What to do
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 Festival |
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Singapore is quite a culturally-open and sensitive society. The "open-house" concept - where a family welcomes friends, relatives and any visitors who may wish to drop by to its home - is a common practice during the major festivals like Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Chinese New Year. Singapore's cultural celebrations are open to everybody and anybody, with just a few things to bare in mind - remember to dress appropriately for the occasion and leave your shoes at the entrance of mosques and temples.
For more information on specific topics click the links below:
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January / February |
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Chinese New Year
Event Dates : 27th Jan 2007 to 4th Mar 2007
Venue: : Chinatown
Category : Cultural Celebration, Chinese event
Chinatown will be transformed into a fairyland of light and colour with spectacular overarching decorations lining the streets. The bustling street bazaar with its delectable array of goodies like waxed duck, barbecued sweet meats, assorted cookies and other new year accessories makes it the place where the Chinese in Singapore congregate year after year to soak in the festive atmosphere. To cap it off, party with thousands of revellers on eve of Chinese New Year (17 Feb) as the countdown to the New Year gets underway. |
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Chingay Parade
Event Dates : 23rd Feb 2007 to 24th Feb 2007
Venue: : Orchard Road - In front of Marriott Hotel to Orchard Point (Parade) Category : Cultural Celebration
Chingay is held annually and traditionally during the Lunar New Year. It is a multi-cultural and cosmopolitan parade, preserving the tradition of our Chinese New Year festivities while showcasing the rich diversity of our society.
The parade offers a special and highly celebrated platform for our local community and talented arts groups to showcase their culture and art forms. The participation of our international friends enhances the exotic flavour and cultural richness of Chingay. |
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Hari Raya Puasa
Hari Raya Puasa or Hari Raya Aidilfitri, is one of the most significant celebrations for Muslims. It marks the culmination of Ramadan, a month-long fasting period and a time for abstinence, reflection and worship.
This year, the streets of Kampong Gelam and Geylang Serai will be lit from 22 September to 31 October.
A great time to experience and be immersed in the essence of Malay culture, visitors are in for a treat with the colourful festive bazaars and numerous food stalls offering traditional handicraft, Malay fare and invigorating music and performances. |
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Thaipusam
Thaipusam is the most dramatic of all Hindu festivals. Celebrated during the full moon in the Hindu month of Thai, it is a day of fasting, thanksgiving and consecration.
The festival is an intense show of faith. The devotees go on a three-kilometre trek with ritualistic act of worship and thanksgiving. The main participants in trance, haul or carry beautifully decorated kavadis (containing milk pots). These are literally hooked to their bare bodies. It is a display of belief that transcends pain.
Visitors are able to watch the spectacular Thaipusam procession up close and discover more about this remarkable festival. |
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Singapore River Hongbao
Event Dates : 16th Feb 2007 to 4th Mar 2007
Time of Event : 16 Feb: 8pm- 12am 17 Feb- 4 March: 1pm- 11pm daily Official Light-up: 16 Feb 2007
Venue: : Esplanade Park
Category : Cultural Celebration, Chinese event
Feel the buzz of Chinese New Year in the air at the Singapore River Hongbao (SRHB). Enjoy the 17-day extravaganza of cultural performances, activities and exciting games, it's a festive wonderland for the young and old. As 2006 will be the Year of the Dog, the “Dog” motif will be a key feature of the decorations, together with the use of vibrant lights and lanterns for the decorative elements. The “God of Fortune” will also be there to shower good fortune to everyone. Also look out for the 20th Anniversary cultural exhibition which will feature the evolution of this organisation over the last 20 years. |
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March / April / May |
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Singapore Fashion Festival
Event Dates : 24th Mar 2006 to 2nd Apr 2006
Time of Event : Please refer to Event Website for more details.
Venue: : Tent @ Ngee Ann City, Orchard Road
Category : Lifestyle, Lifestyle
The pavements of Singapore will feel the rush of stiletto-striding fashionistas as the Singapore Fashion Festival 2006 showcases a range of luxury designer brands, cult and “underground” fashion names, high-street fashion, emerging designers as well as eminent regional and Singaporean labels.
