The best things to do in Singapore this weekend (Jul 26-28)

On July 27, head down to Singapore Expo to swoon over 200 premium sake labels at Sake Meguri. These labels hail from 18 renowned breweries across Japan, spanning regions like Kansai, Chubu, and Kanto. Pick up brews from brands like Kirishima Shuzo or Hakkaisan Brewery, and hear from sake masters about the art and craftmanship behind sake brewing. Sake Meguri also features exclusive 'Star Buy' promotions (with some sake bottles going at up to 60 percent off) and surprise goodie bags stuffed with $80 worth of Riedal glassware, liquours, and snacks. 

Find out more about Sake Meguri 2024 and purchase your tickets here. 

With Esplanade's dynamic programme lineup, the rest of 2024 promises to be a whirlwind of contemporary theatre productions and live film screenings. Dive into The Studios, an all-encompassing series of productions, talks, and programmes. There are three shows still to catch, including Rhapsody in Yellow: A Lecture Performance with Two Pianos by Ming Wang. Otherwise, catch screenings of plays filmed live on stage at London’s National Theatre, such as Dear England – a dive into UK's love for football – and The Motive and the Cue – a nod to Richard Burton and John Gielgud's Hamlet rehearsals. 

Find out more about Esplanade's upcoming programmes here.

We're always on a road for self-improvement, whether it's by learning a new language or tackling the latest AI program. With the annual SkillsFuture Festival running from July 9 to August 21, you can explore a range of activities and workshops to upskill yourself in meaningful and fulfilling ways. Not only will there be a variety of courses for your professional development, but the festival is also filled with over 50 interactive learning opportunities, including forums, workshops, and webinars. 

There are also several roadshows where you'll get to make the most of free on-site career advice, attend networking sessions, and even take part in walk-in interviews with potential employers. Head down to the SFF Healthcare Jobs and Skills Roadshow (July 18 and 19, 11am to 8pm) at Northpoint City South Atrium, and the SFF Early Childhood Career & Learning Fair (July 20 and 21, 11am to 8pm) at the same venue to deepen your existing knowledge and skills, and learn more about how you can transition into a new career.

If you’re heading down to the event at Northpoint City, quote “TimeOut x SFF” or present this article to the staff at the roadshow to redeem a free goodie bag.

National Museum is cranking up the heat for National Day, bringing everything from outdoor inflatable playgrounds to scavenger hunts. Check out the light installation The Good Old Games: A Light-Up Installation for a nostalgic photo-taking session with life-sized old-school games such as chapteh, five stones and country flag erasers. Learn more about Singapore’s history at the National Day Scavenger Hunt as you search for answers around the museum – and stand a chance to redeem a token from the museum while at it. There will also be hands-on workshops like letter crafting, traditional fan-making, and paint-pouring classes. For the young ones, head to Outdoor Sustainable Play, where they can engage in imaginative play, or bounce away at the inflatable playgrounds featuring colourful castles. 

And that’s not all: watch the National Day parade live from the National Museum while having a picnic under the stars, enjoy drum performances on the lawn, and share your thoughts on Singapore at the museum’s LED wall with Writings On The Wall. For the full list of programmes, visit their webpage here.

Nothing beats cracking open a cold one and snarfing down smokey meats fresh off the grill. If that sounds like a great way to spend a weekend, then head down to The Great Wheeler's Grillout at Wheeler’s Tropikana on July 27 and 28 for two days of grilling and chilling. For $5 a pop, savour expertly-smoked meats and barbecue while grooving to live music. There are even free Heinekens at 1pm and 4pm since it’s a rule that grill-outs always come with beer. Jacky & friends bring the comedy with their stand-up set–they’ll have you laughing so hard that you must be careful not to choke on the meat. And if you need to get up and stretch your legs, head to any of the vendors for a peek at their wares. We heard that there’s even artisanal butter for sale. Get your tickets here if your stomach’s already rumbling like ours is.

Graffiti enthusiasts, you won't want to miss this solo exhibition by French-Vietnamese graffiti artist Cyril Kongo. Renowned for his mastery of graffiti, Kongo's work serves as a vibrant bridge between cultures. One of Kongo’s most notable collaborations includes one with Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, a project completed at Lagerfeld’s studio.

