on your radar – Junction 8 and Bedok Mall. Here’s why: shoppers will get the chance to redeem a free scoop of ice cream from Scoop Therapy on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm-6pm, limited to 1 per person.
They will also get the chance to customise their own free tote bag by playing a memory game at the Citi Rewards Card roadshows.
That’s not all, Citi Mastercard Cardmembers get extra perks, such as vouchers. You just need to spend a minimum of $80 on your Citi Rewards Mastercard; or $100 with any Citi Mastercard, and you’ll receive a mini gift card to redeem a $10 eCapitaVoucher via the CapitaStar app. Just ensure that the expenditure is racked up on a maximum of 2 same-day receipts.
Those who sign up for Citi Credit Cards on the spot will receive $300 cashback with minimum spending of $800 within 2 months.
In case you weren’t aware, as a Citi Rewards Cardmember, when you shop online on platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, Amazon, and Grab, you earn 10X Points which can then be used to offset your future purchases via Pay with Points. If you’re keen to find out more, just head down to 1 of these 3 mall roadshows.
You may have seen woozy animals all over the island. There’s Tipsy Flamingo in Raffles City, Tipsy Penguin in Tampines, Tipsy Panda in Woodlands, and Tipsy Bunny at JEM. Now comes Tipsy Unicorn, a beach club at Siloso Beach.
Decked in pastel purple, blue, and pink, the 19,000 sq ft venue comes equipped with both indoor and outdoor seating, a stage for DJ sets and performances, private suites with a jacuzzi, and a rooftop gym.
Lounge around on the beachfront daybeds or indoor cabanas with a Sweet Potato Colada ($22), their own take on the Pina Colada, or sign up for the weekly workout classes. At night, take on the dancefloor as local and international DJs take on the stage. This October, they’ve got international acts Emma Hewitt and Mariana Bo to bring untz untz beats to you.
You can’t talk about Halloween without mentioning Universal Studios Singapore’s annual arsenal of haunted houses and scare zones. Drag your scaredy-cat pals along and prepare yourselves for Halloween Horror Nights 2023.
King Yama from DIYU: Descent into Hell, one of this year’s haunted houses.
This year, they’ve unleashed the zombies of Hyosan High from Netflix’s All Of Us Are Dead and opened the doors of The Weeknd’s nightmare-inducing nightclub, where you’ll be trapped in a maze you have to find your way out of.
Admission: From $79
Date: 29th September-4th November 2023 (Thursdays-Sundays only)
Image credit: Gamescom Asia
Calling all gamers, summon your online pals for this IRL gathering of the best in the region when it comes to video games. Legendary composer Gerard Marino is set to perform favourites from The Amazing Spider-man, Overwatch, and Final Fantasy XV, and you might even meet some of the voices behind your beloved Honkai: Star Rail characters.
Admission: From $19
Venue: 1 Raffles Boulevard, Level 4, Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore 039593
Date: 19th-22nd October 2023 (Open to the public from 20th-22nd October)
Opening hours: 10am-8pm, Daily
Contact: Gamescom Asia website
Image credit: @tdf.sg via Instagram
If you’re still suffering from F1 withdrawal, come down to Suntec City to watch some of the world’s top 32 Tour de France cyclists compete in races over the last weekend of October.
If your young ones love cycling, sign them up for time trials open to kids aged 6-12, with shopping vouchers to be won. EDM music lovers can also listen as international DJ KSHMR drops some beats while the athletes go pedal-to-pedal, with iconic monuments such as Marina Bay Sands in the background.
Admission: From $52
Date: 28th & 29th October 2023
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, Sundown Live Area, Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Contact: Tour De France Singapore Criterium 2023 website
Image credit: ARK11
If you’ve ever wanted to party on a spaceship, there’s a new nightclub docked atop Orchard Central. ARK11 looks right out of a sci-fi movie with AI-powered bartenders, holographic dance floors, and a giant robotic heart. So it’s time to assemble the clubbing squad for a night of interstellar vibes and catchy tunes at one of the newest clubs in Singapore.
Admission: $40 for ladies, $50 for gentlemen (inclusive of 2 complimentary drinks)
Address: 81 Orchard Road, #11-01/02 Orchard Central, Singapore 238896
Opening hours: Fri 10pm-3am | Sat 10pm-4am (Closed from Sundays to Thursdays)
Contact: ARK11 website
If you’re craving for an island getaway that doesn’t involve air travel, hop on a ferry to Lazarus Island. Located just 20 minutes from Marina South Pier, the island has had a glow up with the opening of Tiny Away Escape @ Lazarus Island.
Located so close to the beachfront, these 5 “tiny houses” look so glamorous they could shoot the next Single’s Inferno here – plus, 2 pet-friendly ones if you were thinking of bringing your furbabies.
Chill by the beach or rent a paddleboard from Lazarus Sea Sports Centre. There’s even Sol Convenience Store, a gourmet store where you can buy all your camping or picnic necessities including food.
