The best things to do in Singapore in October 2024

It’s spooky season so you know what that means – it’s time to make your way to the gates of hell at Universal Studios Singapore for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights. Scream your way through four all-new nightmare-inducing haunted houses, including one inspired by the popular South Korean Netflix apocalyptic horror series, Sweet Home – visit Cha Hyun-su’s apartment and watch as the show’s terrifyingly grotesque monsters come to life before your eyes. 

Fans of Jackson Wang will also be glad to know that from his label, Team Wang Design, comes ‘Under the Castle’, an immersive and richly detailed horror experience that will have you navigating a cursed castle filled with dark secrets and entrapped villagers. And keep your eyes peeled for a new spine-chilling speakeasy experience like no other. Find it and you’ll be rewarded with a range of deliciously devilish canapés and drinks. Grab your tickets and find out more here.

Ever wondered what the future looks like? Forget time machines – The Copernican Principle is your ticket to ride. Inspired by the groundbreaking ideas of Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, the exhibition curated by Jan Swierkowski brings an innovative blend of art, science, and interactive arcade games to Science Centre Singapore. Get ready to navigate time and space with nine arcade games that feel like a blast from the past and the future at the same time. These games developed by Instytut B61 in collaboration with Tomasz Wlazlak combine 80s aesthetics with futuristic dilemmas like space pollution and AI revolutions, all while questioning the fate of mankind. From creating lunar nature reserves to dodging space junk, it’s a cosmic challenge that’s part nostalgia, part mind-bending fun.

Public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the grant competition “Public Diplomacy 2024”

From October 3 to November 8, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay’s award-winning restaurant Peppermint is teaming up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Top Chef Thailand Season 3 winner Wattanasak ‘Bas’ Changkeb to tempt you with bold, authentic flavours straight from the Land of Smiles – but with a novel surprise. Feast on gaeng kua sapparod lobster smothered in tangy pineapple and tamarind gravy, or the sweet and savory pu pad pong kari crab stir-fry with yellow curry. Crank up the heat with soup hang wua, a fiery Wagyu beef oxtail tower with a punch of coriander, or phed ped yang, tender roast duck in a rich, spicy red curry. For something lighter, the classic Thai seafood soup, infused with lime, chili and lemongrass from PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay’s own Urban Farm, will hit the spot. That's not all – you can also stand a chance to win a trip for two to Koh Samui, courtesy of Bangkok Airways. Keep an eye on its Instagram page for more details.

Book your spot now.

This month, head to Gardens by the Bay’s latest Australian-themed showcase, Carnival of Flowers, dubbed after the similarly named event in Toowoomba – an Australian city famous for its annual Carnival of Flowers. The showcase on our shores includes the most colourful blooms like kangaroo paw, manuka myrtle, and banksia under one roof. But it's not just florals that take centre stage  – there’s plenty of unique art to admire too. Catch 400 vibrantly painted wooden ornaments of beloved Australian wildlife done by students from Singapore and Australia, as well as sustainably crafted, larger-than-life flowers. Admire the symbolic Aboriginal art and stop by the specially reworked Genestreaming Journey Sculpture, which fuses Aboriginal and contemporary field naturalist art. 

Find out more about this unique showcase and get your tickets here, or check out Gardens by the Bay’s Philippines-themed orchid showcase at Cloud Forest.

Singapore’s largest annual gastronomic event, the Singapore Food Festival (SFF), returns for its 31st edition this year, from October 1 to 31. Themed ‘A Celebration of Old and New’, this year’s festival spotlights age-old culinary traditions and contemporary innovations in our vibrant food scene. Whether you’re a self-professed epicurean or a casual foodie, you’re in for a treat with over 20 events in the month-long line-up to pick and choose from. These vary from unique dining experiences hosted at top restaurants to public pop-up events across the island. SFF will also launch family-family food showcases at locations like Marina Bay Sands and selected CapitaLand malls, bringing gourmet food experiences closer to the masses. 

Find out more about SFF’s Unique Events here and purchase tickets at the festival’s official website.

There’s no excuse to miss this year’s Oktoberfest, especially the month-long celebration at Cosford Container Park. From October 1 to 31, get ready for weekends full of eating, drinking, and merry-making with traditional Oktoberfest-inspired games, fantastic prizes included. After the games, fuel up with Eastern Golden Grill’s hearty sausage platter stacked with four types of juicy grilled sausages. Still hungry? Pop over to Singapore Blue Lobster for their take on a good ol’ crispy pork schnitzel, specially prepared for Oktoberfest. And it's not Oktoberfest without icy beers on tap. Enjoy daily beer promotions throughout the month – take your pick between a one-litre stein of Erdinger Weisse or Erdinger Dunkel for $25, or go all out with a three-stein bundle deal for $70.

On October 19 and 20, you can also look forward to a special Oktoberfest edition of Cosford Container Park’s monthly Weekend Market. Expect fun activities like a German folk dance workshop, origami Bavarian hat-making, and a special cocktail masterclass. Click here to find out more about the festivities.

Step into the shoes of an astronaut at an out-of-this-world exhibition coming to Science Centre Singapore this October. Space Explorers: The Infinite, is a breathtaking virtual reality experience that transports you to the International Space Station, where you get front-row seats to NASA-inspired missions. Witness 250 hours of never-before-seen 360-degree footage taken in space with immersive virtual reality technology to take you on a hyperrealistic voyage into space. 

There are three sections to the hour-long experience. First, participate in the first-ever spacewalk captured on VR. Then, explore a 3D recreation of the International Space Station (ISS). Finally, witness NASA's historic launch of Artemis I, its first major spaceflight of its lunar exploration programme.  

Space Explorers: The Infinite opens at the Science Centre on October 12, with tickets starting at $32. Find out more about this immersive space experience at Science Centre Singapore.