Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019
Image adapted from (clockwise from top left): Wan Qing Yuan, Wan Qing Yuan, @stanley_chee, Wan Qing Yuan
Foodies can rejoice now that bak zhang season is back, but that’s not all there is to look forward to this year. Wan Qing Dumpling Festival is returning for its 2019 instalment at Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.
Happening over 1st and 2nd June 2019, the event will be filled with delicious dumplings, interactive workshops and entertainment that the whole family can enjoy. The event is held in conjunction with National Heritage Board’s annual Children’s Season, so all listed activities will be perfect for kids as young as 3.
Here’s what to look forward to over the weekend:
1. DIY bak zhang and traditional snacks
You won’t go hungry at a dumpling festival, that’s for sure. Forget your typical hipster festival food, because everything you eat here will be a blast from the past. You’re going to find some authentic traditional gems like muah chee, popiah and putu piring.
Image credit: Wan Qing Yuan
The highlight, of course, is the DIY dumpling-making booth, where you’ll be able to learn how to stuff, wrap, tie and take home your very own bak zhang for free. There are even halal and vegetarian options available.
Image credit: Wan Qing Yuan
Make Your Own Dumplings
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 11AM-4PM
Admission: Free. Available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
2. Craft workshops for kids to bring home fun souvenirs
Image credit: Wan Qing Yuan
With plenty of craft workshops throughout the weekend, you’ll be able to make your own cool souvenirs to mark a memorable day out with the family. These programmes also teach kids new skills and immerse them in cultural arts in ways that are fun.
Head for the “Sketch & Sing Along” Workshop which uses the age-old tradition where folk songs would accompany Chinese cartoons. Here, kids will put their own spin on cartoons while singing along to popular Chinese nursery rhymes.
Image credit: Wan Qing Yuan
There’s also a Me & My Dragon Boat craft station where you’ll use recycled materials to make your own miniature dragon boat. You can also pick up some cartooning skills with the “NiuBiZi and Friends” Cartoon Drawing Workshop, which is centred around the iconic 1930s character.
NiuBizi was the star of an immensely popular cartoon strip in 1930’s China.
Image credit: Huang Yao Foundation
“Sketch & Sing Along” Workshop
When: 1st June 2019, 11AM-12:30PM
Admission: Free. Register here.
“NiuBiZi and Friends” Cartoon Drawing” Workshop
When: 2nd June 2019, 11AM-1:30PM
Admission: Free. Register here.
Me & My Dragon Boat
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 11AM-8PM
Admission: Free
3. Storytelling and heritage trails
Image credit: Wan Qing Yuan
Packed with programmes that aren’t your typical sit-down-and-listen lectures, the festival has interactive storytelling sessions and heritage trails that invite audiences to participate in the process.
Dumpling Festival Tales has craft activities for different tales, while Once Upon a Storytime will invite kids to collaborate in drama, music and dance to tell historical stories. Kids also get to go on a “Be a Little Cartoonist” Heritage Hunt where they’ll navigate their way through a series of activity stations to uncover different occupations of the past.
The heritage hunt brings kids to several stations in an interactive educational game.
Image credit: National Heritage Board
For those who wish to OTOT, take a stroll through the galleries at the venue. Check out Captions by Kids which features captions on artefacts written by primary school kids. Otherwise, take a guided tour through exhibits like Between the Lines – The Chinese Cartoon Revolution.
Dumpling Festival Tales
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 1:30PM-2:30PM (English) & 6PM-7PM (Mandarin)
Admission: Free
Once Upon a Storytime
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 7PM-8PM
Admission: Free
Conducted in Mandarin and suitable for 4 to 7-year-olds. Register here.
“Be a Little Cartoonist” Heritage Hunt
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 10:30AM-2:30PM
Admission: Free
Captions by Kids
When: 1st – 30th June 2019, 10AM-5PM
Admission: Free
Guided Tour: Between the Lines – The Chinese Cartoon Revolution
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 10:30AM (Chinese); 1:30PM (English)
Admission: Free
4. Performances, caricatures and balloon art
Image credit: @stanley_chee
In between all the activities, you’ll find little bits of entertainment to keep you occupied. Keep a lookout for a Roving Balloon Artist and score yourself a balloon crown, sword or flower. Head over to the Live Caricature Station for a drawn version of a #selfie to frame up at home.
Image credit: @sysnmh
As the sun goes down, chill out and catch the Evening Concert which has vibrant cultural showcases like LED drums, Chinese dance and live music performances.
Roving Balloon Artist
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 11AM-3PM
Admission: Free
Live Caricature Station
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 11AM-8PM
Admission: Free
Evening Concert
When: 1st – 2nd June 2019, 7:30PM-9PM
Admission: Free
5. Carnival games and play areas
Image credit: Wan Qing Yuan
No carnival is complete without games, and you’ll find no shortage of them here. Visit the carnival booths that are open throughout the day and collect stamps for your “activity passport” to win a mystery prize.
Image credit: Wan Qing Yuan
Let your kids experience kampung-style entertainment at the Dumpling Five Stones Workshop, where they’ll make their own set of Five Stones in pyramid shapes – like mini dumplings. Kids can also play and explore their creativity with colourful glutinous rice at Rice Art Sensory Play.
Dumpling Five Stones Workshop
When: 1st June 2019, 5PM-6PM
Admission: Free
Rice Art Sensory Play
When: 1st June 2019, 4PM-7PM
Admission: Free
2019 Wan Qing Dumpling Festival
Yummy glutinous rice dumplings are aplenty at Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019, but there are lots of interactive workshops, storytelling and entertainment to fill up your weekend. Filled to the brim with traditional and cultural references, the festival provides a fun learning opportunity for all.
Find out more about Wan Qing Dumpling Festival here
Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019
Date: 1st – 2nd June 2019
Time: 10:30AM-9:30PM
Venue: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Admission: Free
This post was brought to you by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall.