The best things to do in Singapore this weekend (Dec 5-8)

Santa's sleigh is on the way, but in the meantime, you can jump on board the free shuttle bus from Harbourfont MRT (Exit D) for a Christmas affair at Marina at Keppel Bay. Meet and greet the Santarina with her surprise gifts, sample festive bubble teas and peruse through the gorgeous wares at the Christmas market. And in the spirit of giving, there are also gifts, attractive dining discounts and vouchers to be won.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – Universal Studios Singapore is decked out in bright lights and enchanting decorations, your favourite characters are dressed in their festive best and everyone’s ready to spread the Yuletide cheer. Keep your eye out for Santa Claus as he makes an appearance in an all-new show featuring animated projection mapping, a massive meet-and-greet, and the largest 'snowfall' to happen at USS. With dazzling fireworks to top it all off, celebrate the season by gathering friends and family for a fun and adventurous time at the theme park. 

Not just for hypebeasts – celebrate the diversity of street culture with the best of street brands, purveyors and talents from Asia and around the world. Look forward to interesting discussions, interactive exhibitions, engaging workshops, and other cool activities. Plus, you get to meet New York’s street art heroes Crash and Stash in the flesh.

Geek out with fellow gamers and cosplayers at this mega pop culture event. Making an appearance is three-time New York best-selling artist Mark Simpson (aka Jock) who’s known for the Batman: The Black Mirror series, comic book artist and penciller Greg Capullo, and pop surrealist Tara MacPherson.

Get ready for some nail-biting action as thrilling live motor sport event Monster Jam zooms back to our shores. Featuring Monster Jam superstars like the legendary Grave Digger, Max-D, the raging bull El Toro Loco, and Megalodon, you're in for an unexpected and unforgettable evening as these world-class drivers put on jaw-dropping performances which include gravity-defying backflips and vertical two-wheel skills in their 12,000-pound monster trucks.

'Tis the season for giving. Do good and burn some calories this Christmas with the annual Santa Run for Wishes. Choose from the 2.5km or 5km Fun Run, or 10km Competitive Run and spread a little Christmas cheer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a community that helps children with medical conditions. Not in the mood to sweat it out? Join the festive fun at the Christmas Carnival and have the chance to win prizes at game booths or catch ol' Saint Nick for a photo.

Get transported to a winter wonderland inspired by European Christmas markets. Follow the scent of chilled mulled wine and whet your appetite with various panettone, log cakes and stollen bread. The feasting continues as you feast your eyes on the centrepiece, the Capitol Kempinski Singing Tree, standing over eight metres. Alternatively, create figure eights at the new skating rink, visit Santa Claus and enjoy the sight of 'snow' while you're at it. 

Do good, feel good – Singapore Red Cross (SRC) is taking over the Coliseum with an exciting carnival that's open to all. Support the great cause while indulging in tasty, trendy treats, traditional bites and cool SRC merch. Bond with the little ones through a first aid sesh and fun public workouts. 

See Gardens by the Bay dressed to the nines this festive season with whimsical décor, dazzling lights and more to add to the holiday charm. Not forgetting crowd favourites – Christmas carols under the stars, 'snowfall' in the tropics, carnival games and kiddy rides, and the charming stalls à la European Christmas markets for everything from hand-crafted gifts to festive grub. The annual Yuletide affair also ups the ante with the inaugural Christmas Parade, the new Santa's Workshop and over 40 magical luminarie sculptures including Asia’s tallest luminarie Christmas tree and a 21-metre-tall Spalliera that will have Santa coming to town.

What's the glowing underwater? This year's Glowing Ocean highlights the science behind the signs and signals given off by the vibrant tints of the ocean. But don't be fooled by the eye-catching hues – the luminosity of the ocean acts as warning signs on the adverse effects of global warming, especially on marine life. Immerse yourself in four interactive installations put together by various artists and learn how you can make a positive difference to marine life.

Cluny Court is rolling out the red carpet for Santa Claus this festive season. During the weekends, share your wishlist with ol' Saint Nick and grab a selfie with him while you're at it – after all, he only comes 'round once a year. And if you're looking to snap the picture-perfect Christmas family photo à la the Kardashians, there are professional photography sessions available on selected weekdays. The festive fair is also loaded with a myriad of miscellaneous Christmas items to bag. From party dresses to furniture, you can count on this festive fair to get you more than ready for Christmas.  

Step out of the humidity and into the magical wonderland of Arendelle ruled by Disney princesses Anna and Elsa. Meander through Changi Airport which houses a massive centrepiece including Anna and Elsa's castle, four activity zones designed around the elements of earth, wind, fire and water, a Frozen 2-themed light and snow show, and a festive market. Get up close and personal with your favourite characters over the weekends of November 22 and 24 and November 29 and December 1.

Ring in the festivities with endless fun-filled activities at Jewel Changi. Experience the magic of a White Christmas with Jewel’s Snow Walk and Snowfall Spectacular right here in our tropical paradise. Stock your socks at the Festive Market and capture some unforgettable Christmas memories by the 16-metre-tall Christmas Tree.

