The best things to do in Singapore this week (September 8-14)

There’s more to Jalan Besar than café-hopping, and Find Your Folks @ Jalan Besar is a great way to explore the neighbourhood. The event brings together a curated mix of food and retail experiences, collaborating with local tenants to showcase their unique offerings. Wild Coco will serve up laksa bowls, samosas and kueh bingka as snacks, while Second Thoughts, a new craft beer bar and restaurant, will dish out grilled cheese, tiger mussels, pani puri, alongside a selection of craft beer and wine. Head to Hue for some classic Thai flavours such as char moo and Thai milk tea. Other vendors include Druggists, Chye Seng Huat Hardware, Just Julia and more.

On September 20 and 21, Hamilton Road will be transformed for the Street Festival, featuring thrift markets, skate jams and community art. The entire road will be closed to traffic, so you can wander freely while live music from Darker Than Wax and Nomad Solar Sound sets the soundtrack for the festivities.

Too much doomscrolling? Hit reset at the StarHub 5G Wellness Festival on September 13 and 14 at Capital Outdoor Plaza. Kick things off with the Digital BMI (Balanced Media Index) Quiz to understand your screen habits, then explore StarHub’s five pillars of balance: Gather, Grow, Ground, Glide, and Glow on the vibrant festival grounds. Think silent disco yoga, mindful journaling, leather crafting, life-sized board games, and all-day DJ sets with free-flow coconut water. It’s basically a weekend of fun that’s good for you, too. The best part? It’s free. Just lock in your workshop spots early, take the quiz, and get ready to recharge IRL. 

Swan Lake, one of the world’s most beloved ballets, is pirouetting into Singapore this September. Making its debut at Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands, the State Ballet of Georgia will perform the timeless classic from September 11 to 14. The production follows the tragic love story of Prince Siegfried and the Swan Queen Odette, brought to life under the artistic direction of Nina Ananiashvili, former prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.

Audiences will be treated to a company of 70 world-class performers gracing the stage, complete with stunning costumes and elaborate sets. All of this unfolds against the backdrop of Tchaikovsky’s famed score. Tickets are priced from $73.

If shopping counts as your cardio, then Island Atelier is the ‘gym’ to be at. Previously known as Sentosa Fair, this refreshed retail fair takes place at One°15 Marina in Sentosa Cove from September 10 to 12. Browse over 50 curated independent and boutique brands across fashion, lifestyle and design, such as Temple Candles, Desti Saint, Del Rio Jewels, She Creates Stories, Takara, Benchmark Wines, and Lap Spirits.

The fair also has children’s storytelling sessions, live music from Raja Rani and champagne on hand to make your shopping spree extra indulgent. To make things even easier, a shopping concierge will be available so you can stash your bags and browse hands-free.

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.

Western Australia comes to Singapore this week with WA! Fest, a celebration of the region’s finest produce and flavours. Running from September 11 to 14, the festival is a collaboration between Little Farms and Tourism Western Australia, and brings about a series of culinary-themed events across the city.

Head to One Raffles Place or Sentosa Cove to explore the lively Farmers’ Market pop-ups, where you can browse rare endemic honey, sea moss and fresh produce flown in straight from Western Australia. Foodies can also look forward to exclusive dinners curated by Executive Chef Aaron Carr of Yarri Restaurant and Bar, each crafted with premium ingredients sourced directly from the region.

Beyond The Label Fest returns from September 12 to 13 to shine a spotlight on the importance of mental health and self-care. Across the two days, you’ll find a wide range of interactive workshops designed to help you recharge and unwind. Try your hand at botanical embroidery, DIY a candle, or create a pressed-flower frame for your favourite photos. Other highlights include art therapy, ukulele classes, terrarium-making and coaster-making sessions.

Beyond the hands-on activities, the festival also hosts a series of insightful seminars on mental wellbeing. Learn about suicide prevention, explore the benefits of gratitude journaling, and pick up practical tools to support both yourself and others. 

If collecting adorable stickers, handmade keychains and colourful stationery makes your heart sing, then Artcade Singapore 2025 is the place to be. This quirky arts and crafts market gathers over 100 independent makers under one roof, offering a treasure trove of unique creations. Browse charming knick-knacks from creatives such as Water Planet, Oatcrafts, Fire Piggy Doodles, QTeacharm, Gingerbunss and more.

Adding to the fun is Artcade Bingo, a playful twist on the classic game, a crossword puzzle to try, and Artcade-themed goodies up for grabs.

Whether you’re already a homeowner or preparing to be one, it’s always worth gathering inspiration before committing to a living room theme or that perfect bedroom centrepiece. After all, furniture and furnishings are big-ticket items. Instead of endlessly scrolling through Pinterest, head down to Home Inspirations 2025 for some real-life ideas.

As one of Singapore’s largest home and renovation expos, the fair brings together more than 40 vendors this year, spanning interior design firms, lifestyle brands and mattress specialists. Visitors can also take advantage of complimentary interior design consultations – simply bring along your floor plan and questions to get expert advice on creating your dream space.

Fans of Indian singer and actor Vijay Antony are in for a treat this September, as the star takes the stage in Singapore for a one-night-only concert. While best known for his prolific career in Tamil cinema, he is equally celebrated as a singer, with hit tracks such as Naaka Mukka, Maarena and Ninaithale Inikkum, alongside a host of memorable compositions for Tamil films throughout the early 2010s.