Drawing from his rich French and Vietnamese heritage, his works bridge cultures, celebrating the beauty of diversity and the strength of embracing different perspectives and experiences. 

Just as the weather is always humid in Singapore, National Day has always been unchanging. Predictable, yes, but tried-and-tested for success. But if you’ve ever wondered what National Day would look like without its traditions—perhaps without the parade, goodie bags, F16s, and Red Lions—you wouldn’t be the first.

Homegrown theatre company Wild Rice brings a new and hilarious twist to the meaning of National Day this July with National Day Charade. The play is a cheeky satire that will have you laughing out loud. At the same time, it tackles contemporary social issues, like the complicated discussions surrounding what it truly means to be 'Singaporean’. National Day Charade is the brainchild of award-winning playwright Thomas Lim, renowned for his insightful works like Grandmother Tongue and Supervision. 

The 30th anniversary restaging of one of Singapore’s most iconic theatrical productions returns once again this July. Based on a true story, Titoudao delves into the life of Madam Oon Ah Chiam, a 1940s Singaporean Chinese street opera star who pushes back against hardships like poverty, gender inequality and personal marital problems. A compelling portrayal of the resilience necessary to pursue one’s dreams despite the challenges, Titoudao offers a poignant narrative that promises to leave you feeling invigorated and inspired.

Lifestyle brand A Thing of Sense is currently hosting a month-long pop-up at local café Apartment Coffee. From now until July 27, the minimalist café will be filled with fragrant candles and various merchandise like art prints and mini knot bags. A Thing of Sense has also collaborated with local artist Genevieve Leong, who created 25 sculptures reminiscent of heirloom tomatoes, holding A Thing of Sense’s new tomato scents. Browse Genevieve’s paintings and sketches, or shop for more candles – A Thing of Sense’s discovery kits (from $58) and Big Boy Jars ($62) – with soothing scents like sandalwood, iris, and tonka bean – are all for sale. 

If you’re bored of going to Golden Village for your movie fix, head down to Enabling Village instead for a unique cinema experience. On every last Saturday of the month, spend some quality time with your family and friends at Movies Under the Stars, a monthly film screening held at the open-air community amphitheatre space. We heard that the next screening on July 27 is Disney’s Big Hero 6, an action-packed adventure movie suitable for all ages. Remember to bring along your own phone and earphones for audio as it's a silent cinema, with subtitles provided in English. And don’t worry about bringing snacks because Professor Brawn Bistro will have you covered with their hearty meals. Tickets go for $6, but children under twelve enter for free. Check out the full movie schedule here.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that holds true, then Foo Tee Jun, the acclaimed Singaporean photography pioneer, must surely be considered an expert storyteller. Discover the reasons why at his latest exhibition, Time & Tide, which runs until July 28 only. Foo Tee Jun is dubbed a chronicler of the past for how his works perfectly encapsulate changes in everyday Singapore as the country hurtles towards modernity. Regardless of age, his photographs impart a feeling of nostalgia and longing to observers. 

Time & Tide features poignant photographs from the 1960s and 70s that capture a new independent Singapore in transition – depicting a time before the prosperity many enjoy today. One moment, you’ll find yourself examining a rural kampong scene; the next, skyscrapers and shipyards become the picture’s focus. As we count down to this year’s National Day, immerse yourself in the Singaporean story by checking out these historical images firsthand here.

In Search of the Beyond, local artist Gerald Tay’s second solo exhibition, explores themes of self-reflection and the desire to connect with the artist’s personal inner world. 

This exhibition will feature eleven new paintings, all of which start with a digitally manipulated sketch of his past works. Utilising the process of mirroring and repetition, Tay transforms these sketches into entirely new compositions, using them as a loose framework for his intuitive painting process. Incorporating forms inspired by temples and religious artefacts, Tay's new paintings reveal cell-like structures arranged in irregular, pulsating patterns – resulting in psychedelic visuals.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Chinese Shen Zi Yao's Chinese ink landscapes, where every painting raises the question: does nature inspire the artist, or does the artist inspire nature?

Shen Zi Yao finds inspiration in the beauty of the natural world, selecting elements that resonate with his current mood to create stunning paintings. Each of the paintings found in the exhibition is also thoughtfully paired with a Chinese nature poem, highlighting the profound bond between nature and artistic expression. 

