11 biggest things to happen in Singapore in 2018

We had a chilly start to the year with cool weather lasting almost a week in January. Temperatures hovered around 21 to 22 degrees Celsius and Singaporeans wasted no time in breaking out sweaters and jackets. The frosty climate was due to a monsoon surge in the South China Sea.

Following the release of the annual Time Out City Life Index, which ranks the most exciting cities in the world, people were up in arms that Singapore ranked second from the bottom. But does that really mean our home is dull? We at Time Out Singapore certainly don’t think so, and we’ve spent the whole year trying to prove it with our #ExcitingSG campaign. While the city isn’t perfect, it’s home and we're always up for constructive discussions on how to make things better.

Slowly but surely, immersive digital installations – you’ll recognise them by their vivid colours and mesmerising shifting light patterns – have taken over all our Instagram feeds. In March, Marina Bay was lit up with 22 mesmerising installations as a part of I Light. We’ve also seen more illuminated pieces of art at the National Gallery Singapore, National Museum of Singapore and ArtScience Museum. Want more? Head down to Orchard Road and Gardens by the Bay for the sparkling Christmas lights and colourful installations before the year is done.

While Singapore is no stranger to red carpet events, the star support of Avengers: Infinity War brought fans out in droves to catch a glimpse of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Joe Russo, the film’s director, in person. Fast forward to today, we're still trying to recover from the horrific emotional trauma the movie caused – Mr Stark, I don't feel so good.

After five years, ride-hailing app Uber ceased operation in Singapore on May 7. The business was acquired by its rival, Grab. While many have voiced concerns about the potential monopolisation of the ride-hailing business, new entrants such as Ryde and Indonesian service Go-Jek should put up a good fight. Bring on the promo codes!

On June 20, KFC stopped providing customers with plastic straws and lids at its 84 outlets islandwide. The move was part of its effort to cut down on almost 17 tonnes of single-use plastics. This year has also seen more packaging-free and zero-waste bulk shops like Unpackt enter the market. At least that’s one step closer to making the world a better place – more than we can say about the Trump-Kim summit that also happened in June.

The scent (or stench) of durian was in the air in July when the season hit Singapore hard. This year saw a bumper crop of the smelly fruit with prices up to 40 percent cheaper than usual for prized varieties like Mao Shan Wang. Even McDonald’s cashed in on the craze, launching the Durian D24 McFlurry. For $4, patrons could treat themselves to velvety vanilla ice cream doused in durian syrup punctuated with real durian bits.

For a hot minute, thanks to Crazy Rich Asians, the world finally realised that Singapore isn’t part of Malaysia or China. Based on author Kevin Kwan’s interactions with Singapore’s elite, the movie framed the country in its most flattering light, from Gardens by the Bay to Newton Food Centre, and also featured a few familiar local faces. However, the movie did catch some flack for not being representative of Singapore’s myriad cultures – some food for thought (we hope) for the sequel.

The Lion City saw a stirring of emotions when news broke that the Indian Supreme Court struck down the Section 377 of its Penal Code on September 6. It led to a heated discussion of Singapore’s stance towards Section 377A, which criminalises sex between two consenting male adults here. While the nation stands divided on this hot topic, the debate has caused a rise in activism for the repeal, with petitions spreading on social media.

If there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that Singaporeans love our hawkers and street food. But on October 9, hawker food champion and Makansutra founder, KF Seetoh penned an open letter to Senior Minister of State Amy Khor highlighting how Social Enterprise Hawker Centres are killing local food culture with high rents and ridiculous fees. At the same time, Singapore is hoping to nominate our hawker centres as a UNESCO world heritage cultural icon. Here's hoping that our hawker culture continues to thrive, 20, 50 or even 100 years from now.

Thanks to the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald, there’s been a renewed interest in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World – not that our love for all things Harry Potter ever died. Head to Changi Airport from now till mid-February to explore Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade as well as to pick up souvenirs like plush toys, scarves and travel pillows. Hop on your brooms and fly there quick!