The Singapore June school holidays are finally here, and we're sure that you're already looking for activities to keep the kids (or yourself if you don't have little ones running around ?) busy! This year's school holidays last from 1 Jun to 30 Jun, fitting perfectly into the month.
Credit: Giphy
Apart from finishing the last few days of Ramadan on a high note and celebrating Eid, we've gathered a list of X things you can do to keep yourself busy and your spirits up throughout this hot summer month. Whether you're excited to explore Singapore's latest nature trails, discovering local heritage at the Children's Season, or spending some quality time together art jamming, you're bound to find plenty of things to fill your calendar here!
P.S. Thinking of driving up to Malaysia for a few days with the family? Check out our road trip tips to help make your journey smooth!
1. Step into the world of Toy Story at Gardens By The Bay
Credit: Oh My Disney Asia on Facebook
Come 15 June 2019, the (already-impressive) Supertree Grove at Gardens By The Bay will be transformed into a mesmerizing festival that promises fun for the whole family! The Children's Festival 2019 is based on the popular and beloved Toy Story franchise, featuring games such as Star Adventurer, Bo Peep's Adventure, and Woody's Coaster Rescue. You can even meet and greet Woody and Buzz Lightyear if you're there on the 15 and 16 of June at 10.30am, 4.00pm, 5.00pm, 6.00pm and 7.00pm! Time to mark it down on your calendar!
Dates: 15 - 30 Jun 2019
Programme Hours: 10am - 9pm
Prices: free admission unless otherwise stated
Address: Supertree Grove, Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
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2. Hang out with your favourite Pokémon at Sentosa's Pokémon Carnival
Credit: Sentosa
Sentosa has been on a Pokémon roll recently, especially after hosting the epic Pokémon Go Safari Zone in April 2019. Now Sentosa's sandy beaches will be holding their largest Pokémon Carnival yet and we're so excited to see what they have in store! Over 400 Pokémon will appear across the Carnival, including the fan-favourite Pikachu who has its very own Meet & Greet Sessions. There will also be 4 carnival games with prizes to be won, and kids will have a blast filling out the activity booklet to win themselves a limited-edition Pokémon plushie!
Dates: 15 - 30 June 2019, specific dates for Meet & Greet and Pikachu Parade
Programme Hours: 5pm - 9pm
Prices: free admission, additional voucher booklets purchased on-site
Address: Sentosa Cove
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3. Hang out with your favourite characters in the heartlands
Credit: @heyrutay on Instagram
When in doubt, you can never go wrong with visiting your nearest mall and spending a day there just relaxing, eating, and window-shopping ? Thankfully, plenty of heartland malls are also hosting their own June holiday activities during the month that will keep kids (and those young at heart) happy! Younger kids will surely love City Square Mall's Global First: Paw Patrol Ultimate Rescue Training Show which features a Live show of the Paw Patrol team, followed by a Meet-and-Greet! Dinosaur maniacs will also enjoy Mega Dino Mania held at Causeway Point and Yew Tee Point where they'll get to take photos on a realistic dinosaur statue, and even catch some dinosaur-themed movie screenings! And finally, swing into action at NEX with a whole exhibition dedicated to Spider-Man: Far From Home including a photo booth, life-sized replicas, and an obstacle course!
Global First: Paw Patrol Ultimate Rescue Training Show
Dates: 8 - 23 Jun 2019 (except Mondays)
Programme Hours: 2pm & 7pm (Tues-Fri), 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm (Sat-Sun)
Prices: free participation
Address: L1 Stage, City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208539
Mega Dino Mania @ Causeway Point
Dates: 3 - 9 Jun 2019
Programme Hours: Last admission 8.45pm
Prices: Varies
Address: 1 Woodlands Square Singapore 738099
Mega Dino Mania @ Yew Tee Point
Dates: 10 - 16 Jun 2019
Programme Hours: Last admission 8.45pm
Prices: Varies
Address: 21 Choa Chu Kang North 6 Singapore 689578
Spider-Man Far From Home Adventure @ NEX
Dates: 30 May - 14 July 2019
Programme Hours: 12pm - 8pm daily (Meet-and-Greet only on specific days and timings)
Prices: Varies
Address: NEX, 23 Serangoon Central, Singapore 556083
4. Dive into art at the Gallery Children's Biennale 2019
Credit: @nationalgallerysingapore on Instagram
Embracing Wonder is the 2nd installation of the National Gallery Singapore's Children's Biennale, and promises a whole host of exciting activities tailored to keep your young ones interested and excited about modern art. Besides 11 artworks specially crafted for a young audience in mind, there will also be games, workshops, and other interactive activities to fully engage them in the creative process! The Singapore International Children's Film Festival will also be held in conjunction from 1 Jun - 15 Jun at NGS' City Hall Wing's Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium, displaying 8 collections of short films from over 30 countries.
