[Updated 13 March 2019]
Is it just us or is 2019 just flying by? It's already March, and school holidays are just around the corner! While some of us will probably be travelling to locations near and far, some of us will likely be chilling out in good ol' Singapore ? And while you may be thinking that you're in for just a quiet time off with not much to do, think again!
Credit: Giphy
We've rounded up nine events that are happening in March that are perfect for you to enjoy with family or friends - mark these in your calendars!
1. Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
The annual carnival is back and better than ever. With more than 50 carnival rides and games, the carnival is a favourite for the young an old alike. From thrill-seeking rides such the Remix Extreme, Mach 5 and the popular Star Flyer, to kid-friendly ones such as the Mini Flume and Race O Rama, there's something for everyone! Apart from the rides and arcade games, there also plenty of performances and activities to help keep you entertained, including magicians, jugglers, and musical performances.
Credit: Prudential Marina Bay Carnival on Facebook
Don't forget to grab some food at the stall run by halal-certified Sofnade, where you can get their delicious meatballs or refreshing drinks that make for a satisfying meal after going on all those rides ?
The carnival, which has been operating since December, is finally wrapping up on the 24th of March, so go and seize this last chance to attend the festivities and ride the attractions before it ends for the year!
When: Now until 24 March 2019
Venue: Bayfront Event Space, Marina Bay
Operating hours: 4pm - 11pm daily (last entry at 10.30pm)
Price: Free admission, but fee for rides apply
2. Singapore Festival Of Fun
Credit: Singapore Festival of Fun on Facebook
The Singapore Festival Of Fun is back for its third year! Similar to last year, there are three main events happening: the International Comedy Festival, the Street Fest, and the Nickelodeon Fiesta ?
The comedy festival will be held on 15 - 16 and 21 - 23 March and will feature shows by both local and international comedians (though please note that attendance is restricted to those aged 18 and above). The Street Fest (which will be held on 14 - 19 March) will offer fun for the whole family, with street performers showing off their best at Clark Quay Fountain Square. Exact performance timings will be released closer to the date, so do check the website for updates!
Credit:@sgfestivaloffun on Instagram
And finally, the Nickelodeon Fiesta (23 & 24 March from 10am to 6pm) is sure to please the young ones! There'll be game booths featuring themes from some of Nickelodeon's famous shows (such as Dora The Explorer and Spongebob Squarepants), plus craft stations where you can paint lanterns, make flower garlands, and more.
When: 14 - 24 Mar 2019
Venue: Clarke Quay
Price: Street Fest and admission to Nickelodeon Fiesta is free. The comedy festival comprises ticketed performances, with prices to be determined.
3. Feathered Friends Carnival at Jurong Bird Park
Credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Catch up with the fine-feathered inhabitants of Jurong Bird Park at its first-ever Feathered Friends Carnival! The carnival promises fun for the whole family, filled with carnival rides, game booths and fun activities. With rides like the Tea Cup Carousel, Bouncy Parrot Ship and Pelican Paddle, it'll be great for kids ?
Credit: @paulalapattb1671 on Instagram
And of course, no visit to Jurong Bird Park is complete without close-up encounters with the birds themselves. The carnival will have special bird encounter sessions with its Harris' Hawk as well as Sally The Hornbill, and you'll even get the chance to feed some of the other birds there!
When: 16 - 24 Mar 2019
Venue: Jurong Bird Park
Operating hours: 8.30am - 6pm
Price: Admission ticket to Jurong Bird Park (Adult SGD30; child SGD20), includes free SGD5 game voucher. Please note that fees for the rides and games apply.
4. Sakura Matsuri at Gardens By The Bay
Credit: Gardens By The Bay
This popular Japanese cherry blossom festival is making a return to the Gardens By The Bay! Enjoy the sights and sound of spring in Japan (without having to travel there!) through the various programmes available. One of the highlights would have to be the Sakura Matsuri Floral Display at the Flower Dome, with more than 20 varieties of cherry blossoms that will be sure to enchant you with its hues of pink and white.
Credit: Gardens By The Bay on Facebook
Besides the floral display, there will also be Sakura Matsuri: Nippon Street, which is a Japanese-themed fair, to be held from 9 - 17 March (10am - 8pm at Flower Field Hall located in the Flower Dome as well as the Waterview Room). Here, you'll be able to do activities such as try Japanese traditional wear or play traditional festival games. There will also be cultural performances and activities, including tea ceremonies and traditional dance performances, held throughout the festival. The festival will also host Anime Garden, an anime and cosplay festival on 30 - 31 March at The Meadow and Flower Dome.
