All aboard J-pop fans, Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2019 is back! Themed ‘AFA Airways’, the three day event is a paradise destination for all things Japanese Pop Culture – anime, cosplay, gaming, film and anisong. Strap in and expect to enjoy performances from a stellar line-up of celebrity singers, who will be performing at the I Love Anisong 2019 concert over three nights. Famous cosplayers from around the region, like duo Baozi & Hana from China, will be attending as well. There will be an exhibition area with themed booths, anime-related merchandise, and a dedicated area with booths selling fan-made merch.

Nov 29-Dec 1, 10am-8pm, Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre (Levels 3 & 4), Raffles Blvd, S039593. Tickets from $15. More info at http://www.c3afa.com/sg19

Photo: C3 AFA SG 2019

Get into the festive spirit with A Universal Christmas at Universal Studios Singapore (USS), featuring new shows, décor, and fireworks. Catch the Despicable Me family and lovable Minions dressed in their Christmas best at Hollywood or swing by New York to watch Santa Claus unveil a new show, The Great Christmas Invention. The show features animated projection mapping, the largest-ever meet and greet with your fave characters, and best of all, snowfall!  

Dec 2 to Jan 1 2020, 10am-9pm & 10am-10pm, Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, S098269. Admission is included with regular admission to Universal Studios Singapore. More Info at www.rwsentosa.com/universal-christmas.

Photo: Resorts World Sentosa

The Old Fashioned Face-Off will see five bartenders use five expressions of Woodford Reserve’s bourbon whiskey to add a twist to the Old Fashioned. New concoctions will be revealed with each passing hour so you can expect interesting interpretations of the classic cocktail. Smoke and Mirror’s Jorge A Conde and Naresh Kumar will be taking part in the showdown alongside top mixologists from Hong Kong, Derek Tsui from the 1-Michelin star VEA Restaurant and Lounge, Babit Pun from Frank’s Library, and Bryan Benitez from Ozone at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

Dec 4, 6pm till late, Smoke & Mirrors, National Gallery Singapore, #06-01, 1 St. Andrew’s Road, S178957. Free admission. For more information and reservations, call 9380 6313 or email reserve@smokeandmirrors.com.sg

Returning for its second edition, Culture Cartel is an all-encompassing three-day street culture convention that featuring all things hypebeast in the art, fashion, toy, tattoo and music realms. Besides interactive exhibitions, workshops and masterclasses, talks and more, the best street brands and talents from Asia will be present at the convention that's sprawled over 15,000 sq ft and three storeys. 

Dec 6 to Dec 8, 6pm-1am and 11am-10pm. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard, S038975. Tickets from $24. More info at https://culturecartel.com/.

Furama Singapore has taken the holiday festivities to the next level. Titled #FestiveFurama, a free indoor carnival will be held every Friday and Saturday in Furama Riverfront and Furama City Centre starting from Dec 6. Expect a 12-foot Christmas tree, a Santa who’ll be giving out presents, carnival games, VR gaming, a lucky draw and, live Christmas tunes by Orchestra of the Music Makers.

Dec 6 to Jan 26, 11am-2pm and 5pm-8.30pm, Furama City Centre, 60 Eu Tong Sen St, S059804 and Furama RiverFront, 405 Havelock Rd, S169633. More info at https://www.furama.com/

Gear up for live motor sport event, which is back in Singapore for one night only. Expect to see the 12,000 pound trucks execute backflips, vertical two-wheel sills and compete in high-speed racing. Monster Jam is bringing in new trucks, Wonder Woman and Zombie alongside fan-favourite monster trucks, Megalodon, Scooby-Doo and more. Purchase a Pit Party pass for a chance to get a closer look of your fave trucks and snap a few pics while you’re at it!

Dec 7, Pit Party from 2pm-5pm, Main Event at 7pm, National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub, 1 Stadium Dr, S397629. Tickets from $25. More info at http://www.monsterjam.com/. ​​​​​​​

Wondering where you could relax on a Saturday evening? Head over to this block party celebrating community and heritage, organised by co-living company Hmlet. Join a heritage tour to learn about the history of the Hmlet Cantonment building or get into zen mode with a yoga class. Make sure to come hungry because there’ll be food and drinks from The Goodburger, Babasan, Archipelago Brewery and more. 

Dec 7, 4.30pm-10pm, Hmlet Cantonment, 150 Cantonment Road, S089762. Free. More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/1210936835770561/.

Attention all gamers! PVP Esports is part of the first ever Singapore Comic Con and will be bringing the best of gaming to the convention. Celebrities like Finnish professional Dota 2 player Topson, cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao, streamer SherlinTsu, and more, will be participating in panels and meet-and-greets. Don’t forget to watch teams from across Asia face off in Mobile Legends and Dota 2 at the intense PVP Corporate and Campus League Grand Finals.