Rates: From $284/night
Address: 11A Pulau Seringat, Singapore 099556
Contact: 6525 5282 | Tiny Away Escape @ Lazarus Island website
Image credit: Second Story
Fans of vintage and Y2K fashion, there’s a new thrift store in Singapore. Second Story: Peace Edition is hidden on the, you guessed it, 2nd story of Peace Centre. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because they recently moved from Bukit Timah.
Besides racks of clothing, which includes womenswear from Japan from $8, there’s also a book room where you can score preloved fiction and non-fiction books. Appreciators of all things vintage can also snag a vinyl record by Wildflower Wax Co, an independent record store.
Address: 1 Sophia Road, #02-08 Peace Centre, Singapore 228149
Opening hours: 12.30pm-7.30pm, Daily
Contact: Second Story: Peace Edition website
Image credit: @mondriansingapore via Instagram
If an offshore staycation at Lazarus Island isn’t your thing, we’ve got 3 new hotels located in town. Mondrian Singapore Duxton is practically made for Instagram feeds, with artistic decor such as the 6m-tall KAWS sculpture greeting guests outside the lobby.
Explore the hotel’s 4 sky terraces.
Image credit: Pan Pacific Orchard
If a stylish staycay in Orchard is what you need, book a room at the Pan Pacific Orchard. Ballers can splash out on a Beach Club Loft, which has direct access to the rooftop swimming pool. You’ll go from bed to pool in less than 3 steps.
The newest of the 3, Pullman Singapore Hill Street is great for fans of rail travel. As a nod to the brand’s luxury train travel origins, you’ll find interior details inspired by railroad cabins in each room. Even the ground hotel lobby has a “mural” of vintage suitcases.
Image credit: Lucid Experiences
See Singapore through the eyes of its founding father at LKY: THE EXPERIENCE. It’s a history lesson on steroids, with 20 immersive rooms that chronicle key moments of Singapore’s legacy through Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s eyes. Of course, you’ll find plenty of photo ops in each room – from rainbow neon-lit arches to a room that resembles an IG-worthy library.
Rates: $18/pax
Date: 6th October–31st December
Address: 11 Prinsep Link, Singapore 187949
Opening hours: 10am-8pm, Daily
Contact: LKY: THE EXPERIENCE website
If you’re planning on heading to Haji Lane to shop or cafe-hop, drop by Mr Lim’s Shop Of Visual Treasures, an art gallery with rotating exhibitions by local artists. The next one, called Half Baked Ideas And A Dozen Cup Of Tea, opens on 12th October. It’ll feature a collection of kinetic sculptures made using nostalgic household items in Singapore, such as vintage kopitiam cups.
Image adapted from: Mr Lim’s Shop Of Visual Treasures
Before you leave, cop a wearable souvenir such as a screenprinted t-shirt ($40) and limited edition collectibles such as KAWS:HOLIDAY fans and Takashi Murakami playing cards.
Admission: Free
Address: 8 Haji Lane, #02-01, Singapore 189201
Opening hours: Wed 12pm-7pm | Thu-Sun 11.30am-7.30pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Contact: 9815 5300 | Mr Lim’s Shop of Visual Treasures website
Image credit: Gardens by the Bay
If you’ve seen enough orchids to last you a lifetime, the latest display at Gardens by the Bay shines a spotlight on chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemum Charm features 80 varieties of these blooms and the entire display is inspired by Mongolia’s landscapes. You’ll even get to see a life-sized Mongolian hut.
For a taste of chrysanthemum tea, head to Yeo’s Drinkable Garden where you’ll learn about their many medicinal properties and view different regional varieties. The brand also dishes a few secrets about how they use the flowers to produce everyone’s go-to CNY packet drink, Yeo’s Chrysanthemum Tea.
Admission:
Yeo’s Drinkable Garden: Free
Chrysanthemum Charm: Admission charges to Flower Dome
Date: 16th September-13th October
MFW my citizenship application didn’t go through.
Image credit: Mandai Wildlife Group
This one got us in our feels. Le Le, Singapore’s first giant panda cub, is set to depart his home at River Wonders at Mandai Wildlife Reserve. He’ll be migrating to China, where he’ll be part of the panda conservation programme.
Before he clocks out forever from Pavilion Capital Giant Panda Forest, visit Le Le and his folks at River Wonders. There’ll be fun activities for the whole fam including a panda mascot meet-and-greet, interactive photo points, and a mailbox for Le Le. Plus, snag a 40% discount on the “1 adult and 1 child” admission bundle from 6th-31st October.
Turns out, for what October lacks in public holidays, it makes up for in opportunities. With these new things to do in October 2023, your weekends are sorted.
So round up your kakis for a night of jumpscares or intergalactic EDM parties. You can even pay our lovable panda cub a visit before he migrates to a foreign country.
For more things going on in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from:Sentosa, Mandai Wildlife Group, Resorts World Sentosa
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