Known as the father of Impressionism, Claude Monet’s loose and fleeting style of painting continues to resonate today. Gardens by the Bay is bringing is life and work to vivid life at a new Impressions of Monet two-part exhibition, consisting of a floral display and multi-sensory experience. 

First, visit Impressions of Monet: The Garden. This enchanting display features a replica of the artist’s iconic pink house in Giverny, France, as well as a garden filled with the water lilies that inspired one of his most famous works, Water Lilies. Then, unfold the history of French Impressionism in Impressions of Monet: The Experience. View the works of masters like Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and Cézanne here, which have been brought to life in a vivid display of light, colour, sound, and scent. 

Singapore’s party scene is maturing admirably, with creative collectives bringing alternative sounds and genres to the dancefloor. Get acquainted with these left-field artists at The Party Exposure, which features DJ showcases, workshops, and talks in a unique and educational deep-dive into what the Singapore party landscape is about – and what more it has to offer. From July 6 to August 31, drop into DJ booth sessions with collectives and labels like Last Saturdays, Eatmepoptart, Midnight Shift, North East Social Club, and BlackLight Tribe. Aspiring DJs, level up your skills with Nez Sanja (chief of Revision Music) while vinyl lovers, bring your favourite records to a chill listening sesh with other collectors. And if you’re raring to make a difference, join the panel session on July 19 to ponder the future of the local party scene.

Discover the brilliance of Helen Frankenthaler, one of the most influential American abstract expressionist artists of her time, at STPI’s annual special exhibition, Helen Frankenthaler: Prints 1977–2004, from June 29 to August 25, 2024. This exhibition is the largest display of her works in Singapore yet, featuring close to 40 of her prints from the National Collection of Singapore and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. It will also spotlight her exceptional woodcuts. To top it off, the show will also explore her influential partnership with master printer Kenneth Tyler – don't miss their joint work Gateway, which took seven years for them to complete. 

Find out more about the show here.

At its core, this exhibition is a gathering of Asia’s most prominent artists, happening alongside the debut of Tang Contemporary Art. The showcase will highlight acclaimed talents like Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, Thai painter Kitti Narod, street artist Gongkan, and Filipino artist Tiffany Lafuente. Beyond celebrating these remarkable artists, the event also shines a spotlight on Tang Contemporary Art's diverse and dynamic artistic offerings.

Over 100 years ago in the year 1864, 84 pagodas were hand-carved in Shanghai at the Tushanwan Workshop by Jesuit missionaries. Many of them then went on to influence several other celebrated artists that we have come to know of today, such as watercolourist Xu Yongqing and sculptor Zhang Chongren. Today, these 84 pagodas are reunited in Singapore at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM)’s exhibition Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco. 

Dive into the creation process of each crafted pagoda, which ranges from 30 centimetres to over two metres in height. These masterpieces aren’t just pretty to look at, they represent a breakthrough at the point of time it was created to research, document, and reproduce iconic pagodas from different regions and historical periods. Visitors will also be able to experience a hyper-tactile exhibit where they can interact firsthand with 3D-printed replicas of model pagodas and replica wooden brackets known as dougong. 

Great artists transport minds and challenge perceptions, and Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson is undoubtedly a master at work. Known for playing with elemental materials such as light, wind, fog, and water, he's lauded for creating unreal sensory experiences for viewers. The Southeast Asian debut of his survey exhibition brings together 17 of his works, a collection of his most renowned pieces, Singapore exclusives, and climate-centred art. Titled Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey, the exhibition will take you through yellow-hued halls, across enchanting rainbows dancing in the mist, and marvelous spectacles of swirling fog. You'll also witness the gradual depletion of ice, represented by a bronze cast of a segment of ice sourced from an Icelandic glacier, and be one of the first to view The seismographic testimony of distance (Berlin–Singapore, no. 1 to no. 6) (2024), an ongoing seismographic sketch series tracing the voyage of his exhibition by sea. 

Find out more about Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey here, and download the exhibition brochure here.

Get a dose of sunshine at Sui’s first-ever pop-up. The conscious clothing brand is setting up shop at The Social Space in Duo Galleria to showcase its latest Sunshine collection. True to its name, the collection features apparels that have been block and screen printed with motifs inspired by joyful times under the sun – think palm trees, flowers, surfer girls – and embroidered with inspiring quotes. Sunshine also marks the debut of Sui denim pieces and an adorable kids’ collection (made from excess materials from the adult collection). Visit the pop-up from now till August 14 to get custom embroidery on your purchase and to attend a series of events – from inspiring panel discussions with Sarah Bagharib to ‘Know Your Nature’ walks around the neighbourhood.

