The best things to do in Singapore this April

Boutique Fairs is one shopping event that everyone should have on their calendar. With a gathering of more than 300 brands in one building across three days, you’re guaranteed to find whatever you’re looking for – even if you don’t know that you need it yet. As always, look forward to new participating brands, established stalwarts, and exclusive launches. Pop-up cafes and F&B booths will also be at the F1 Pit Building to keep you going and shopping!

Wild Wild Wet is hosting the first-ever Songkran Kids Festival, where children of all ages can partake in dance workshops, water gun battles, and an inflatable obstacle course. The water park will feature colourful, life-size gummy bears decked out in Songkran-inspired pail hats for your little ones to take pictures with, as well as a DJ booth where they can pretend to spin tracks. Big-ticket Splash holders can groove out on the dance floor to electronic music with DJ Joeru, and kids above the age of 12 will get to try their hand at DJ-ing and master the art of scratching the board.

You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here.

Coming to town this April is Little Shop of Horrors, an award-winning musical involving an unassuming floral shop assistant and a not-so-unassuming plant. Watch on as Seymour (Andrew Marko) handles this blood-thirsty carnivorous plant, innocently named Audrey II after his co-worker crush (Vanessa Kee). This two-hour musical is a campy mishmash of horror and comedy – you’ll find yourself chuckling along during moments of dark humour. With Audrey II occasionally breaking out in R&B beats and clever musical numbers, Little Shop of Horrors promises an entertaining production from start to finish.

Tickets start from $38. You can score 15 percent off with an early bird discount running from now to March 13. 

After making its rounds across the world, immersive dining experience Banquet of Hoshena finally finds its way to Singapore, bringing with it the magic and wonder of a mystical land. Through clever 3D projection mapping and interactive aspects, a seven-course menu is elevated with a storyline that will transform dinnertime into a whole fantastical journey.

If this brings to mind Le Petit Chef, you’re not entirely mistaken – it’s the same team of people behind both experiences. While the former brings patrons and their taste buds on a voyage around the world, Banquet of Hoshena will have you entering a realm of fairies and folklore, as you partake in an adventure to help the queen of Hoshena restore love and life back into her fallen kingdom. We gave it a shot – click through for our review.

The annual Voilah! Festival is a joyous celebration of all things French. This year, it returns to bring the best of French culture to Singapore’s sunny shores. Presented by the Embassy of France in Singapore, Voilah! 2024 runs from April 25 to March 26 with a dynamic line-up showcasing the brilliance of French artists, scientists, and thinkers. Catch theatrical shows, film festivals, comedy shows, and musical performances for a taste of that French art de vivre.

Those who  love tulips will be pleased to know that Gardens by the Bay’s Tulipmania will be returning to the Flower Dome this year. In honour of its 10th edition, the floral display pays homage to its inaugural showcase in 2013. The tulips will once again be planted in rows of singular colour, much like the iconic tulip farms in the Netherlands. Adding to the charm, the display will feature a blend of traditional Dutch landscapes with modern elements, including windmills and watermills, alongside innovative features highlighting urban farming and clean energy initiatives.

Find out more about Tulipmania here.

If there’s one thing that Goodwood Park Hotel is known for, it’s for its delicious durian desserts. This year, its beloved durian buffet is back from April 5 to July 21 at the Coffee Lounge. Dig into new creations like the D24 Durianyaki, unique savouries like the D24 sourdough pizza with spicy chorizo and mozzarella, and signatures like D24 mousse cake and D24 puffs. 

If you’re a Mao Shan Wang enthusiast, wait for May 1, when the hotel’s Mao Shan Wang creations like mousse cake, puffs, and ice cream become available. Or take it up another notch with a Durian Fiesta Retreat, which comes with a $50 F&B credit per stay for Durian Fiesta a la carte menu items.

Step into the Himalayas at Cloud Forest’s latest floral display, Azaleas of Shangri-la. Inspired by the utopia, Shangri-La, from the fantasy novel Lost Horizon, the floral display features over 15 varieties of azaleas in pink, red, yellow, orange, and cream, accompanied by stunning replicas of Himalayan architecture and artefacts. Additionally, explore a collection of traditional medicinal herbs and indigenous flora native to the Himalayas, including cordyceps, saffron, and rhododendrons, for a truly enchanting experience.

Find out more about Azaleas of Shangri-La here.