The line-up boasts Jean Paul Gaultier, Salvatore Ferragamo, alldressedup, Escada, Diane von Furstenberg and Missoni. Celebrity line-up includes Mr Salvatore Ferragamo Jr, Ms Angelica Visconti (granddaughter of the late Mr Salvatore Ferragamo), Ms Kim So Yuen and Mr Kim Sung Min.
MTV Fashionably Loud will be a pre-Fashion Festival opening highlight on 23 March, where British band Placebo will perform live along with a fashion show.
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Singapore Celebrates Vesak 2550 - Growing Compassion Harvesting Harmony
Event Dates : 6th May 2006 to 7th May 2006
Time of Event : 10am - 10pm (6 May) 10am - 8pm (7 May)
Venue: : Ngee Ann City Civicd Plaza
Category : Music, Dance, Visual Art, Family Entertainment, Heritage, Lifestyle, Cultural Celebration, Exhibition, Chinese event, Special Programme
Singapore Buddhist Vesak Celebration Committee and Buddhist Youths will celebrate this year's Vesak Day with a series of events around the theme of Growing Compassion Harvesting Harmony on 6 & 7 May 2006 (Saturday & Sunday). This year's celebrations mark 2550 years of Buddhism and will see several new and exciting activities, like a multi-racial multi-religious Project Million Lotus 2006, a Buddhist youth pop concert KARUNA "Live" , a very first Vesak Trail 2550 for the public to know more about the significant of Vesak Day and a Vegetarian Food Fair.
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Qing Ming Festival
During the Qing Ming Festival, temples are fully packed with Chinese believers who flock there at the crack of dawn. Throughout the day, families wrestle shoulder-to-shoulder amidst thick smoke of burning joss sticks; their hands full with Chinese pastries and all kinds of food and incense for their ancestors. For some, Qing Ming is a trip to the cemetery where family members clean up the graves of their ancestors and offer prayers in remembrance of the deceased. The best place to observe the ceremonies is Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple at Sin Ming Road.
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May / June |
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Dragon Boat Festival
This festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (in June) to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and tateman of the 4th century BC, sho drowned himself in protest against political corruption. Fishermen raced in their boats to save him but they were too late. The people made glutinous rice dumplings with savoury meat filling wrapped in bamboo leaves called bah chang and threw them in the river to distract the fish from eating his body. Since then, on the anniversary of his death, this gesture has been re-enacted with a boat race - now called 'The World Invitaional Dragon Boat Race' - in Marina Bay, in which teams from all over the world compete. Stalls around the bay sell rice dumplings and souvenirs.
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Singapore Arts Festival
Event Dates : 25 May – 24 June 2007
Time of Event : Please refer to the event website for various show times.
Category : Music, Dance, Theatre
Treat your senses at the premier arts event of Singapore with a celebration of dance, theatre and music from around the world, embracing classical as well as the avant-garde, cultural diversity and the latest in artistic innovation. The festival offers a truly international and eclectic programme, leaving all fascinated, captivated and enthralled! Featuring 6 world premieres and 6 Asian premieres, Singapore Arts Festival 2006 returns with a new season of riveting performances!
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Dumpling Festival
The fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is not only a day to enjoy rice dumplings wrapped in leaves or to watch the dragon boat races. Legend has it that on this day, Qu Yuan, a patriot of ancient China, threw himself into the Mi Luo River in protest against corruption and injustice. The story goes that when the fishermen heard of Qu Yuan's suicide, they immediately set forth in their boats to look for him. Thus began the tradition of having dragon boat races . Desperate to prevent fish from devouring his body, fishermen also threw rice into the river - thus beginning this delightful tradition of dumpling eating.
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July |
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Singapore Food Festival
Event Dates : 1st Jul - 31st Jul
Time of Event : Various timings
Venue: : Various venues
Category : Lifestyle
Come celebrate great food at the annual Singapore Food Festival in a country where eating is a national passion! The festival promises to be a gastronomical treat, featuring the many Uniquely Singaporean cuisine and local food delights which this Food Paradise is known for.