Credit: Gardens By The Bay
When: 9 - 31 Mar 2019
Venue: Flower Dome, Gardens By The Bay (plus other peripheral locations such as Waterview Room and The Meadow for specific events. Please refer to the full programme listing here)
Operating hours: 9am - 9pm (for the sakura floral display. For other events, please check the programme for specific timings)
Price: Admission charge to Flower Dome applies - For SG residents: Adult SGD10.80(Only for Flower Dome); Child SGD7.20(only for Flower Dome) (For Non-SG residents: Adult SGD28 (Flower Dome + Cloud Forest); Child: SGD15 (Flower Dome + Cloud Forest)
5. Minimalism. Space. Light Object exhibition
Credit: National Gallery Singapore on Facebook
There's nothing like an art exhibition to open the mind and inspire creativity. And this one is sure to pique your interest - while the term 'minimalism' gets bandied about a lot these days and has grown as a movement, did you know that it also refers to an artistic style that came to prominence in New York in the 1960s? The National Gallery Singapore and the ArtScience Museum have joined forces to produce the exhibition Minimalism. Space. Light. Object that is currently on display at both venues.
Credit: National Gallery Singapore on Facebook
National Gallery Singapore is showcasing over 100 beautiful artworks and installations that illustrate the development of this specific art style, while the ArtScience Museum is presenting artworks which aim to illustrate and explore the principles that have been foundational to Minimalism, such as notions of emptiness. Not only does this fascinating exhibition give insight into the history of this movement, but it will also be a visual wonder to behold as you look at the beautiful art installations.
When: Now until 14 April 2019
Venue: National Art Gallery & ArtScience Museum
Operating hours: 10am - 7pm
Price: Adult:From SGD15 -34 (depending on package selected); Concession (incl. children aged 7 - 12): Between SDG10 - 24 (depending on package selected). Please check the ticketing info on the website for the full price listings.
6. Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market
Credit: Vintage Flea Market By The Retro Factory
Looking for the perfect vintage watch to complete your look? Or perhaps you've been wanting to find vinyl records? Well, this coming weekend might be the perfect time to get it as the Vintage Flea Market organised by The Retro Factory is coming back to Katong Square! This three-day market will feature vendors selling all sorts of vintage goodies, from clothing, art, accessories, antiques and more!
Credit: Vintage Flea Market By The Retro Factory
It's a great place to look for a one-of-a-kind item, plus it's really cool to see all the treasures on display ?
When: 8 - 10 March 2019 (Fri - Sun)
Venue: Katong Square (88 East Coast Road, Singapore)
Operating hours: 1pm - 10pm
Price: Free admission
7. Enjoy the symphony at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Credit: @jd3ng on Instagram
How about an even in the park listening to the beautiful sounds of the symphony? If that sounds right up your alley, you'll want to catch the show An Evening With Studio Ghibli happening at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 16 March! Performed by ITE West College's West Symphonia, the symphonic band will be performing a selection of tunes from movies produced by famed Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli (including favourites such as Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle).
Bring a picnic blanket and have a relaxing time listening to the wonderful music - the perfect way to chill out on a Saturday evening (plus it's free!).
When: Saturday, 16 March 2019
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage
Time: 4.30pm - 6.45pm
Price: Free
8. Singapore Design Week
Are you a fan of cool design? If you are, you can't miss out on Singapore Design Week, the annual event dedicated to everything design-related, be it arts, interior design, photography, urban planning, and so much more (turns out design covers a super wide spectrum ?). The week will have a whole slew of exhibition and programmes involving all facets of the design community, from businesses, design students, and public sector officers, to the everyday consumer.
Credit: Design Singapore
Events you should keep an eye out for (though do peruse the full list to see all the amazing events planned) include the Urban Design Festival (a mix of design knowledge-sharing, live entertainment, and wellness activities), Open Unstructured Play (a workshop where you get to try cool design gadgets such as a 3D Gello Pen), and the Traditional Letterpress Typography Workshop, where you get to explore and learn about the art of letterpress printing!
When: 4 - 17 March 2019
Venue: Subject to respective programmes. Please check out the full list of programmes and their venues here.
Time: Subject to respective programmes.
Price: Subject to respective programmes (please so note that while some are free, others are paid events).
9. Singapore Heritage Festival
Credit: Singapore Heritage Festival
Interested in learning something new about our local culture and heritage? Well, the annual Singapore Heritage Festival is back, with this year's festival being a special Singapore Bicentennial edition! The programmes for this year will focus on exploring Singapore's 700-year history and presenting lesser-known stories, pivotal moments and people that have contributed to shaping Singapore into what is it today.