This season, catch the best of basketball action in Singapore. Witness Singapore’s very own Slingers take it to the hoop against other professional teams in the 2019-2020 ASEAN Basketball League. Expect plenty of action and athletic highlights as the Slingers go head-to-head against quality teams from the ASEAN region and beyond.

Santa Claus is coming to town. See Orchard Road transform into a dreamy wonderland complete with a gorgeously illuminated Christmas village filled with fun rides, game booths, food trucks and live music performances, as well as interactive set pieces including a 4-metre-tall immersive tunnel.  

Your nights are about to shine brighter than ever. The festival of visual treats and lit installations returns to Sentosa to wrap the year up. This time at Sentosa Cove Village for the first time, the Instagram-worthy installations include a 13.5-metre-long space where you can walk among illuminated art pieces focused around the theme of celebration.

All the way from the Amazon, 50 varieties of exotic epiphytic orchids adorn the space of the Cloud Forest amidst ferns, aroids and bromeliads to mirror the Amazon rainforest. Navigate through the dense foliage and admire the Cattleya luteola, the smallest of all Cattleyas, and Warczewiczella Amazonica which is regarded as the largest and most beautiful of its genus. The display is topped off with replicas of animals endemic to the region such as capybaras, sloths and macaws.

This end of the year, travel to six city-themed exhibitions with the adorable Line Friends who are making their exclusive debut in CapitaLand malls. Catch the spectacular icons and landmarks of Istanbul, Las Vegas, Macau, New York and Singapore through the eyes of your favourite characters. Get festive this holiday season at Southeast Asia’s largest Line Friends World Tour.

Who says you need a flight ticket to enjoy a Nordic Christmas? This holiday season, hop into a sleigh for a whimsical adventure through five Nordic countries under one roof at Gardens by the Bay's Flower Dome. This year's Poinsettia Wishes feature the iconic landmarks of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and over 30 varieties of poinsettia plants. The festive spirit is further amped up with a choir of adorable Nordic gnomes, also known as Nisse.

Thank our collective devotion to the milky beverage, the bubble tea gods have blessed us with an exhibition dedicated to all things bubble tea. It promises to be a multi-sensory experience: step into an enchanting world of larger-than-life boba trees, dive into a ball pit filled with 'taro pearls', or go all Miley in a room with nothing but a giant pearl swing. And when you're done, feed your belly with bubble tea-inspired treats and grab a cup of bubble tea (obviously) from curated vendors. There's even adorable bubble tea merchandise you buy.

The family-favourite Rainforest Lumina returns with a second season that's packed with 10 new multisensory zones in a one-kilometre stretch of the lush tropical rainforest. Follow the luminous path that leads you to a quirky group of virtual animals known as the Creature Crew. Stay #woke on eco issues while you discover the enchanted world of Rainforest Lumina with an immersive audio-visual experience.

Delve further into Singapore’s past with a two-part showcase at the historic Fort Canning Park. Time Traveller is a cinematic experience that takes you through 700 years of history with five multimedia shows. While Pathfinder is a free-and-easy experience that presents Singapore’s journey from past to present through eight interactive pavilions and installations.

Take the kiddos on an art adventure at National Gallery Singapore. This year’s Children’s Biennale features 11 interactive artworks by local and international artists. Let your little hitmakers create their own tunes at Chance Operations or immerse them in an experiential journey across time and space at Stardust: Soaring Through the Sky’s Embrace.

Enliven your Orchard experience with an all-new roving pop-up concept, NAO (Night at Orchard). Happening every first weekend of the month along the stretch between ION Orchard and Ngee Ann City, expect a showcase of talents across fashion, arts, dining, and music. Highlights include culinary offerings by popular brands like Old Chang Kee and Michelin-starred restaurant Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro, shopping options with the likes of up-and-coming brands such as oasis:skin and Indigo Culture, and busking performances from NoonTalk artiste Gavin Teo, One Moment of Glory winner Jill-Marie Thomas, and popular indie acts like Codie Loh, Raphael Leong and Yeo Ming Jun.   

Journey further into Southeast Asia – past and present – as the Asian Civilisations Museum opens three new permanent galleries Ancestors and Rituals, Christian Art and Islamic Art, along with new items on display in the museum's Trade galleries that explore the artistic exchanges within Asia and the rest of the world. The Ancestors and Rituals gallery shines its spotlight on a diverse range of Southeast Asian artefacts that reflect the barter of ideas and cultural interactions among various tribes and communities in the region. The Christian Art gallery exhibits intricate works of cross-cultural art created in Asia that are dedicated to the religion.  The Islamic Art showcases the wealth of artistic traditions that arise from the expansion of Islam in Southeast Asia. As part of Southeast Asia in the World, the museum is also hosting a new series of trails that provide visitors an understanding of Southeast Asia's role in the world through beautiful illustrations by local artist Muneera Malek.