All visitors to Singapore will get to savour the Singapore Chilli Crab for FREE, with compliments from Singapore Tourism Board. Simply collect the redemption voucher at the Singapore Visitors Centres at Changi International Airport Terminals One and Two; at Orchard Road or at Singapore Cruise Centre and head down to any participating restaurants to enjoy this lip-smacking treat!
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Great Singapore Sale
Event Dates : 26th May - 23rd Jul
Venue : Throughout Singapore
Category : Lifestyle
The best is about to get better, as the Lion City preps for one of Asia's most anticipated events - The Great Singapore Sale!
Whether you're a certified shopaholic or just in need of some retail therapy, get ready for an island-wide sale unlike any before. From downtown Orchard Road to Marina Bay to the shops in the heartlands, enjoy discounts on just about everything.
Block your diary and book those tickets for a date with Singapore today!
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August / September |
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National Day
Event Dates : 9th Aug 2006 to 9th Aug 2006
Time of Event : 7pm - 10pm
Venue : National Stadium
Category : Family Entertainment, Parade, Special Programme
August is Singapore's birthday month and no effort is spared as Singapore celebrates the lead up to National Day and throughout the month of August with events, concerts, pomp and pageantry designed to entertain you and your family.
Come August 9th, the nation celebrates it's 41st birthday with impressive performances, thrilling aerial flypasts and fantastic fireworks. 2006 also marks the last year that the parade will be held at the National Stadium.
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Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore
7th month of Lunar calendar
Hungry Ghost Festival falls on the seventh lunar month of the Chinese lunar calendar when the gates of hell open and the dead walk among the living.
Families will avoid moving house, wedding plans are postpone till the eighth lunar month, and some even avoid going for a swim.
"Getai" and street opera bloom overnight in the island of Singapore to entertain the living and the dead together with sumptuous feasts organized by business associates and auspicious items such as bicycle, rice, pineapple, charcoal known as ‘black gold’ which are associated with wealth in Chinese are stacked on gold-tinted plates and elaborately wrapped in red ribbons are auctioned off with the highest bid to bring better luck.
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October / November |
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Deepavali (Festival of Lights)
Event Dates : 21st Sep 2006 to 29th Oct 2006
(Festival Village(bazaar)at Campbell Lane from 22 Sep - 21 Oct.)
Venue : Little India
Category : Cultural Celebration, Indian event
Deepavali, the most important date of the Hindu calendar, occurs on one day during October, and in the ethnic quarter of Little India, the festivities last practically for the whole month of October.
Deepavali is the Festival of Lights, and marks the defeat of the evil King Narakasura by the Lord Krishna. All round the world, Hindus celebrate this day as the triumph of light over darkness, and of good over evil. It marks the new beginning for Hindu devotees, and is a great time of rejoicing and renewal. During this time, Little India throbs with evening roadside stalls, booming music and strings of colourful lights. Shoppers throng the streets in search of the perfect sari to wear, or to fill their baskets with Indian foods and spices. Hindu homes are lighted with oil lamps , and offerings of sweetmeats and garlands of jasmine are placed at the family altar.
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December |
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Christmas
Event Dates : 11th Nov 2006 to 2nd Jan 2007
Venue : Various venues
Category : Music, Dance, Theatre, Visual Art, Family Entertainment, Light-up, Sports, Lifestyle, Exhibition, Parade, Special Programme, Chinese Pop Concert, Music, Dance, Theatre, Visual Art, Family Entertainment, Light-up, Sports, Lifestyle, Exhibition, Parade, Special Programme, Chinese Pop Concert
Visit Singapore this Christmas as the city comes alive with added energy, colours and sounds!
Stroll along Orchard Road and Marina Bay and take in the Christmas Light-Up, a 23-year-old tradition that draws local crowds and visitors from around the world. The season also promises many magical moments and performances for young and old alike. With specially decorated shop windows, spectacular mall decorations, extended shopping hours, countdown parties and more, be sure you have the energy for merrymaking, shopping and feasting!
"Must-Dos" this Christmas: See the enchanting Christmas Light-Up aboard the open top HiPPO bus; Late night shopping on Orchard Road and Marina Bay; Watch a Christmas concert; Feast on festive goodies and See the magical Christmas tree!
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