Best Things To Do In Singapore This Weekend (Apr 14-16)

Everyone from pets to party animals will be busy this weekend. Whether you love geeking out over design and books, pampering your pooch, or just love soaking in the atmosphere at big events, there’s something to add to your to-do list this weekend.

PetExpo 2023  

When: Apr 14 (11am-8pm), Apr 15-16 (10am-8pm)
Where: Singapore Expo Hall 6, 1 Expo Dr, Singapore 486041
Things are about to get furry exciting once more with the return of the biggest pet fair in Singapore — and it promises to be bigger and better.

With 10,000 sqm of exhibition space, visitors — and their furry companions — can pawsitively shop to their hearts’ content at over 90 stalls and exhibitors. Vendors will be hawking pet treats, accessories, food and basically anything and everything you need — and never knew you needed — for your precious furkids. If you’ve always wondered what Lucky is thinking, you’ll have to head to the animal communication demonstration to find out more. It’s just one of the many talks and workshops about pet care that will be on throughout the weekend. There will also be free health checks conducted by the Animal & Veterinary Service (pre-register here), talks about pet diets and allergies, animal rehab, and pet grooming workshops. Keep your eyes peeled for grooming competitions, dog and cat shows and even shrimp and guppy competitions. But this isn’t just for pets and their owners — those looking to welcome a pet to their household can also head down to meet cats, dogs and rabbits that are up for adoption.

A one-day pass is $5, and a three-day pass is $12. More info

Escape 56 ‘666’ Anniversary: John Talabot

When: Apr 15, 10pm-3am
Where: Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118628

An underground party at Haw Par Villa? You bet. Yes, you can party in the Ten Courts of Hell and its eclectic surrounds together with Spanish DJ-producer John Talabot who’ll be headlining the sixth (not 666th) anniversary of the Escape 56 series of pop-up parties. Local DJs Aalely and Sivanesh will be helming the decks as well. Tickets are priced at $28 (students) and $38 to $68, and all regular tix include one standard house pour of a Jäger Mini and Red Bull.

More info

Tory Burch T-Monogram Pop-Up

When: Apr 1 to 16, 12-8pm 
Where: Wisma Atria Level 2 Outdoor Space

Weather forecast this weekend: Cloudy with a chance of retail therapy at a cute, poufy pop-up in the heart of Orchard Road. Taking centrestage at the outdoor space that’s adjacent to the Tory Burch Wisma Atria boutique is the American brand’s ethereal pop-up shop that features an assortment of bags, footwear and its ready-to-wear Spring/Summer Collection. Visitors can also see up close an innovative plant-based leather used in the evolution of its signature tote. Pop by to the newly-renovated Tory Burch boutique in Wisma Atria for an exhibition in partnership with the International Center for Photography where the works of Singaporeans shutterbugs Rachel Cheng and Ying Ang are on display. Pre-register your visit here.

Singapore Art Book Fair 2023

When: Apr 14-16, 12pm-8pm
Where: Singapore Art Museum, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road, Singapore 089065

Print is not yet dead and the 10th edition of the Singapore Art Book Fair happening this weekend is proof. It’s the largest edition yet with over 100 artists, designers, publishers, zinemakers and more showcasing an eye-wateringly huge array of books, zines, monographs, and then some. International exhibitors from Argentina and Australia to France and Portugal join the fray this year, alongside local graphic artist Theseus Chan, a first-time exhibitor, and local stalwart Basheer Graphic Books. Visitors can expect book launches and artist talks, and even exhibitions over the three-day fair as well.

Tix are $8. More info

Love, Kebaya travelling exhibition

When: Apr 4 to May 24
Where: Various locations

The kebaya has been submitted as an entry for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity, and the public can now learn more about the traditional garment with its roots in a shared heritage in Southeast Asian cultures by way of a travelling exhibition. The Love, Kebaya exhibition will be at the National Museum of Singapore’s Level 2 Platform from Apr 4-23, Gardens by the Bay Visitors Centre from Apr 26 to May 14 and Tampines Hub’s Our Festive Market from May 16-24.