Credit: Singapore Heritage Festival
There are a whole host of programmes happening during the festival - there are free events such as the Armenia Street Party happening at the Peranakan Museum on 15 - 16 March and the Ride and Discover exhibition (which is an in intriguing, island-wide exhibition that focuses on select bus routes) happening from 15 March - 7 April. There's even a Kampong Glam Food Trail happening on 30 March! There are also paid events, such as the Unforgotten foods: Food Demo & Sampling at Bedok Food Centre happening on 16 and 30 March, as well as the Letterpress Guided Tour at Golden Mile Complex. These are just a few examples of the many programmes happening, so be sure to check the full list of programmes out! (P.S. Make sure to sign up early for the events you're interested in as seats can fill up quickly!)
When: 15 Mar - 7 April 2019
Venue: Various, subject to respective programmes. You can check the list of programmes and venues here.
Operating hours: Subject to respective programmes.
Price: Subject respective programmes.
10. #BuySingLit
Credit: Buy SingLit on Facebook
Are you a bookworm at heart? A fan of poetry both written and spoken? Well, your literature-loving heart can rejoice because the local book festival #BuySingLit is back for its third year! The festival will be held over two weekends in March (8 - 10 March and 15 - 17 March), celebrating all things Singaporean literature.
Credit: Buy SingLit on Facebook
There will be several book sale events where you'll be able to stock up on books published by local publishers, including the #BuySingLit Book Bazaar (which will be held at The Arts House between 8 - 10 March), the Pesta Buku Melayu or Malay Book Fair 2019 (to be held on 16 & 17 March at Wisma Geylang Serai), and the I Love SingLit Carnival (which focuses on Chinese literature, to be held on 17 March at the National Library Building). There will also be poetry and story-telling performances, meet-and-greet sessions with local authors, and arts and crafts workshops!
When: 8 - 10 & 15 - 17 March 2019
Venue: Subject to the respective events. Please refer to the full programme listing here.
Operating hours: Subject to the respective events.
Price: Subject to the respective events - while select events are free, please note that others may require fees for admission.
March is shaping up to be filled with plenty of exciting things to do! It's the perfect excuse to go out with friends, family, or even solo to see the sights and sounds of the events happening this month. Go have some fun!
11. (NEW!) Sentosa FunFest 2019
Credit: Sentosa FunFest 2019 on Facebook
Some of you may remember (and miss!) last year’s Sentosa FunFest which saw the beaches covered in We Bear Bears inflatables. This year, FunFest 2019 is back with a whole new cast of Sanrio characters! Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Gudetama will all be there to welcome you for some seaside celebrations ?
P.S. Head on over to the Palawan Green from 7.30pm onwards to catch a free animated movie! There’s a different movie for each day of the FunFest so check out their calendar to see what the night’s line-up will be!
When: 16 - 24 March 2019
Venue: Palawan Green, Sentosa
Operating Hours: 10am - 7pm daily
Price: Free admission for locals and local residents on Sentosa Express and Sentosa Gantry (drive-in)
12. (NEW!) Ground Up Initiative's First Farmers' Market
Credit: @groundupinitiative on Instagram
Ground Up Initiative is a non-profit organization focused on encouraging sustainable, community-based living and recapturing the ‘kampong’ spirit. This year, they’ll finally be holding their 1st ever farmer’s market to bring the kampong spirit a little closer! Whether you’re here to introduce the kids to an eco-friendly life, or browsing for your next reusable and upcycled buy, this is a fair the entire family is sure to enjoy.
Make sure to check out their Facebook for a full list of vendors and programmes!
When: 16 March 2019
Venue: Kampung Kampus, 91 Lorong Chencharu, Singapore 769201
Operating Hours: 10am - 5pm daily
Price: Subject to the respective events - while select events are free, please note that others may require fees for admission. Remember to bring along cash as the vendors won't be accepting cards!
13. (NEW!) Sesame Street 50 Years And Counting Celebration @ Universal Studios Singapore
Credit: @rwsentosa on Instagram
Sesame Street is one of the iconic shows from our childhoods - and it's been that way for 50 years! To celebrate this astonishing achievement, 50 local celebrities, influencers, and students were invited to decorate their own versions of Oscar the Grouch's trash can ? The Soundstage 28 zone will even be recreating some of the most iconic Sesame Street stages and backdrops, and so much more! Plus if you spend a minimum of $60 within USS, you'll win an exclusive collectable pin to remind you of this forever. ?
When: 8 March - 28 April 2019
Venue: Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa
Operating Hours: 10am - 5pm daily
Price: Access is included with any regular admission to USS. More information on the event can be found at their website.