Events & What’s Happening
Annual celebration of Singapore's diverse food culture featuring hawker heritage trails, special menus, and culinary experiences across the island
💡Join a hawker centre guided tour — kids love sampling local dishes like char kway teow and satay in a fun, educational setting
Singapore's birthday celebration featuring a military parade, aerial displays by the Singapore Air Force, and a spectacular fireworks show at the Float @ Marina Bay or the Padang
💡Watch the free preview parade a week before if you can't get tickets to the main event; bring earplugs for young children during the aerial displays
Annual outdoor arts and light festival in the Bras Basah and Bugis precinct featuring large-scale light art installations, performances, and interactive exhibits on heritage buildings
💡Older children and teens love the immersive light art installations; plan your route using the official map and wear comfortable shoes for walking between venues
Little India transforms with elaborate light installations and a vibrant street bazaar celebrating the Hindu Festival of Lights
💡Visit Little India in the evening for the stunning light-up along Serangoon Road; the bazaar has great street food and costume accessories for kids
Orchard Road lights up with elaborate Christmas installations, shopping mall displays, and nightly entertainment as Singapore's premier festive street celebration
💡The light-up switch-on event in mid-November is free and family-friendly; stroll after dinner when decorations are most magical and crowds are manageable
Island-wide celebrations including the River Hongbao at Marina Bay, Chingay Parade, and light-ups along Orchard Road and Chinatown
💡Head to Chinatown Street Market in the weeks before for lanterns and snacks; arrive early for Chingay to secure a good viewing spot
Asia's largest aerospace and defence exhibition held at Changi Exhibition Centre, featuring public days with live aerial acrobatic displays and aircraft static displays
💡Public weekend days are perfect for families; kids can see fighter jets and helicopters up close — bring earplugs and sunscreen as it is held outdoors
The largest Malay festive bazaar in Singapore runs through Ramadan and into Hari Raya, featuring traditional food, fashion, crafts, and a dazzling light installation
💡Go after dark to see the beautiful light displays; children enjoy the traditional kueh and satay stalls and the lively festive atmosphere
Curated artisan and gourmet market at The Grandstand featuring local food vendors, fresh produce, crafts, and specialty goods
💡Sunday mornings are lively and less crowded; kids enjoy the variety of international food stalls and there is open space nearby for running around
Weekly free storytime sessions for young children at community library branches across Singapore, featuring picture book readings, songs, and simple crafts
💡Best for children aged 2 to 6; check the NLB website to find your nearest branch session as times vary slightly between libraries
Iconic hawker centre breakfast experience in the heritage Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, complemented by surrounding artisan shops and a small weekend flea market
💡Arrive before 9am for famous char siu bao and carrot cake without the long queues; the neighbourhood streets are great for a post-breakfast stroll with a pram
Free weekly 5km timed community run along East Coast Park, open to all ages and fitness levels including junior parkrun for younger children
💡Children under 11 can participate in the junior 2km run; bring a stroller if needed and enjoy the park afterwards with a picnic on the beach
Families gather weekly on the rooftop green roof of Marina Barrage for kite flying with stunning city skyline views, alongside a permanent sustainability gallery and café
💡Kites are sold at the barrage shop; arrive before 10am before the heat peaks and bring sunscreen — the rooftop lawn has little shade but spectacular views
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Children's Garden inside Gardens by the Bay is completely free to enter and has water play features that open at 9am — arrive when it opens before the queue grows and bring a change of clothes because kids will get soaked.
- 💡Buy a Singapore Tourist Pass at Changi Airport arrivals for SGD $22 for three days of unlimited MRT and bus travel — it saves a family of 4 roughly SGD $40-60 over buying individual stored-value EZ-Link trips across a typical 3-day itinerary.
- 💡Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown has the most famous chicken rice stall in Singapore (Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, stall 10) but the queue is 30-45 minutes — go at 10:30am when the stall opens before the lunch crowd arrives.
- 💡The Night Safari at Mandai includes a free tram ride through the animal enclosures but the Creatures of the Night animal show at 7:30pm and 8:30pm fills fast — pick up show tickets immediately upon entering the park at the show theatre box office, not at the main gate.
- 💡Changi Airport's Jewel complex is free to walk through and the HSBC Rain Vortex waterfall show with light and music runs nightly at 7:30pm, 8:30pm, and 9:30pm — a legitimately spectacular free experience that families often skip because they assume it costs money.
- 💡Universal Studios Singapore's ride height restrictions are strict and enforced — children under 102cm cannot ride Transformers or Battlestar Galactica. Check the USS website before visiting so shorter toddlers have realistic expectations and plan time at the Sesame Street and Far Far Away zones designed for under-5s.
- 💡Hawker centre etiquette tip for families: 'chope' your table (reserve it) by leaving a packet of tissues on the seat — this is a widely understood Singapore custom and prevents the awkward situation of carrying trays of food with nowhere to sit at busy centres like Lau Pa Sat.
- 💡The free River Taxi from Clarke Quay to Marina Bay Sands runs Thursday through Sunday and is a scenic 20-minute boat ride kids love — it departs from the Clarke Quay jetty roughly every 30 minutes starting at 9am and is operated by Singapore River Cruise.
- 💡Book Singapore Zoo tickets at least 3 days ahead through the Mandai Wildlife Group website — weekend tickets frequently sell out and walk-up prices are 10% higher than advance online pricing.