Dec 7 to Dec 8, 10am-8pm, Marina Bay Sands Convention, 10 Bayfront Ave, S018956. Tickets from $18. More info at https://www.pvpesports.gg/.

Photo: PVP Esports

Are you ready for a Crazy Christmas? Spend your ho-ho-holidays with a star-studded cast consisting of Kumar, Sebastian Tan, Selena Tan, George Chan and more. The show will feature a range of sketches, from stand-up to dance sequences with characters from the City of HO (that is, 'good' in Hokkien) and follow the tale of Crazy Rich Asians, as lived by a Crazy Grinch Asian.

Dec 11 to Dec 21, various show times, Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Rd, S178907. Tickets from $48. More info at https://www.dreamacademy.com.sg/crazy-christmas-crazy-grinch-asians/.

Ready yourself for a visit from the past, present and future spirits of Ebenezer Scrooge at the first ever one-man presentation of the festive classic, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Led by acclaimed British stage, television and film actor, Clive Francis, A Christmas Carol follows mean-spirited and cold-hearted Scrooge as he goes through a journey of self-discovery with the help of a few Christmas spirits. Stay for the after-show party for a chance to meet the star of the show and enjoy a selection of drinks and food.

Dec 13 to Dec 15, 8pm on Dec 13-14 and 5pm on Dec 15, The Elizabeth Room at The British Club, 73 Bukit Tinggi Rd, S289761. Tickets from $58. More info at www.britishtheatreplayhouse. ​​​​​​​

Sample exclusive menus and cocktails from celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck and David Myers on Day 1 at the sixth edition of the Epicurean Market. And on Dec 14-15, there's a weekend market taking place at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre. For the first time, bartenders will be serving up drinks from 12 bars across Marina Bay Sands’ restaurants, allowing guests a preview of Mott 32’s signature cocktails before its opening in 2020.

Dec 13 to Dec 15, 12pm-9pm and 12pm-10pm, Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Exhibition Hall A - C, Level L, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956. Tickets from $49 for adults and $25 for kids aged 6 to 12. More info at http://www.marinabaysands.com/epicureanmarket

This is sure to be a purr-fect night of song and dance, so don’t miss your chance to catch Grammy Award winning and record-breaking musical CATS in Singapore. Set in a fantastical junkyard playground, catch characters like Rum Tum Tugger, Grizabella, Macavity and more as they share their stories through song and dance.

Dec 17 to Dec 29, various show times, Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, 4 Bayfront Ave, B1, S018973. Tickets from $50. More info at https://www.marinabaysands.com/entertainment/shows/cats.html.  ​​​​​​​

Everybody, rock your body right! Slink over to Pinball Wizard’s Christmas Eve Party for a night of hits and iconic tunes from your favourite boybands. With DJs Fadille and Nicolette pumping out tunes from the 90s and early 2000s, unleash your inner fan girl or boy and sing your lungs out to Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and more.

Dec 24, 9pm onwards, Pinball Wizard, Sim Lim Square #B1-29, 1 Rochor Canal Rd, S188504. Complimentary entry all night long. Contact +65 8189 1971 or email launchball@pinballwizard.sg for table reservations.

Photo: Pinball Wizard/Facebook

What better way to ring in the New Year than at the Marina Bay Countdown, set against the spectacular Singapore skyline? You’re spoilt for choice with the plethora of activities going on. Usher in 2020 with the stars at the Mediacorp’s Let’s Celebrate 2020 countdown concert at The Promontory, or with a bevy of live musicians at Esplanade Presents: Come Together. Perhaps you have the kids in tow — they’ll be wowed by the family-friendly carnival activities at The Great Circus of Europe and Starlight@The Lawn where bouncy castles, performances and food await. And the best part? No matter which event you mosey over to, there are unparalleled views of dazzling fireworks around the bay at the stroke of midnight.

Dec 31, various locations and timings. More info at https://www.marinabaycountdown.sg/.

Ring in the New Year at Mediacorp’s annual countdown party held at The Promontory @ Marina Bay, with an exciting line-up of close to 100 local talents. Hosted by 987FM's Sonia Chew and Ria 897's Fiza O, the spectacular soiree will include performances by the winner of MTV EMA 2019’s Best Southeast Asia Act, Jasmine Sokko, homegrown heartthrob Benjamin Kheng, songbird Aisyah Aziz, and “Papa Rock” Ramli Sarip. Not to forget tunes from Mediacorp artistes, Ayden Sng, Jarrell Huang, Daryl-Ann, and Fang Rong, as well as new-generation stars like Glen Wee, Astronauts, and Dru Chen. For the fashionistas, be sure to catch a unique catwalk item that will feature clothes and accessories that are created using sustainable materials. Want to party it up from the comfort of your own home? Not to worry as the pre-show segment will be on Toggle at 10pm with the main show starting at 11pm on both Toggle and Channel 5. Full details about Let's Celebrate 2020 here.