On display are six kebaya designs created by craftpersons as well as photos of women from the Malay, Peranakan and Eurasian communities wearing the kebaya at different occasions, showing the garment’s evolution across different time periods. Admission is free.

More info

Well Commune: Shenton

When: Mar 27 to Apr 30. Open Mon-Fri 9am-9pm and Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
Where: Level 13 PIL Building, 140 Cecil Street

Learn to make kimchi from Jin Yinji, have a mindful lunch with a former monk, or zen out at a healing sound bath with former Electrico keyboardist Amanda Ling? All this and more will be happening at this month-long pop-up that is all about wellness.

There are some 50 activities lined up, including a spectrum of healing practices, workshops and talks that span art, lifestyle, and food. From sound healing and meditation sessions to workshops on financial literacy and family wellness, there’s something for everyone (view full schedule here). Tickets for workshops range from $5 to $150, and pre-registration is required (buy tix here).

Need a spot of retail therapy? There are pop-up markets happening on opening and closing weekends (free entry). The opening weekend (Mar 31-Apr 2), it’s a wellness-themed marketplace where visitors can pore over a selection of sustainable and local products and services, from beauty products to fitness studios. The Healers’ Marketplace on closing weekend (Apr 28-30) has vendors that are all about holistic wellness, including crystals, readings and handmade remedies that visitors may need on their wellness journey.

Raikan Cahaya Ramadan 2023

When: Mar 15 to Apr 16, 12pm to 11pm
Where: Kampong Gelam (along Baghdad Street, Kandahar Street, and outside Sultan Gate)

It’s not just Geylang that’s lighting up with a Ramadan bazaar. Kampong Gelam’s annual Ramadan bazaar is back and it’s the biggest one to date with over 100 booths, light installations, performances, and even a 10-day charity drive. Fancy some bites? Visitors will be spoilt for choice with 86 stalls and food trucks along Baghdad Street, Kandahar Street and right outside Sultan Gate. These will be hawking traditional faves like satay and Kuih Raya to trendy nosh that will keep both your tummy and Instagram feed happy. There will also be over 20 retail booths to pick up traditional crafts and clothes and art. More photo-worthy moments await every night with immersive projection lighting illuminating the Masjid Sultan, and aerial light shows on Fridays and Saturdays where drone-controlled LED kites will light up the event grounds at Sultan Gate.

More info

Rilakkuma Holiday at Changi Airport

When: Mar 4 to May 1. Open 5.30pm-9.30pm (Fri) and 12pm-10pm (Sat, Sun, PH and Mar 11-19)
Where: Changi Airport Terminal 3

Rilakkuma and friends have taken over Changi Airport T3 just in time for the March school holidays. Head to the whimsical Rilakkuma carnival taking place right in the middle of T3 (near Central Immigration) where you can hop on a balloon ride, or take a spin on the Ferris wheel. Visitors who spend $80 (or $100 at supermarkets) in a single receipt at the public areas of Terminals 1 to 4 can redeem five free carnival credits (excludes Jewel Changi Airport and Changi Eats). Alternatively, carnival credits can be purchased at ticketing booths ($1 per credit, minimum purchase $25) or via the iChangi app at up to 15 per cent off.

But did you really hang out with Rilakkuma and co if you don’t have any beary cute photos to show for it? Schlep down to T3’s basement 2 level to hunt for exclusive photo spots, including larger-than-life standees and optical illusions. Need more mementos? Shop Rilakkuma merch at a retail outpost near the link bridge to Jewel which opens on Mar 10.

