The best things to do in Singapore this weekend (May 26-28)

Marina Bay Sands is taking the standard sizzle to new heights with a two-week-long food and wine festival. With over 30 events, the festival is jam-packed with delectable dishes and tasty treats whipped up by superstar chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants. There are also tantalising programmes to engage the senses such as theatrical and experiential dining experiences at ArtScience Museum and Marquee Singapore. Stars from the culinary cosmos including Asia’s Best Female Chef Johanne Siy, and Australian chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan are also making their way to the iconic integrated resort to fire up your tastebuds and leave you inspired.

Well-loved annual production Shakespeare in the Park is back from May 3 to 28, with romantic comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It’s held on the picturesque grounds of Fort Canning Park, a scenic backdrop that’s been transformed into the City of Athenia – marked by fairyland mayhem. Bring along a picnic mat and basket as you ease into an evening filled with mischief and magic. Tickets start from $60 for a picnic and $98 for pavilion seating or a premium picnic.

This is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, and rightfully so, with its repertoire of witty puns and comedic scenarios. With playful Puck stirring trouble among four young lovers, it’s true that “the course of true love never did run smooth”. Put together Singapore Repertory Theatre’s talented cast and picture-perfect sets, and this is yet another Shakespeare in the Park outdoor theatre production that’s bound to be a hit. 

Expect an enchanting spectacle of whimsical hues and a spellbinding performance that will transport you to another realm. The stunning set design adds an extra layer of grandeur to an already mesmerising show. What else was captivating was the lively engagement between the actors and audience, as the cast got off stage and immersed themselves within the crowd. It was an electrifying production that had the audience on the edge anticipating what's next, successfully showcasing the astounding talents of every single person involved.

If you're going with a group of friends, you can get one ticket free if you purchase five to seven tickets in a single transaction*. PAssion Card Members will also get a 10 percent discount, available for picnic or pavillion seating.

*Applicable for Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday performances, for picnic price category only.

Book Shakespeare in the Park: A Midsummer Night’s Dream here.

Moving on from a romantic relationship is always a journey. Here to help you process and reflect on your love lost is The EX-hibition, a pop-up showcase at Main Street Commissary. Drop off mementos from you ex that are now too painful to look at the exhibition's Memory Dump and allow another visitor to bring them home. Or express all the thoughts left unsaid at Letter to My Ex. At other stations, you can read past texts from other people's exes (or even submit your own), or sit down at tables laid out with conversational prompts. Release your hurt, commiserate with other heartbroken folks – the hope is that you'll leave feeling a little more healed. 

SIFA is a yearly tradition for many lovers of the arts here in Singapore. And this year, the festival continues with The Anatomy of Performance, the three-year concept that was first introduced last year. Subtitled Some People, it invites everyone to get together and “open their hearts to each other's perspectives in the space that art defines”. The festival consists of three layers of programming: Creation which features 15 unique presentations including festival commissions and invited works; Life Profusion which is the festival's virtual entity; and SIFA X which is a platform for experimental expression. Set your alarms for must-see commissions such as the music theatre piece Angel Island, the promenade-style participatory performance experience The School, and the multi-media show Pompeii. 

From old-age traditions to modern updates, culture continues to evolve with each generation. With the theme (Re)presenting Culture Across Every Generation, this year's Cultural Extravaganza spotlights the cross-generational aspect of Singapore's Chinese culture. Witness the evolution through 11 exciting programmes including the music theatrical production Present Past, the swingin' celebration of well-loved Chinese songs Jazz It Up!, and the original dance-drama Stride Beyond the Banks. Plus, to celebrate 100 years of Singapore art, SCCC teams up with Lianhe Zaobao to roll out a special art exhibition, showcasing Qiu Zhai Art Studio's exclusive collection of 160 paintings and calligraphic works by 80 renowned local artists.

If streetwear is the name of your fashion game, then you know that sneakers are a step in the right sartorial direction. Ahead of the much-anticipated Sneaker Con SEA, the ArtScience Museum is making way for a large-scale sneaker and street culture exhibition that big-up creativity, self-expression and innovation. The brainchild of two massive sneakerheads – Emmy-award-winning producer Stever Harris and Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur Steve Brown – the exhibition features over 100 limited edition sneakers, street art and design with crossovers into different genres of sports, entertainment, music, fashion and more. Feast your eyes on 50 murals and installations including works by American creatives such as McFlyy, Michael Murphy and Mimi Yoon.

Embark on a magical adventure with your little explorers at the Esplanade's interactive theatre series PLAYtime! Perfect for tiny tots and tykes between the ages of three and six, it features engaging productions that ignite your kid's creative and imaginative flame while encouraging learning through the performing arts. 

This year's programmes focus on themes of social and emotional development. Highlights include Us (Feb 2-Mar 12) which explores various emotions through movement, music and fun; Next up, Just As I Am (Apr 21-May 7) which is a theatrical dance performance about self-love; and A Prince, An Explorer and A Girl – The Story of Batu Bulat (Aug 11-27) which takes the audience on a fun island journey to discovering the importance of empathy.

If there's one place we're definitely Gogh-ing this weekend, it's the Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience. It's an amazing new way to see the world through the post-impressionist’s eyes as his artworks come to life in a 360-degree digital spectacle. Let your jaw drop as you step into stunning floor-to-ceiling projections of famed pieces including the dreamy blue swirls of The Starry Night. Complete your trippy art adventure with the 10-minute VR experience which features The Bedroom in Arles and Starry Night Over The Rhone, as well as two special Japanese culture-grounded showcase segments which double as a tribute to the Japonisme movement that holds a strong influence on Van Gogh's artwork style. Fancy creating your own masterpiece? Art jamming sessions are available too.

New Oscar-worthy blockbusters are great, but there are always a lot more screenings to take your film-going dollar to. Back on the big screen at The Projector, the European Film Festival (EUFF) is bringing a slice of Europe through 24 acclaimed films from 23 countries.

As Sweden is this year's featured country, the festival opens with the Swedish drama Hilma, which tells the story of the revolutionary artist and feminist pioneer Hilma af Klint. Besides gut-punching tragedies, there are also documentaries, musical comedies, and family-friendly films to satisfy every movie-watching appetite. And closing EUFF is Campeones, a moving Spanish film that addresses issues of human rights, social inclusion, and self-improvement through the journey of a basketball team made up of people with intellectual disabilities. 

EUFF 2023 runs from May 16 to 31 at The Projector and is presented by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Singapore. Festival tickets go at $15 and are now on sale at euff.com.sg/tickets. 

After 17 editions of da:ns festivals, the dance celebration is ready to take things to the next level. Introducing da:ns focus. Spread across five weekends throughout the year, each part focuses on a particular theme or genre, and is jam-packed with exciting programmes, experiences and activities to get everyone involved – no matter if you’re a seasoned dancer or dipping your (pointe) toes into the scene for the first time. Mark your calendars for April 14 to 16 as it opens with the first set: EveryBody. The weekender focuses on work powered by inclusivity and diversity, so expect dance projects that empower all body types and abilities. Accessibility features for selected programmes such as Relaxed Environment, Sign Language Interpretation and wheelchair access are also offered.