Dec 31, 7pm-1am, The Promontory@Marina Bay, 11 Marina Blvd, S018940. Free admission. More info at http://www.toggle.sg/letscelebrate2020.

Photo: Mediacorp Channel 5/Facebook

Start the New Year off with a bang at Star Island Singapore’s Countdown Edition. Expect a multi-sensory fireworks musical show that is sure to stun with Japanese-designed fireworks, pyrotechnics that’s sure to light the sky up, and 3D sound to complete your viewing experience. There are also pre-show activities to enjoy with the whole family, live DJ performances, and a food village for those who might get peckish.

Dec 31, doors open at 5pm, show starts at 10.40pm. The Float @ Marina Bay, 20 Raffles Ave, S039805. Tickets from $88. More info at http://www.star-island.sg/.

Photo: Avex Inc.

Soak in unparalleled views of the beautiful Singapore skyline and the New Year’s fireworks at Bar Rogue. Here, you get to party into 2020 with resident DJs - DJ Kenneth Francis will be kicking the evening off with nu-disco and disco tunes, before DJs Styluxtakut, Rattle, and Fadile take over to spin Hip Hop and R&B hits through the night. Be sure to come dressed in a midnight blue outfit to complement the night’s theme, Electric Sky.

Dec 31, 10pm-6am, Bar Rogue, Swissotel The Stamford, Level 71, 2 Stamford Rd, S178882. Pre-sale tickets from $68 and event day tickets at $88. More info at https://tickets.igo.events/electricsky. ​​​​​​​

Usher in the new year with CE LA VI’s New Year’s Eve Party, dubbed Vegas Nights. Come dressed in a fancy casino chic outfit to enjoy Vegas-style performances, fire-breathing spectacles, and dance the night away with chart-topping tracks.

Dec 31, 8pm onwards, CÉ LA VI Club Lounge, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, 1 Bayfront Avenue Hotel, Tower 3, Level 57, S018971. Tickets from $138. Contact +65 6508 2188 or email reservation-sg@celavi.com for table reservations. 

Pop by Gardens by the Bay’s first ever Nordic themed display that features the widest range of poinsettias and iconic landmarks from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Keep your eyes peeled for the 15 varieties of poinsettias that are making their debut at Gardens by the Bay. Take a nice family photo at The Family Hearth that’s based on The Wave from Denmark, or visit a choir of Nordic gnomes who will get you into the festive mood with Christmas tunes.

Nov 8 to Jan 5 2020, 9am-9pm, Flower Dome, Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, S018953. Admission charges to the Flower Dome apply. More info at http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/poinsettias. ​​​​​​​

An exhibition that’s full of er… poo, anyone? Science Centre Singapore’s new permanent exhibition, Know Your Poo, has five themed zones for you to explore the evolution of sanitation. With lots of interactive activities and installations (including a Game of Thrones styled toilet), have fun learning about poo, from where wastes go, to the future of sanitation.

Permanent exhibition from Nov 19, 10am-6pm, Science Centre Hall B Level 1, 15 Science Centre Rd, Singapore 609081.  Admission is included with regular admission to Science Centre Singapore. More info at https://www.science.edu.sg/whats-on/exhibitions/know-your-poo. ​​​​​​​

Why drink bubble tea when you can be bubble tea? That’s the existentialist question that boba fans will be asking themselves when they prance around in the Bubble Tea Factory, a utopic Insta-wonderland inspired by Singapore’s fave beverage, happening at *Scape from Oct 19 to Dec 18. Spanning over 7,000 square feet, the whimsical experiential pop-up has 10 multi-sensory rooms, all brimming with cute ’grammable installations. Everything you love about BBT has come to life, upsized. You can soak in all this bubble tea goodness without having to worry about calories, for the most part. Read our full review here. 

Bubble Tea Factory is on Oct 19 to Dec 18 at *Scape. 4pm-10pm weekdays, 10am-10pm on weekends. Tix at $24 (weekday) and $28 (weekend). More info at https://www.thebubbleteafactory.co/.

Back again and this time, bigger and better, is Sentosa’s Island Lights. Kicking off with a one-weekend-only showcase on Nov 16 and 17, guests can enjoy the ONE 15 Christmas Boat Light Parade™ where boats will be decked out in LED lights and decorations, providing a perfect backdrop for your ‘gram. Expect a 135m-long space that contains seven unique light art installations created by local and international artists. The ShadowDial (pictured) by LEDscontrol from Barcelona is where guests will be able to experience the perception of time in a sensory way. There are a slew of other festive activities to enjoy such as movie screenings, performances from fire twirlers, and more. Read our full review here.

