ICYMI: February wrap-up

It’s a grand spectacle every year when Singapore marks its birthday with the National Day Parade (NDP). And while scoring actual tickets to the main event can be tricky, you can still head down during the NDP rehearsal dates to watch the same fireworks light up the skyline for free. The rehearsal timings and details can be found here. 

Over at Esplanade, all eyes and ears are on Singapore’s longest-running jazz affair, happening from July 1 to 31. This year’s edition pulls out all the stops for everyone to indulge in one of the smoothest, sexiest genres around. We’re talking over 120 performances by jazz legends and new-school cool cats alike, with everything from big band and swing to sultry fusion and contemporary grooves. New York maestro Johnny O’Neal brings classic swing and blues, while the award-winning Immanuel Wilkins Quartet keeps things fresh and fiery. And don't sleep on the dreamy duo Vuyo Sotashe and Chris Pattishall – these two are blurring lines with velvety vocals in the best way. These jazz geniuses are also running workshops, so you can pick up a few tricks of the trade. Whether you're a diehard jazzhead or just curious, there’s something for every mood, tempo, and taste.

Buy tickets here

Kampong Boogie is back – and it’s bringing the heat to Gourmet Park Kampong Bugis. Celebrating its 8th anniversary, this cult-fave open-air party returns with a brand-new weekly backyard BBQ bloc party series. Expect a rotating DJ lineup with dopamine-fuelled beats, tasty global street eats, and of course, a smoky Caribbean cookout by Camp Caribbean’s head chef Ricardo Allen. Plus, your $15 ticket includes an F&B voucher. Each Saturday spins a different vibe – from Latin fiestas to Afro-Caribbean rhythms – so no two nights feel the same.

Ready to feel good, inside and out? Glow Festival is lighting up Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza for nine days from July 5 to 13 with a jam-packed lineup of all things wellness. Think sunrise yoga sessions with a stunning view, high-energy barre and HIIT classes, soothing sound baths, craft workshops and even ice baths if you’re daring enough to take the plunge. Back for its fourth edition, this year’s Glow Festival is bigger than ever, with over 70 experiences curated by 26 wellness partners and 64 hosts, including folks like running queen Ling Er Choo, acclaimed yogi Dylan Werner and Australian sprinter Olivia May. Check out the Glow Festival website and event schedule to find out about ticket prices for classes. 

It's summer all year long here in Singapore, but Paragon is cranking up the heat-o-meter with its sensorial celebratiom of music, scent, and national pride. From now until August 10, the Orchard icon transforms into an exciting hub featuring daily live music performances (until July 12), SG60-themed tunes (July 19 to August 9), and a seaside-inspired Jo Malone London pop-up (until July 13), where Raspberry Ripple and Orange Marmalade scents await alongside sweet photo ops. With stylish new retail arrivals and exclusive perks for Paragon Club members, this seasonal showcase puts a fresh, sophisticated spin on summer in the city.

Set in a ghost town, Singapore, Michigan is a thought-provoking comedy about three Gen Z friends – two Singaporeans and one American – who set off on a wintry road trip to find the mythical settlement that was once called Singapore, Michigan. What begins as a quirky adventure quickly spirals into a chaotic need to survive as the trio gets snowed in, confronting not just the brutal cold but also each other’s secrets, dreams and heavy existential questions.

The inaugural Chinese Opera Festival 2025 is your chance to experience the richness of traditional Chinese opera, right here in Singapore. The event features five local Chinese opera troupe, each performing in a different dialect, including Teochew, Cantonese, Peking and Hainanese. Tickets are priced at $30 each, and can be purchased here.

Enjoy the beauty of nature at the Sentosa Sunset Watch Party. Held at Palawan Beach, this free event invites sunset enthusiasts to admire the golden hues as the sun sets over the horizon. Visitors can also take part in wellness activities, and there will also be a sunset-themed photo exhibition and free photo printouts for guests.

The event runs every Friday and Saturday from 6pm to 8pm. 

