The best things to do in Singapore this week (October 13-19)

Love Parasite and Train to Busan? Discover more Korean films at the Korean Film Festival, taking place at Golden Village Suntec City and *Scape from October 16 to 26.

This year’s edition marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Korea, inviting audiences to experience the creativity and depth of Korean storytelling through a curated line-up of films. Screenings are free with registration, with featured titles including No Other Choice, Hear Me: Our Summer, Victory, Three Sisters, One Win, Yadang: The Snitch, Somebody, By The Stream and Victory. There’ll also be a special outdoor screening of The Classic at *Scape, great for enjoying a film under the open sky. 

Shopping without shopkeepers? That’s the future, and it’s landing at Kallang Wave Mall from October 2 to 19. RED LABEL flips the script on retail with 10 edgy brands spread across three zones: Street & Style, Outdoor Essentials, and Lifestyle & Living. Think exclusive drops, limited-edition gear, and lifestyle finds you won’t scroll past on your feed. No pressure – just you and the goods. There’s even a playful side: take part in interactive games, rack up loyalty points, and spin the Gachabot for a shot at prizes. 

Shop at RED LABEL at L1 Atrium at Kallang Wave Mall – it’s open daily and admission is completely free. Follow @redlabelsg to find out more. 

Swap your usual Thursday night plans for something a little more dramatic. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is dialling up the drama on October 16 at the Esplanade Concert Hall with an evening that blends passion, virtuosity and pure musical storytelling. SSO's Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf leads the show with the Asian premiere of Ghosts, a striking Concerto for Orchestra co-commissioned by some of the world’s top ensembles. Next, brace yourself for jaw-dropping brilliance as celebrated French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard takes on Bartók’s notoriously complex Piano Concerto No. 2. And just when you think you’ve caught your breath, Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet will hit you with all the romance, tragedy and passion of Shakespeare’s iconic love story. Whether you’re wooing someone new or just treating yourself, this is one cultural experience worth dressing up for. Tickets start from $15 – get yours here.

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Whether or not you’ve been to Borneo, chances are you’ve heard of its famed dishes such as Sarawak laksa and kolo mee. If you’re keen to savour some of the region’s delicacies, good news – the Sarawak Mega Fair is bringing over 50 vendors together to showcase the country's most iconic and hard-to-find dishes. This is your opportunity to sample Umai jellyfish, Tuak rice wine, and many more. You can even snag D Mummy’s Recipe’s premium chocolate treats made from locally sourced cocoa beans.

The Sarawak Mega Fair takes place at Suntec City’s Atrium at Towers 1 and 2 and the Convention Centre from October 16 to 19, running daily from 11am to 10pm.

Celebfest October brings together food, shopping and star power all under one roof. Taking place at Suntec City from October 17 to 19, this mega event will feature over 200 vendors, offering everything from elegant shawls and luxurious perfumes to children’s vitamin supplements, as well as bites from brands like Golden Bao and Satay Ummi. 

But the spotlight is on some of the biggest stars from Singapore and Malaysia. Meet names like Anna Jobling, Zoey Rahman, and Mimi Lana, join a meet-and-greet with the cast of Mandul Bukan Pilihan, or catch M-Pop boy band Alpha performing live onstage at what's shaping up to be an exciting event. 

Catch Singapore's newest music talent at Homegrown Festival. This free event is the perfect place to discover fresh sounds or catch your favourite local acts on stage. Performing live are Heema Izatti, Krysta Joy, TP Music Vox, Thaarmin, Xena Giam, YAO, Elvern, FVISION, Houston Fire Support, lewloh, Sezairi, and MDC artistes Rines, Dominic Chin and Gail Belmonte.

Beyond the music, there’s plenty to do between sets. Try your hand at jagua tattoo art, get a caricature portrait drawn, sit in for a tarot reading, or design your own bouquet. For something more playful, join a round of air hockey, foosball, basketball toss, or relive the nostalgia with retro arcade games.

Fans of The Little Prince and French animation in general will be delighted by the Animation Nation, running from October 10 to 19. Presented by the Singapore Film Society and the Institut Francais, this celebration of animated storytelling features screenings of A Magnificent Life, Songbird’s Secret, Ernest and Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia, Maya, Give Me a Title, and Heart of Darkness. 

While these films are great for the little ones, their imaginative stories and beautiful visuals will charm adults too, making it a great outing for the whole family. After selected screenings, there’ll also be hands-on workshops where you can create your own artwork inspired by the films and bring home a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

It’s a day of booze and furry fun at The Botanist Picnic Pawradise, happening at CHIJMES on October 18. Set on the pet-friendly outdoor main lawn, the event blends craft gin and pet-friendly activities for both you and your four-legged companion. Take part in DIY workshops, including a potting session where you can plant one of the actual herbs or flowers used in The Botanist Gin, and a DIY G&T buffet bar where you can mix and create four different gin and tonics. Then, head over to the caricature drawing booth to get a live portrait with your furkid.

There’ll also be plenty of booths selling pet treats, accessories and more, with vendors such as Four Paws Pantry, Dear Hooman and RuffBandits ensuring your pets are spoiled with goodies.