Among his many accolades, one stands out – he was the first Indian music director to win the Cannes Golden Lion, awarded for his infectious jingle Naaka Mukka in 2009.

Vijay Antony will perform at The Arena @ Expo on September 13. Tickets start from $98, with meet-and-greet passes available at $468 for fans eager to meet the star in person.

The countdown to the Singapore F1 Grand Prix is officially on, and the #RevUpSG Festival is one of the highlights leading up to the motorsport spectacle. Visitors can slip into the driver’s seat with F1 race simulators, sharpen their reflexes with reaction games and check out the official Singapore GP merchandise. There’s also a Singapore Grand Prix-inspired Lego diorama that makes for a great photo spot.

Adding to the buzz is an all-day watch party of Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive season 7, screened from 12pm onwards. The festival takes place at Kampung Admiralty on September 6 and 7, before heading over to One Punggol on September 20 and 21.

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). 

In the Ether: A Festival of Quantum Science and Technology invites visitors to dive into the fascinating world of quantum mechanics and explore how this invisible science shapes the future. Held at the ArtScience Museum, the exhibition combines installations, performances, talks and interactive programmes to make this complex field accessible to all.

Visitors can discover real artefacts from research labs that reveal the behaviours of light and matter, watch immersive audio-visual presentations that narrate experimental particle physics, and experience animations exploring different perceptions of time. With its blend of science and art, the exhibition offers a rare chance to see quantum science come to life in various artistic ways.

The Mint Museum of Toys rolls out another pop-up, this time dedicated to diecast cars – a timely nod to the upcoming Singapore F1 Grand Prix. On display are early 20th-century classics like Mattel’s Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, alongside toys with strong local significance. Highlights include the rare diecast car collection produced in Singapore in the 1980s under the Mandarin brand, as well as the very first Singapore-exclusive Hot Wheels convention car.

It’s not just about looking – visitors can get hands-on at the multi-track play zone, play with the collectible toy cars and relive childhood memories. Collectors will also be able to shop for exclusive merchandise and add to their own prized collections.

Get ready, night owls and culture vultures: Singapore's largest nocturnal extravaganza is back for its 16th edition, lighting up the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct from August 22 to September 6. This year's theme is 'Island Nights', a celebration of the vibrant connections that link Singapore to islands near and far – and the community, culture, and stories that come with it. Expect stunning projection mapping artworks and mesmerising light installations, pieces like Kampong Chill at Capitol Singapore that invite rest and reflection, as well as vibrant food and retail villages. It's three weekends of non-stop, after-dark magic – find out more at the 'Read More' link below. 

It’s official: Singapore Oceanarium has opened its doors and it’s three times bigger than the former aquarium. With 22 immersive zones and hands-on experiences like fossil digs, sea jelly tours, and deep-sea adventures, this refreshed next-gen aquarium is now the latest must-visit destination in Asia. Explore towering coral reefs, walk beneath a life-sized whale skeleton, and snap stunning shots of moon jellies, manta rays and more. You can even take on a walking net experience suspended over a 9th-century ship replica. With so much to explore, it’s worth setting aside a full day to take it all in. Find out more here.

Who says kids can’t create beautiful art? Hello Future: Sharing Our Journey Together is the sixth edition of the Singapore Art Museum’s Think! Contemporary Preschool programme, and it’s a heartwarming showcase of creativity, imagination and big ideas from little minds.

Children from 24 preschools across Singapore have created vibrant, 3D artworks that express their personal dreams and stories from the past. Inspired by the museum’s exhibitions, including Seeing Forest by Robert Zhao Renhui, the young artists explored themes such as self-identity, community and the environment. This is your chance to see the world through a child’s point of view – playful and refreshingly honest.

Catch a blazing culinary showdown at Fried Rice Paradise – The Makan Party by Singapore Repertory Theatre, a dinner theatre experience centred on two sisters vying to inherit their mother’s beloved restaurant. This interactive performance puts the audience in the judge’s seat, with the power to vote for the winning sister. The show features a stellar local cast including Serene Chen, Ching Shu Yi, Natalie Yeap, Shrey Bhargava, Rafaat Haji Hamzah and Audrey Luo, plus hit tunes by Dick Lee. During the show, you’ll be served a four-course meal of local favourites, including satay, laksa broth, sambal fried rice and ondeh ondeh. Tickets are priced from $148 – get them here.

Step back in time at One Fullerton’s Seaview Channel, the walkway between Shake Shack and OverEasy. In time for SG60, The Fullerton Heritage has teamed up with local muralist Yip Yew Chong for Postcard Stories, a nostalgic pop-up installation that transforms the walkway into a walkable, larger-than-life throwback. Spanning 32 metres of hand-painted nostalgia, complete with 3D props, the mural reimagines iconic scenes from the 1960s and 70s – think Change Alley’s bustling trades and Merlion Park before its makeover. It’s charming, evocative, and  packed with little Easter eggs for sharp-eyed visitors. Whether you're a heritage buff or just love a great photo backdrop, this one’s made for leisurely strolls, story-sharing, and a dose of Singaporean pride.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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, Ministry of Magic, and more, as special interactive technology and multimedia elements are weaved with captivating soundscapes to bring enchantment to us muggles. With realistic replicas of what you see in the movies, along with eye-catching illuminations, there are sure to be a ton of photo-worthy opportunities. Find out more here.