More info

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

When: Mar 1 to Oct 1
Where: Resorts World Sentosa, B1 Forum

More than five million people worldwide have stepped into this 360-degree immersive digital art experience, and now you can too. Meander your way through over 300 Van Gogh artworks across thematic zones to discover more about the iconic artist and his life. The main highlight is The Immersive Room, a 40-minute digital projection mapping that not only mesmerises, but allows visitors to literally be part of the scenery in Van Gogh’s most famous works. Need a little time for reflection and refuelling after? There’s a thematic café serving Janice Wong’s artistic sweet treats.

Tickets from $15 (children) and $24 (adults). More info

Sneakertopia: Step Into Street Culture

When: Feb 25 to Jul 30
Where: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue

Singapore’s first sneaker and street culture exhibition is a shoe-in, whether you’re a die-hard sneakerhead or just want to see JJ Lin’s personal sneaker and art collection up close (above, right). Yes, in the 10 colourful, immersive zones at this exhibition that has previously made waves in Los Angeles and New York, the Singapore edition has over 100 limited edition sneakers and 70 murals and installations. All of these take you into the world of sneaker and street culture and its cross influences with the worlds of hip hop, sports, and fashion.

Tickets from $18. More info

Climate Changed

When: Permanent exhibition
Where: Hall B, Singapore Science Centre, 15 Science Centre Road

The unpredictable air-con weather we had last month was not just a coincidence — it’s due to climate change, of course. “Just like every other part of the world, Singapore is a victim of the impact of climate change and wetter condition in recent decades is one of the key indicators, especially over this region,” shares Associate Professor Lim Tit Meng of Science Centre Singapore. “If this trend continues, the rising sea level in this region can pose further challenges in the coming decades.”

To find out more about the very real threats of the climate crisis, head to the Climate Changed exhibition at Singapore Science Centre. Through immersive displays, interactive gameplays and other cool ways, you’ll get to learn more about climate change, the impact of our daily habits and what we can do to help at this permanent exhibition. Admission is free with every ticket to the Singapore Science Centre (from $8 for kids, $12 for adults).

More info

29Rooms

When: Feb 10 to Apr 16
Where: West Lawn, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive

29Rooms Asia — which takes up a sprawling 4,500 sqm at West Lawn at Gardens by the Bay — is the first international edition of the Insta-famous experiential funhouse. As you meander and snap your way through 29 thematic installations that are explosions of colour and creativity, you’ll realise that these aren’t merely fab for endless photo and TikTok opps. There are also thought-provoking questions peppered throughout the way, encouraging you to stop and smell the roses. Watch a video preview here.
Tix are $35 on weekdays and $42 on weekends. More info

Nature and Sustainability tours at Gardens by the Bay

When: Every Saturday and Sunday
Where: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953

GBTB’s new Nature and Sustainability tours, which just kicked off last month, are held every Saturday and Sunday. The hour-long guided walking tours will take participants through the lesser-known sustainability features of GBTB and how our natural environment, biodiversity and climate change are intertwined. Who knows, you may even uncover hidden gems at GBTB that you may otherwise have missed without a professional guide, like, a plant that smells like root beer. Yes, really. Read more here.
Free for Singaporeans and residents; pre-registration required. More info

The Line

When: Until Apr 20, 2023
Where: Artscience Museum, VR Gallery, Level 4, 6 Bayfront Ave, S018974

This virtual reality experience has been hailed the Best VR Experience at Venice Film Festival, and snagged the 2020 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Programming. And now, you can embark on this VR experience set in 1940s Sao Paolo, and immerse yourself in the experience as a child who unlocks an enchanted world. The experience is about 15 to 20 minutes.
Tickets are $16 each. More info

Living Pictures: Photography in Southeast Asia

When: Dec 2, 2022 to Aug 20, 2023
Where: Level 3, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew's Rd, #01-01, Singapore 178957

In this age of ubiquitous selfies, it’s easy to forget the role that photography played throughout history. This exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore, which traces the history of photography in Southeast Asia, is a reminder of that. Split into five thematic zones, it features over 300 works from the mid-19th century until present day — start your journey delving into colonial and war archives, through to today’s digital age.
More info