Chinatown is lighting up for the Mid-Autumn Festival, with festive decorations running until October 20. The highlight: an eight-metre-tall centrepiece of rabbits, lanterns, mooncakes and orchids honouring SG60. Overhangs along New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street glow with lotus flowers, jade pendants and a radiant moon, while Upper Cross Street features a luminous moon palace. On South Bridge Road, spot Chang’e surrounded by peonies and calligraphy panels. From now till October 6, the Chinatown Festive Fair at People’s Park Square offers handcrafted lanterns and treats. Don’t miss the lantern walk on September 27, ending with live performances.

Presented by local wellness platform Half, the Museum of Hidden Objects and Feelings invites you to pause and reconnect with the quieter parts of yourself. The exhibition unfolds across eight interactive booths, showcasing personal items like sketchbooks and childhood keepsakes – each carrying the emotions and memories of its owner. Through these everyday objects, the museum highlights how things can anchor meaning and spark connection, whether you relate to someone else’s story or see your own experiences in a new light. Visitors can also contribute: upload a photo and short write-up of your chosen object, anonymously if you wish.

Back for its eighth edition, Women in Film and Photography at Objectifs takes on the theme What We Carry – unpacking self-identity, belonging and the memories we hold (or need to let go of). Artists from across Asia bring intimate works drawn from lived experiences, inviting audiences to reflect on the weight of personal histories. Screenings include A Quiet Load, Camp! Along the Mekong River, and Carnival of Solitude: The World of Qiu Miaojin. Beyond film, dive into workshops on paper-crafting and map-making, or join masterclasses in visual storytelling where you can even develop your own photo book.

Step into the world of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at Healing Heritage, an exhibition tracing its roots from 19th-century medical halls to its role in everyday Singapore life today. Split across five thematic zones, it spotlights milestones in TCM’s history – from community-run clinics to charitable institutions offering affordable care. It looks into the present and future too, exploring how digital diagnostic tools and halal-certified products are modernising this age-old practice. With archival materials, recreated settings and immersive displays, the exhibition celebrates TCM as both a cultural legacy and a living, evolving tradition that continues to heal and connect communities.

For the fourth edition of Crack the Case, The Dreamcatcher follows Kamil Noor, a scientist in the fictional city of Ikanpura, who becomes a prime suspect after a device he planted at an undisclosed location.

This immersive mystery experience is a fun way to bond with your friends while racing against the clock, as it fuses theatre with escape-room elements, inviting audiences to solve puzzles, uncover clues and piece together Kamil’s plans before time runs out. Don’t expect to sit back and watch the action unfold onstage, as everyone is encouraged to move around the theatrical set, explore the cinematic space and interact with the environment.

The Deepavali Open House is back at the Indian Heritage Centre, and it’s your ticket into the sights, sounds and flavours of the Festival of Lights. Weekends light up with a Festive Market packed with artisanal bakes, Indian snacks, handcrafted jewellery and vibrant ethnic wear. Get crafty with DIY workshops – think clay lotus ornaments or floral tealight holders – or play dress-up with traditional outfits, fragrant garlands and free henna art. Once evening falls, catch cultural performances under the stars and snack on festive favourites like murukku, masala chai and rose syrup drinks. 

Step into a radical vision of the future at the ArtScience Museum, where Another World Is Possible is on display from September 13, 2025 to February 22, 2026. The exhibition presents a distinctly Singaporean perspective on what lies ahead, emphasising environmental pragmatism, careful planning and a sense of responsibility for the world to come. This ethos is reflected throughout the exhibition’s architecture, design and artworks.

Highlights include pieces by filmmaker and speculative architect Liam Young, alongside works from both international and local creatives such as Björk, Torlarp Larpjaroensook, Osbourne Macharia, Ong Kian Peng, Jakob Kudsk Steensen, Ming Wong and others, offering a thought-provoking exploration of how art and design imagine possible futures.

Mahjong, congkak, Go...there innumerable Asian games we're sure are part of your fondest childhood memories. This September, the Asian Civilisations Museum is exhibiting Let's Play! The Art and Design of Asian Games, which takes a look at how these games, whether sporty or strategic, have evolved and shaped communities and traditions over time. Explore more than 150 games, and actually try them out at interactive installations. There'll be fun outdoor set-ups and talks and programmes throughout the exhibitions long run, too (until June 7, 2026). 

In the Ether: A Festival of Quantum Science and Technology invites visitors to dive into the fascinating world of quantum mechanics and explore how this invisible science shapes the future. Held at the ArtScience Museum, the exhibition combines installations, performances, talks and interactive programmes to make this complex field accessible to all.

Visitors can discover real artefacts from research labs that reveal the behaviours of light and matter, watch immersive audio-visual presentations that narrate experimental particle physics, and experience animations exploring different perceptions of time. With its blend of science and art, the exhibition offers a rare chance to see quantum science come to life in various artistic ways.

The Gallery Children's Biennale returns to National Gallery Singapore from May 31, 2025 to March 29, 2026 for its fifth edition, themed Tomorrow We'll Be.... Coinciding with the Gallery’s 10th anniversary and Singapore’s 60th birthday, this year’s event invites visitors to explore the possibilities of their future through the values of joy, kindness, dream and love. Families can look forward to eight immersive and multi-sensory installations by local and international artists, alongside a series of engaging programmes designed to inspire creativity and reflection.