ICYMI: February wrap-up

Tis' the season – not to be jolly, but to be utterly spooked. Halloween is happening this weekend, which means plenty of thrills, spills, and trick-and-treating. Across Singapore, we've got glamorous sky-high parties at spots like HighHouse and Nova for the revellers, alongside kid-friendly Halloween events with all the sweets and fewer of the scares. Plus, some quirky events that put a different spin on Halloween (think: a horrifying party filled with Internet memes and red flag energy). Hit the 'read more' link for all the best Halloween events in Singapore this year. 

Clear your weekend plans – Roku Gin is popping up in Singapore for the very first time, teaming up with AIR CCCC for a three-day sensory feast at Dempsey Hill. Expect craft cocktails, inventive bites, and more than a few surprises across three different spaces.

Start upstairs at the Roku Tasting Room, where chef Aiken Low and his team serve up a weekend-only garden-fresh brunch (from $58) and dinner pairing experience (from $118), designed to match Roku’s elegant Japanese botanicals – think shakshuka with emping chips, chicken with sweet potato leaves with chilli relish, and passionfruit granita to round it off. Each session is guided by Suntory Brand Ambassadors, and if you’re there for dinner, you’ll score a mini Roku bottle (worth $46) to take home.

Out on The Lawn, a Pop-Up Café dishes out four sweet and savoury creations, paired with Roku gin cocktails with a local twist (bundles at $22 for walk-ins or $20 for sign-ups). Or hit the Fizz Bar for fun and fizzy gin cocktails – think classic Roku gin and Roku Sakura Bloom infused with fresh flavours like yuzu, lychee, popsicle, and grapefruit. Add immersive projections, DJ sets by names like Leland, Daryl Knows, and Watch Her Bern, as well as plenty of good vibes, and you’ve got a weekend that’s part gin journey, part garden party.

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What happens when your late mother and a random woman crash your karaoke birthday bash? You belt out the drama. Congratulations, Get Rich! is a gloriously unhinged new musical-comedy by Singaporean-Australian playwright Merlynn Tong, taking over the mics at Drama Centre Theatre from October 29 – fresh from its Brisbane debut, before heading on to Sydney next.

Set in a karaoke bar on Mandy’s 38th birthday, the night spirals out of control with ghosts, grief and generational secrets that refuse to stay buried. At its heart, it’s a story about three fierce Singaporean women finding healing through laughter, tears and karaoke – proving that singing together can be surprisingly good for the soul. Starring our very own musical darling Seong Hui Xuan, this chaotic yet cathartic production is not to be missed. Tickets start from $28 – get yours here.

Craving a sonic adventure around the region? Baybeats is your ticket. The beloved live music series is back with more free shows that champion alternative sounds from Singapore and the rest of Asia. This year, the spotlight turns to South Korea's indie-rock band Silica Gel, and Japan's jazzy, post-rock trio Mouse on the Keys. They'll also be joined by the Philippines' alt-rock icons Sandwich, and Indonesia's indie fave The Adams, to name a few. And let's not forget homegrown names like A Vacant Affair, Plainsunset, Weish, and more, tearing up stages with everything from dreamy haze to raw riffs. Whether you're into synthy vibes, cinematic crescendos or straight-up indie rock chaos, there’s something to surprise your ears.

With the festive season fast approaching, it’s time to deck the halls and your drinks cabinet. And what better way to stock up than at the Cellarbration Christmas Warehouse Sale? Back at Suntec City Convention Centre Level 3 from November 7 to 9, it’s bringing the holiday cheer with unbeatable deals featuring over 500 international alcohol brands such as Glenfiddich, Aperol, and East West Tequila, as well as local delights like Sour Plum Vodka and even Cellarbration’s very own limited release Gingerbread Gin – all at merry-making prices. Whisky, gin, rum, wine, beer, sake, makgeolli and even cream tequilas – you name it, it’s here.

But that’s not all – this year’s edition adds a twist with boutique lifestyle brands offering everything from perfumes and makeup to jewellery and homeware. Whether you’re restocking your home bar or hunting for that special Christmas gift, come and snag them up before the elves do! 