Korean bakery sensation Standard Bun is making its international debut in Singapore with pop-ups at two prime locations: Suntec City from June 4 to August 3, 2025 and Bugis Junction from June 10 to July 14, 2025. Hailing from Seoul, Standard Bun is known for its light, fluffy dessert buns that have captured the hearts of locals and celebrities alike, including K-pop group I-DLE and G-Dragon. At the pop-ups, visitors can indulge in over 25 unique bun flavours, with the star of the show being the mocha bun ($3.90) – a Korean take on the beloved Rotiboy – topped with a delicate dusting of mocha biscuit crumbs and filled with soft butter. Find out more about Standard Bun here.

What if we told you that you could walk among dinosaurs – all without a time machine? After touring the world in cities like Berlin and Toronto, the immersive dinosaur-themed exhibition Jurassic World: The Experience is roaring its way into Singapore and taking over Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest with life-like dinosaur animatronics and interactive snippets throughout. We’re talking towering 8.5-metre-tall Brachiosaurus, a thrashing Tyrannosaurus Rex and a petting zoo where you can interact with adorable baby dinosaurs. 

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.

If you missed the previous Wiggle Wiggle pop-up at Plaza Singapura, here’s your second chance to dive back into its colourful world. The South Korean lifestyle brand has teamed up with the Singapore Flyer from now till September 28, 2025, transforming five capsules with vibrant retro colours and Wiggle Wiggle’s signature motifs – think whimsical flowers and cute bears. Don’t forget to stop by the pop-up store at Level 1 to snag merchandise like stationery, accessories and apparel. More details can be found here.

Local creative community GOFY presents Melting Thresholds, a group exhibition spotlighting four emerging Southeast Asian artists – Shu and Money Wang from Malaysia, Nina Sach from Thailand, and Jaeyyelle from Singapore. Running from May 17 to September 14, 2025 at Sweet Cheeks, the show explores dreamlike spaces through a series of quirky artworks that reflect on identity, memory, and transformation. The exhibition also features limited-edition gelato flavours by Sweet Cheeks, and all artworks are available for purchase on-site. 

Step through a vine-covered entrance and into the realm of Wonders of Nature, the New Art Museum Singapore's newest kid-friendly exhibition that highlights the significance of the natural world. Featuring works by eight international artists including Yayoi Kusama and Go Yayanagi, the exhibition unfolds across five sections, each offering interactive artworks and immersive projections that bring the beauty of nature to life through art.

National Gallery Singapore’s latest show highlights the journeys of influential Asian artists like Foujita Tsuguharu, Georgette Chen, and Liu Kang, who brought their unique cultural backgrounds to Paris at the height of its modern art movement. The exhibition uncovers how their personal stories and heritage shaped their work, leaving a lasting mark on Paris’s art scene and influencing the course of modern art. 

Held at Resorts World Sentosa, the Singapore edition of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic promises to be even bigger and better, with an additional 10,000 square feet of space for even more magical moments to unfold. Step into familiar scenes from the Potterverse including the Room of Requirement, Newt’s Menagerie, the Ministry of Magic, and more, as special interactive technology and multimedia elements are weaved with captivating soundscapes to bring enchantment to us muggles. See plenty of realistic replicas from the movies, along with eye-catching illuminations, for tons of photo-worthy opportunities. Find out more here.

Batik, a timeless art form and symbol of Southeast Asian heritage, takes centre stage at the Peranakan Museum. This captivating exhibition shines a spotlight on the creative and entrepreneurial journeys of three remarkable Peranakan women from the bustling port city of Pekalongan, Indonesia. Meet Nyonya Oeij Soen King, her daughter-in-law Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, and granddaughter Jane Hendromartono, each a batik master in her own right. Discover their inspiring stories through about 200 objects, including cherished family heirlooms and 60 stunning batik pieces from the 1890s to the 1980s. You can also explore batik’s evolution through time at the interactive stations. Then take a fun mobile quiz to uncover your personal batik style and score an exclusive bookmark to take home. Keep an eye out for exciting pop-up performances, hands-on craft activities, and engaging curator tours during your visit.