Jewel Blooms is back with six captivating floral displays at Jewel Changi Airport's Canopy Park. The highlight of Jewel Blooms is Petal Garden: Super Blooms by Megumi Shinozaki. This installation features 10,000 bundles of pink hybrid starchis – a double-flowering variety of cherry blossom – and hydrangeas. Arranged on 2.8-metre-tall mountain structures, the result is a dreamy, blush-pink display to make all your Sakura dreams come true. The other five installations are just as gorgeous. Designed by award-winning local designer Andy Eng, they feature vibrant sunflower mazes, tranquil ponds filled with water plants, waterfalls of wisteria, misty trails, and a romantic walk lit by illuminated paper and flowers. 

Topping it off is Changi Experience Studio's 'An Enchanted Night in the Airport' camp. Stay overnight in a garden-like 'campsite' and participate in flora-inspired workshops and quests with your family. 

Step into the ancient world of the Khmer Empire at Orchids of Angkor Wat, the latest floral display at Gardens by the Bay. From now to September 8, visit the Cloud Forest to view 50 fascinating orchid species and hybrids of Cambodia alongside installations that recreate the iconic city of Angkor. There's no missing a 3.5-metre recreation of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site-list Hindu-Buddhist temple complex. The Cloud Forest is also peppered with the gateway to Angkor Thom and stone replices that depict scenes found in the architecture around Angkor. But the highlight are the graceful orchids themselves – unusual ones to look out for include the slipper orchid, the Vandachostylis, and the Dendrobium Adastra, the last of which will delight with its "waterfall of flowers". 

Frida Kahlo, the world-renowned Mexican painter, needs no introduction. Regarded as one of the most influential female artists of the 20th century, she is celebrated for her self-portraits that delve into themes of identity and the human body.

There will be three different segments with nine spaces filled with 360-degree projections, interactive installations, photographs, and films. You’ll be able to trace her artistic journey, starting from her early years as a young girl. The show will also touch on her medical journey – one that isn’t widely discussed about. There’ll also be virtual reality experiences for you to truly step into her shoes and see the world from her point of view.

Stay tuned for the exact dates, and join the waitlist for ticket sales here.

Experience the magic of the Northern Lights at Gardens by the Bay’s Supertree Grove. From May 4 onwards, a spellbinding outdoor installation called Borealis will light up the Supertrees in a display reminiscent of the polar lights you’d normally have to travel to Iceland, Sweden, or other far-flung regions to witness. It’s the work of Switzerland-based artist Dan Acher, who has ingeniously layered light beams and cloud particles to create a mesmerising dance of light and colour. Coupled with an atmospheric score by French composer Guillaume Desbois, Borealis promises to be an out-of-this-world experience. Admission is free – find out more here.

For more information, visit their webpage here.

The Asian Civilisations Museum and the Peranakan Museum have joined hands to present Fukusa, Japanese Gift Covers from the Chris Hall Collection, an exhibition that features fukusa, which are beautifully embroidered luxurious Japanese silk gift covers. You can also find kimonos and other related textiles from renowned collector Chris Hall, who holds one of the most valuable collections of Asian textiles in the world. Uncover varied ways of life that completely differ from ours, a variety of auspicious symbolic motifs such as lobsters and cranes, and how the politics of dress influence fukusa design in the late Edo period. Don’t forget to stop by the interactive station where you’ll be able to virtually design your very own fukusa.

Many know the tale of The Little Prince, but perhaps not much about the writer behind it. That's where Alliance Française de Singapour steps in to shine a line on the life of author-pilot Antoine de Saint Exupéry and pay tribute to the 80th anniversary of his disappearance. Divided into three sections – 'Adventurer', 'Writer', and 'WWII Hero' – the show will take you on a journey through his life to uncover hidden facts about The Little Prince and discover how significant elements in the story reflect his personal life. Browse a rare collection of exclusive artefacts on loan from the Saint Exupéry Foundation and catch talks, workshops, and screenings related to the extraordinary world of The Little Prince. 

Find out more about the exhibition here.