Admission is free. Secure your free entry here.

The National Gallery Singapore is hosting its first-ever Children’s Carnival on November 1 (11am–6pm), as part of the Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025. It’s a one-day art party packed with music, movement, and creative mayhem, designed to spark curiosity and imagination in little ones (and their grown-ups, too). Get ready for kooky events like a Silent Disco for kids, Mr Bee's Wondermakers Circus Show full of tricks, comedy, and chaos, plus a roving street-dance performance in the atrium. Kids with a creative streak will love the art workshops as well as a craft fair where they can run their own booths. Don't forget to collect stamps along the way to redeem some cool merchandise.

Would You Still Love Me If I Were a Sticky Frog? isn’t just a viral meme in the making – it’s one of the films headlining Earth in Focus, Singapore’s only nature-themed film festival. Happening at The Foundry from October 31 to November 2, the festival’s second edition features award-winning documentaries and shorts spotlighting wildlife, conservation, and our fragile planet. Beyond the screen, expect panel talks with turtle biologists, eco-travel discussions, and photography masterclasses (including one on DSLR camera trapping in rainforests). Join hands-on workshops on making mangrove jelly snacks or upcycling old tees into totes. Tickets ($10–$15) include access to multiple films and sessions, now available on Eventbrite.

Singapore’s longest-running indie animation festival is back and bigger than ever. Cartoons Underground 2025 takes over *SCAPE on November 1, screening over 20 animated shorts from Singapore and across the world. This year’s line-up dives into what it means to remember, belong, and grow through stories about identity, family, and transformation. Look out for Mountain Mountain by Singaporean students Grace Cheu and Ben Tan, a whimsical hunt for “mountains in Singapore”; S The Wolf by Palme d’Or–winning director Sameh Alaa; and Pear Garden, a tender, BAFTA-longlisted short from Iran.

Off-screen, *SCAPE transforms into an animation playground with a Kampong Glam–inspired virtual street-art gallery, creative booths, bites from Kult Yard and Lavi Tacos, and the return of the Golden Durian Awards.

Christmas comes early at RASA’s Festive Edition of its RASA Sayang Sunday Market, happening November 2. This cosy afternoon affair packs handmade gifts, good food, and community cheer under one roof. Browse a charming mix of local makers and artists hawking macramé, beadwork, art prints, preserved flowers, and scented candles – plus a make-your-own-talisman booth for a touch of holiday magic. Stock up on natural skincare, jewellery, and wholesome snacks like cookies, cakes, kopi, and even a gelato pop-up. And if you fancy a tipple, sip on small-batch wines from Central Europe. 

Pop, fizz, and art collide as Dom Pérignon brings its first immersive pop-up to Maison Garden from October 30 to November 2. Titled Creation is an Eternal Journey, the showcase celebrates the Maison’s latest collaboration with Japanese pop art icon Takashi Murakami, who reimagines the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 and Rosé Vintage 2010 bottles with his signature Superflat flowers and kaleidoscopic style. Expect a multi-sensory blend of fine art and flavour, including exclusive tasting sessions by culinary heavyweights Sebastien Lepinoy (Les Amis), David Pynt (Burnt Ends), Emmanuel Stroobant (Saint Pierre), and Jordan Keao (Butcher’s Block). After the tasting, browse the limited-edition Murakami bottles and collector’s coffrets – perfect for both champagne lovers and art collectors alike.

MOGĀ, the Japanese Prohibition-inspired izakaya-bar at Pullman Singapore Hill Street, turns two this year, and it sure knows how to throw a party – or five. The bar will be hosting 10 guest shifts across five days in November, featuring some of Asia's most popular bars. The month-long revelry kicks off with Kuala Lumpur's Penrose and Reka:Bar on November 1, followed by a spotlight on rising stars in Indonesia on November 5 and 10, with bars like BlowJams and Naaga joining the fray. It's then Hong Kong's time to shine, with The Old Man and Quinary stopping by on November 17. The party concludes with Seoul heavy-hitters Villa Records and Soko on November 24. Adding to the excitement, MOGĀ will be offering one-for-one cocktails off its new menu, Kiyoko's Journey, available all month till November 29. 