Dates: 25 May - 29 Dec 2019
Programme Hours: 10am - 7pm daily
Prices: free admission for Singaporeans and PRs, General Admission/Concession prices for foreigners
Address: National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew's Rd, Singapore 178957
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[Make sure to refuel for the rest of your day at one of these kid-friendly SG eateries!]
5. Get Curious! at the National Museum
Credit: National Museum of Singapore
In conjunction with the launch of the National Museum's family-friendly publication 'Get Curious!' ($18/book), there will be special interactive activities and exhibitions throughout the month for the Children's Special at the National Museum. There will be 4 zones set up at the museum's basement level to take visitors through enchanting worlds and curious stories involving the land, sea, forest, and home. 11 other exciting programmes will also be available, including character tours with a policeman, amah or mama shop owner, joint grandparent-grandchild art therapy workshops, and a selection of short films centred around familiar and beloved local objects and locations.
Dates: 1 - 30 Jun 2019
Programme Hours: 10am - 7pm (refer to the event website for specific event timings and meeting points)
Prices: free admission for Singaporeans and PRs, General Admission/Concession prices for foreigners (additional charges may apply for special workshops)
Address: National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
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6. Explore Singapore's past during the Children's Season
Credit: Wan Qing Yuan - Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall 晚晴园-孙中山南洋纪念馆 on Facebook
Festivals don't just involve games and excitement - they can be educational at the same time too! Travel back in time to learn about Singapore's different ethnic groups and their customs at different ethnic-cultural institutions across the country. Learn more about the Hajj (Islamic pilgrimage) at the Malay Heritage Centre and embark on a Heritage Hunt around the Kampong Gelam area to learn about what early Hajj pilgrims had to prepare for the journey (held on closing weekend of the Undangan ke Baitullah exhibition on Hajj, from 13 Oct 2018 - 23 Jun 2019). Drop by the Indian Heritage Centre to revisit the past and try local snacks, look out for Indian spices on a Heritage Hunt, and refuel with a trusty cup of Milo from a Milo van. And visit the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall to learn about old occupations in Singapore, treasure hunts, storytelling sessions and more!
Malay Heritage Centre
Dates: 22-23 Jun 2019
Programme Hours: 11am, 2pm, 4pm (Undangan ke Baitullah exhibition is open from 10am - 6pm, last admission 5.30pm)
Prices: free admission for Singaporeans and PRs, General Admission/Concession prices for foreigners (pre-registration for Heritage Hunt required)
Address: 85 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198501
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 15 Jun 2019
Programme Hours: 10am - 7pm
Prices: free admission (Centre itself is free admission for Singaporeans and PRs, General Admission/Concession prices for foreigners)
Address: 5 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209924
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Dates: 1 - 30 Jun 2019
Programme Hours: 10am - 5pm
Prices: free admission for Singaporeans and PRs, General Admission/Concession prices for foreigners
Address: 2 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
Website | Facebook | Instagram
7. Get up-close with animals at Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore
The parks of the Wildlife Reserves Singapore are all dedicated to the conservation and protection of wildlife, meaning you'll get an enriching and educational experience no matter which park you visit. All of the parks have month-long festivals ongoing throughout June, so whether you're venturing into the dark of the Night Safari or listening to the sounds of wildlife at the Jurong Bird Park you're sure to find something that suits you!
Discover the beautiful melodies of over 500 songbirds from all across the region at The Singing Forest at Jurong Bird Park, including a guided tour led by park experts, a bird-watching forest trail, and a photography clinic! For a more playful time, head over to River Safari to experience Play! at River Safari where animal enrichment activities, a special kids' play zone, and a special animal presentation all lie in wait. Finally, visit the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari for their Circle of Life Festival. Inspired by the Lion King, you'll get to meet the animals featured in the famous film including lions, meerkats, hyenas and more. There's even themed photo spots like Pride Rock and African-themed family games to up the excitement!