Nov 16-Dec 31, 6.30pm-10.30pm. Sentosa Cove Village, 1 Cove Avenue, S098537. Free entry. More info at http://www.sentosa.sg/islandlights.  

Discover how Disney magic comes to life for the first time in Singapore at ArtScience Museum’s latest exhibition which reveals behind-the-scenes secrets behind 90 years of animation history. Pore over 500 art pieces — original drawings and concept art included — curated by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library. The exhibition also features interactive features such as projections, audio-visual displays that will take you on a walk down memory lane. The icing on the cake is the debut of original artwork from the upcoming, highly-anticipated Frozen 2. For more pix and info, click here.

Oct 26 to Mar 29, 2020, ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Ave, S018974. Tickets from $12. More info at https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/disney-magic-of-animation.html

If you ever wondered what Singapore might look like in 200 years, drop by the Art Science Museum’s latest exhibition, 2219: Futures Imagined, to find out. Immerse yourself in the exhibition’s five acts and travel from 2019 to 2219 to learn about how life might be impacted with changes in the Earth’s environment.

Nov 23 to April 5 2020, 10am onwards, Art Science Museum, 10 Bayfront Avenue, S018956. Tickets from $11. More info at https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum.html.

Photo: Lisa Park

Deep dive into the animals and their relationships with the environment in a high-tech, immersive way at the world’s first travelling wildlife and exploration exhibition. Explore the natural world from the comfort of the Science Centre. Choose from three different environments — Tropical Rain Forest, Coral Reef, and Sea Ice — and pick up bite-sized tidbits through the use of interactive multi-media elements and never-before-seen footage from Animal Planet set up in the different sections.

Nov 16 to March 22 2020. The Annexe, Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Road, S609081. Tickets excluding booking fee priced at $18 for Children (Age 3-12), $23 for Adults and $66 for Family package. More info at https://www.science.edu.sg/whats-on/exhibitions/living-worlds  

Unleash your inner architect and learn about why and how cities around the world change in the new Science Centre Singapore permanent exhibition, Urban Mutations: The Changing Face of Cities. The exhibition will allow for guests to go through three different zones — Cities Under Pressure, Urban Earth and Urban Futures — to learn more about how cities will be built to survive the 21^st century. Expect to interact with multimedia displays of city systems from around the world, representations of maps and global data, and to get the chance to explore urban solutions to modern problems.

From Oct 25 onwards, 10am-6pm, Hall A, Science Centre Singapore, 15 Science Centre Rd, S609081. Free. More info at https://www.science.edu.sg/whats-on/exhibitions/urban-mutations. 

Photo: Science Centre Singapore

Since its inception here in 2016, Tokyo-based interdisciplinary collective teamLab’s super photogenic dreamscapes have become a must-see for visitors, Singaporeans and ’gramaholics, of course. Who doesn’t love traipsing around in the trippy Crystal Universe? But if you’ve visited ArtScience Museum’s permanent exhibition once and think you’ve seen it all, think again.

Future World has just been refreshed and with an all-new gallery and two new artworks for your viewing — and Instagramming — pleasure. You’ll find the all-new features in the City in a Garden gallery, one of four galleries (Sanctuary, Park and Space complete the line-up). If you haven’t realised by now, City in a Garden is a riff on Singapore’s Garden City status and the theme of integrating nature back into the concrete jungle, and takes you through fields of flowers, lush meadows and even an aquarium. Find out more here.

Future World: Where Art Meets Science is on at ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands. Open 10am-7pm daily (last admission 6pm). Tix and info at www.marinabaysands.com.

Photo: teamLab

History goes high tech with this digital projection exhibition (replete with an interactive digital wall brimming with artworks) about the lesser-known snippets of Singapore’s history. Witness historical events that have moulded Singapore into what she is today, including the swearing-in of Yusof Ishak as first President of Singapore, the reveal of our national flag in 1959, and more. With gripping, lively projections and storytelling, you’ll feel as if you were living through these events that have cemented themselves into our nation’s history.

From Sep 1 to Aug 29, 2021, 10am-7pm, City Hall Wing, Level 3, City Hall Chamber, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road S178957. Tickets from $10. More info at https://www.nationalgallery.sg/

Forget about snapping Insta-worthy pix of our monuments and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of our historic landmarks through sketches done by three artists from the silver generation. This exhibition features poignant sketches of 18 national monuments like the Sri Mariamman Temple and Sultan Mosque. It travels through seven locations islandwide, beginning with the Jurong Regional Library (until Jun 29), before moving on to the likes of the Marine Parade Public Library and library@harbourfront. 

Until Dec 30, selected NLB libraries. Free admission for Singapore Citizens and PRs. For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/NationalHeritageBoardSG/.

Photo: Francis Theo