Make a reservation here.

There's a certain je ne sais quoi about the Hermes silk scarf. Perhaps it's the way it shines as a statement piece. Or maybe it's the eye-opening story behind the iconic fashion staple. Uncover it all at the French luxury brand's The Silky Way pop-up at Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza from now till November 5 before it jets off to another city next year. The immersive experience features zones that chart Hermes' journey in silk dyeing and ultimately introducing the scarves in 1937.

But don't expect your usual exhibition displays – highlights include an immersive dome screening a 20-minutes animated film that follows a woman journaling her adventures, a photo booth that lets you snap photos on neoprene printouts, and a small studio where you can listen to a story set to a song. If you spot a telescope, have a look inside to see a surprise. But don't leave before checking out Carre Stories featuring 24 cards that tell the story of the different silk scarves. Book your free spot here.

Heartware Store & Gallery is back with another delightful exhibition, Souvenirs by Dutch artist duo We Are Out of Office. Comprised of Winneke de Groot and Felix van Dam, We Are Out of Office is known for turning familiar, everyday objects into colourful collectibles: think vibrant riso prints, sculptures, and objects.

For Souvenirs, they've made things more engaging, crafting interactive machines, such a gachapon machine, ramen vending machine, and even a new piece called "Joo Chiat Road" as an homage to Heartware Store & Gallery's neighbourhood. These sit alongside limited-edition silkscreen prints, charming risograph postcards of packaging designs, and wooden blocks inspired by vintage goods. In the spirit of the exhibition, take home a souvenir to share with loved ones: custom car fresheners, cups, pins, keychains and more.

Local music gets its moment in A Love Song, a photo exhibition by Mary-Ann Teo spanning three decades of Singapore's gig scene, from the 1990s heyday of Force Vomit and The Stoned Revivals to new names like The CB Dogs and True Anger. Part documentation, part love letter, Teo's work captures the grit, glow, and heart that keep our music community alive. The exhibition opens with a full day of live sets by homegrown acts including TypeWriter, The Oddfellows, Leslie Low, and Hanging Up The Moon, plus exclusive merch from The Oddfellows and The CB Dogs. 

If you’ve been a goody two shoes all your life, The Serangoon Gardens Techno Party of 1993 offers a taste of what it’s like to live a little dangerously. And if you were once part of Singapore’s wilder crowd, this production might just strike a familiar chord.

Set in 1993, the play follows teenager Candice as she dives into the gritty underbelly of Singapore’s nightlife in the ’90s. Think punk-fuelled mosh pits, illicit parties, police raids and an encounter with a charming American boy – complete with a stash of happy pills. Produced by local theatre company Wild Rice, The Serangoon Gardens Techno Party of 1993 is bold, provocative and surprisingly introspective.

If you’ve already made your way through Singapore’s major museums, like the National Museum of Singapore, ArtScience Museum and New Art Museum Singapore, it might be time to explore something different. Head to Opera Gallery Singapore to catch The Singapore Masters Show, which runs from now until November 3, 2025.

The exhibition features works by 25 modern and contemporary masters, spanning genres from impressionism to contemporary figuration. On display are paintings, sculptures and mixed-media pieces created between 1887 and 2022, offering a look into the evolution of artistic movements from the 19th to 21st century.

Horror veterans and thrill-seekers will know: spooky season is approaching, and Universal Studios Singapore (USS) is cranking up the scares with its annual Halloween Horror Nights. For those who’ve been keeping an eye on the announcements, this year’s line-up of haunted houses is shaping up to be truly terrifying.

USS has teamed up with horror studio Blumhouse to bring two spine-chilling experiences inspired by their most iconic films, including the M3GAN franchise. Fans of supernatural suspense can look forward to the highly-anticipated Stranger Things haunted house, which promises to plunge you straight into the Upside Down. There’s also a terrifying twist on Asian horror, with themed houses based on the Thai series Death Whisperer and the Chinese novel The Unruly Immortals.

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).