Jurong Bird Park
Dates: 1 - 30 Jun 2019 (some activities only occur during weekends/PH, and may be cancelled due to inclement weather)
Programme Hours: various (Jurong Bird Park opens from 8.30am - 6pm daily, last entry 5.30pm)
Prices:various single-park, multi-park, and local promos available
Address: 2 Jurong Hill, Singapore 628925
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River Safari
Dates: 1 - 30 Jun 2019 (some activities only occur during weekends/PH, and may be cancelled due to inclement weather)
Programme Hours: various (River Safari opens from 10am - 7pm daily, last entry 6.30pm)
Prices:various single-park, multi-park, and local promos available
Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Singapore Zoo and Night Safari
Dates: 1 Jun - 31 Aug 2019 (some activities only occur during weekends/PH, and may be cancelled due to inclement weather)
Programme Hours: 10am onwards
Singapore Zoo opens from 8.30am - 6pm daily, last entry 5.30pm.
Night Safari opens from 7.15pm - 12am daily, last entry 11.15am.
Prices:various single-park, multi-park, and local promos available
Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826
Website | Facebook | Instagram
8. Take an off-shore trip to Singapore's islands
Credit: @pesta.ubin on Instagram
Pulau Ubin is one of the most famous of Singapore's off-shore islands, known for its bike trails and rustic village life that provide an escape from the busy city. This June, experience Pulau Ubin all over again by attending Pesta Ubin - a yearly event celebrating the best the island has to offer! With everything from nature walks to kayaking and so much more, make sure to tune in to their social media platforms for the latest updates!
Dates: various
Programme Hours: various
Prices: various
Address: Pulau Ubin, Singapore
Website | Facebook | Instagram
[Thinking of booking a family staycation for a few days? Here are some cozy hotels to consider!]
9. Explore Singapore's latest nature parks and trails
Credit: @nparksbuzz on Instagram
If you want to experience the outdoors without venturing all the way to Pulau Ubin, there's still plenty of green spaces to explore and conquer on mainland Singapore! There are of course old favourites like Bukit Timah Hill and MacRitchie Reservoir, but why not check out some of Singapore's latest national parks and nature trails too? West-siders can check out Lakeside Garden located next to Lakeside MRT, which just opened in late April 2019 and spans an impressive 53 hectares including a butterfly field, a nature playgarden (for ages 5-12), and a multi-generational water play area guaranteed to cool you down from the summer heat. The 36-kilometre Coast-to-Coast Trail (opened in March 2019) is another recent addition that has piqued interest nationwide. The long course is perfect for bicycle rides, nature walks, and spending a day out enjoying the fresh air! Last but not least, for a history lesson to go with your nature walk hit the brand-new Fort Canning Historical Gardens, opened on 27 May 2019. The gardens reflect streetscapes from Singapore's pre-war and colonial era, includes an archaeological dig for kids, a dedicated playground area, and even a 2.5-kilometre augmented reality (AR) trail that will take you through the history of the Park!
Lakeside Garden
Hours: 24/7 daily though some parts of the gardens are not open to the public yet
Address: 104 Yuan Ching Rd, Singapore 618665 (Lakeside MRT Station)
Coast-to-Coast Trail
Hours: 24/7 daily
Starting Points: Jurong Lake Gardens (Lakeside MRT Station or Chinese Gardens MRT Station) OR Coney Island Park
Fort Canning Historical Parks
Hours: 24/7 daily (Streetlamps turned on from 7pm - 7am)
Nearest MRT Stops: Fort Canning MRT Station (Exit B), Clarke Quay MRT Station (Exit E), or Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station (Exit B)
10. Volunteer at a local charity
Credit: @foodfromtheheartsg on Instagram
One of the most meaningful ways to spend time together as a family is to volunteer at a local charity together. It's never too early to teach your kids about compassion, giving, and helping others out - and though we might be approaching the end of Ramadan it doesn't hurt to keep the spirit of giving alive even after Eid! Attending volunteer sessions together won't just help you grow emotionally but as a family too as you get to work together to help others out and meet new people from all walks of life. There are so many types of charities children can volunteer with across the island, so you'll definitely find one that fits your family's schedule! ☺️
11. Try out something new together
Credit: @canvasslife on Instagram
Nowadays it's not just academic enrichment classes that are available over the holidays, but a whole host of workshops, sports classes, and other activities that will help your kids (and even you!) learn something new while having fun at the same time. Athletes who want something sportier than nature trails or cycling can try rock-climbing or bouldering, and free-spirited artists can go for an all-ages art jamming session or even pottery classes! Not everything needs to take place outside of the home (or stretch your budget thin) either - why not try out D.I.Y projects together, or rope your kids in for a family baking session? ?
There's so much more to do in Singapore that we couldn't cover here - but we hope you and your family enjoy the June holidays no matter how you spend it!