Best Things To Do In Singapore This Weekend (Feb 24-26)

Everyone will be out and about in full swing this weekend, with a wide array of events and happenings taking place across the island. From new Instagrammable pop-up markets to art in the idyllic surrounds of the Southern Islands, there’s no lack of new and interesting things to tick off your weekend bucket list.

Artbox 2023

When: Feb 24-26 and Mar 3-5, 12pm to 10pm (last entry 9pm)
Where: Singapore Expo Hall 6, 1 Expo Drive

After three years, Artbox is back, promising to be bigger, better, and definitely cooler now that it’s gone indoors at Singapore Expo. With almost 300 booths packed in 20 shipping containers and taking up almost a whopping 10,000 sqm, there’s no lack of things to eat, buy, and do at the creative pop-up market inspired by the original Artbox in Thailand.

Vendors from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan will be setting up shop over two weekends, hawking a variety of delish bites and drinks (think shrimp rolls, durian puffs and more). Shop your hearts out at booths selling artisan crafts, clothes and accessories and even homewares. And if all that’s not enough, visitors can get even busier with paper marbling and acrylic pour workshops or get a crystal or aura reading.

To add to the convivial vibes of the creative pop-up market are installations and visual artworks by artists like tokidoki and JELILO, retro arcade games and live music performances by artists such as Tay Kewei and Calvert Tay. Get your furry friends in on the fun as well — pets are allowed but must be leashed. Tickets from $5.

More info

Singapore Biennale at St John’s Island and Lazarus Island

When: Feb 25, 10am-1pm and 4pm-7pm
Where: St John’s Island and Lazarus Island

Forget galleries and museums. Explore art and learn more about the rich biodiversity that inspired them on the idyllic Southern Islands, as part of the Singapore Biennale.

Happening in two sessions on Feb 25, folks can expect island tours, artist chats, pop-up food stands and hands-on activities at the events.

The morning session from 10am-1pm is a family-friendly art and lifestyle adventure at Lazarus Island It’s free entry but visitors will have to get their own ferry tickets from Marina South Ferries ($20 for a return ticket), which takes them from Sentosa to the island. Besides going on a self-guided artwork adventure, there will be three curated adventures to help you learn how to survive in the wild, and a visit to St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory available.

The afternoon session from 4pm-7pm takes you back in time with a guided tour by a fourth-generation Orang Laut to learn more about the islands’ rich history, as well as gamelan performances and artists storytelling sessions, set against the backdrop of the sunset. Tickets are $30 (inclusive of round-trip ferry transfer) and are available here.

Frozen The Musical

When: Feb 5 to Mar 5
Where: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands

If the cold never bothered you anyway, be sure to catch Frozen. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions and presented by Base Entertainment Asia, the hit Broadway musical brings the popular tale (and its acclaimed songs) alive on stage, and features spectacular sets (it took about 26 shipping containers to transport everything here), exquisite costumes (Elsa’s Ice Dress alone is a stunner adorned with 14,000 crystals hand-sewn on it) and 12 new songs that’ve been written specially for the stage performance. We got a sneak peek here (watch it here). 

And for a limited time only, tickets are going at a cool promotional price — a limited number of A to F reserve tickets are going for $88 (usual price $88 to $198) for 88 hours only, from Feb 23 at 8am until Feb 26 11.59pm (or until tickets are sold out). Tickets sold are applicable to all Tuesday to Sunday performances, except matinee performances, until Mar 19.

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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).

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Cinewav Seaside Cinema 

When: Feb 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 24, 25 and Mar 3, 4.
Where: Marina at Keppel Bay, 2 Keppel Bay Vista, Singapore 098382

Fancy watching a movie under the stars with your loved ones, both humans and furkids? Head to Cinewav Seaside Cinema at Keppel Bay for its first-ever outdoor movie screening collab with Love, Bonito and Klook.

Attendees will get to enjoy popular romantic classics, including Jimami Tofu on Feb 24 and Serendipity on Feb 25. All you have to do is to bring your own snacks (maybe some for Scooby too) and headphones (it’s a silent cinema event), kick back on the outdoor lounge chairs provided, and enjoy. Love, Bonito has a pop-up booth at the event (portable fitting rooms included) if you fancy a spot of retail therapy. Snap a pic at their photo booth and get a free print when you follow @lovebonitosg and @klooksg on Instagram.
Tickets from $35. 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

Free 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

Mental: Colours of Wellbeing

When: Until Feb 26, 2023 (final weekend)
Where: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Ave
Guiding visitors to delve deeper into stereotypes around mental health is this exhibition features 24 interactive exhibits, large-scale installations and art projects, seven of which were created by homegrown artists. It’s as much as a personal, intimate journey as it is gaining perspectives of mental health and making connections in this day and age — be prepared not only to marvel at the installations, but also to reflect on this introspective journey.
Tickets from $18 (adults). More info