The best things to do in Singapore this February

This Chinese New Year, it’s out with the rat and in with the ox. Bring your attention to the towering 10-metre-tall oxen centrepiece located opposite Chinatown Point, before making your way down the 880-metre-stretch along Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road for 888 brightly-lit lanterns of meaningful new year symbols such as pomelos, blossom trees and ingots. Beyond the attention-grabbing display, you can also gather the fam for a variety of online activities, from watching short films to joining virtual tours while experiencing Chinatown and its heritage, as well as the origins of Chinese New Year, at the comfort of your sweet digs.

You don't have to wait until May the Fourth to be the ultimate Fanboy. This January, get to know the characters of Star Wars on a whole new level as The Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition finally lands on our shores, making Singapore the final stop of its global tour. The Force is strong with close to 200 original props, costumes, models and artwork from the film franchise occupying the ArtScience Museum. It's not your typical movie exhibition either – it takes you on a customised, interactive identity quest to gain new insights into how the characters were developed, and gives you the opportunity to discover your own personal identities in the Star Wars galaxy.

A new interactive exhibition is set to dwell in the newly refreshed Goh Seng Choo Gallery at the National Museum of Singapore. Something you won't find in history books, A Voyage of Love and Longing marries illustrations from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History with Malay literature – think lyrics from love ballads, classical texts and pantuns (rhyme quatrains) – to give you an insight into the natural history collection from a fresh, lyrical angle. See how the drawings on display portray the flora and fauna featured in tales of love and longing from the Malay world through interactive installations and activities.

The Esplanade's annual Chinese festival of arts Huayi is back with an ox-citing line-up of theatre, dance and music programmes that highlight the wit, imagination, and curiosity of leading Chinese artists from Singapore and beyond. And this time, the whole family can enjoy 'em online and on-site. Set your alarms for six new commissioned works including Toy Factory Productions’ All the World is One’s Stage which spotlights heartfelt life-stories performed by local theatre veteran, as well as Paper Monkey Theatre's puppetry theatre production The Universe According to Niu.

After months of having its doors shuttered, Pangdemonium returns to theatres with Girls & Boys, a one-woman play starring Nikki Muller and directed by Tracie Pang. Written by the award-winning author of Matilda the Musical, Dennis Kelly, the play follows the protagonist Woman who gets into a passionate and intense relationship with her future husband after an unexpected meeting at an airport. While her witty observations of the world and her adventures with the colourful people in her life will leave you in stitches, her vulnerable side will have your heavy-hearted. What seems like a bad romance – her husband's faults, it appears – will have disastrous consequences for all involved. 

Accelerate for the very first drive-through art exhibition in Asia. Say what? The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre is starting the Year of the Ox with an immersive outdoor experience that brings together art and technology to spotlight the Chinese culture in Singapore as well as the importance of sustainability. At the comfort of a four-wheeler helmed by drivers at the exhibition, you can learn about the ox's cultural significance through the digital masterpieces of eight local artists including Almostasthma, André Wee, Antz, Puffingmuffin, and Mithra which have been transformed into 3D installation art, selfie filters, and augmented reality murals.

It's been 79 years since the Japanese Occupation. And February 15 marks the Battle of Singapore where the British colony was defeated by the Japanese military forces. To revisit history, the National Heritage Board (NHB) has teamed up with Museum Roundtable members, local heritage experts, and heritage groups such as All Things Bukit Brown to feature various places and stories relating to the Japanese Occupation. Journey beyond the history books with guided tours, WWII-themed talks and webinars, as well as other family-friendly programmes where you'll uncover the unfrequented stories of WWII and the events leading up to the Fall of Singapore. 

Aqua Gastronomy returns for its final edition this Chinese New Year. Step into one of eight underwater dining pods or head to one of the whimsically-decorated tables, and indulge in a five-course spread against the breathtaking backdrop of the marine landscape – think reef manta rays, hammerhead sharks, and giant groupers gliding by. Expect delectable Chinese New Year menus, as well as auspicious yet healthy Yusheng and festive creations offered by Feng Shui Inn, Osia Steak and Seafood Grill, Ocean Restaurant, and Syun. And while you savour the flavour, listen out for the mesmerising ancient tale of an underwater celebratory feast as told by the Lady of the Ocean.

Smash your fitness goals with the second edition of AIA iRun for Vitality – this time, with a Chinese New Year twist. The free virtual run invites you to lace up your best running trainers for Individual, Team or Corporate challenges. Stand a chance to win attractive prizes as you unlock significant milestones along the way. There will be live leaderboards for you to track your run, especially if you're partaking in the Individual and Corporate challenges. These are recorded based on the total distances you clock, and the final rankings, as well as the winners, will be announced on the 42Race Facebook page on March 10. Registration is open from now until February 7.