Pesta Ubin is the chance to celebrate Pulau Ubin each year. Along with Ubin Day, it is the island’s open house and an opportunity to raise a toast to the best of Pulau Ubin. This year, Pesta Ubin takes place from 8 to 23 June 2024 and has adopted the theme of “Live, Love, Learn”.
To celebrate the wonders of Pulau Ubin, more than 20 activities and events being held for Pesta Ubin 2024. These include nature walks, heritage tours, photography walks, cycling tours and kayak tours. The majority of these activities are free.
Pulau Ubin: Singapore’s Island Back in Time
Pulau Ubin is a rustic island off the northeastern coast of Singapore. From the time you step off the boat at the jetty at Ubin Village, it feels like you have been transported away from the cares of mainland Singapore.
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Roads and trails run across Pulau Ubin allow for exploration of its sights that include disused quarries, old kampongs and nature trails. One of the star attractions on the island is the Chek Jawa habitat and its variety of flora and fauna.
It is no wonder that the island holds such a beloved spot in the heart of nature-loving Singaporeans – cause for celebration at the annual Pesta Ubin festival.
Pesta Ubin 2024: 12 Family-Friendly Events & Activities
There are plenty of different outdoor events being held during Pesta Ubin 2024. Some of the events require registration and, unsurprisingly, some of the more popular events get filled up quickly.
Here is a look at some of the activities that will be taking place during this year’s Pesta Ubin where you can join in the fun and get to know Pulau Ubin better.
NPSS Avian and Wildlife Photography Outing to Pulau Ubin 2024
This one is for the early birds and photography enthusiasts! The Nature Photographic Society Singapore (NPSS) is organising an avian and wildlife outing in conjunction with the Pesta Ubin festival. Two award-winning nature photographers, Daryl Yeo and Mahesh Krishnan, will be leading this trip, open to a total of 10 participants only. The assembly point is at Changi Ferry Terminal at 5.30 am. Registration is required. Get more details about the NPSS Avian and Wildlife Photography Outing to Pulau Ubin 2024.
When: 8 June 2024, 6 am to 11 am
How much: Free!
Ecological and Heritage Learning Tour by Liang
Embark on the Ubin Ecological and Heritage Learning Tour led by a native islander, a 3.5km journey from Ubin Jetty to Puaka Hill. Discover Ubin’s history at the town square, spot flying lizards, and marvel at historic kampong houses. Experience rubber tree tapping and visit the eccentric “jetty” toilet before reaching Puaka Hill for stunning panoramic views. Limited places available. Register for the Ecological and Heritage Learning Tour by Liang.
When: 8 June 2024, 9 am to 12 pm
How much: Free!
Balik Chek Jawa by Naked Hermit Crabs
Pay a visit to Chek Jawa on 8 June where volunteer guides from Naked Hermit Crabs will be stationed across Chek Jawa boardwalk to answer your questions about the shoreline eco-system. Registration is not required.
Later in the afternoon, there will be Love Chek Jawa guided walks around Chek Jawa conducted by Cicada Tree Eco-Place. Registration is required for that walk around Chek Jawa. The Love Chek Jawa walk also takes place on 15 June and 23 June.
When: 8 June 2024, 9 am to 1 pm
How much: Free!
Going Coconuts on Ubin! Organised by Cicada Tree Eco-Place & Talk led by: Teresa Teo Guttensohn
If you love the graceful coconut tree, meet Teresa at the 椰子 (Yēzi) drink stall at Ubin main village. Refresh yourself with a delicious, fresh kelapa, and support the islanders at the same time. Next, head to a coconut grove to check out the wildlife that lives on or around the palms. Thereafter, learn the importance and ethnobotanical uses of தேங்காய் (Tēṅkāy) in our local and regional cultures. Participants will be treated to healthy tea and fragrant coconut snacks. Take note that there are limited spaces and registration is required. Get more details about Going Coconuts on Ubin! Organised by Cicada Tree Eco-Place & Talk led by: Teresa Teo Guttensohn.
When: 8 June 2024, 10 am to 12 pm
How much: Free!
Leopard Cat QUEST @Ubin by Singapore Wildcat Action Group (SWAG)
Nationally critically endangered, the Leopard Cat is known to inhabit Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong, the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and the Western Catchment. Take a walk Pulau Ubin’s rustic kampong lanes and forested areas in the silent, cool night, to look for the glint of the Leopard Cats’ eyes, and hopefully also encounter the Greater Mousedeer, Common Palm Civet, sleeping birds and butterflies, foraging fruit bats, snakes, mangrove wildlife and more! Registration is required. Get more details about Leopard Cat QUEST @Ubin by Singapore Wildcat Action Group (SWAG).
When: 14 June 2024, 7 pm to 11 pm
How much: $88 per person
Ubin Shore to Hill Nature Walk by LORIS & OWL
Explore the island from its lowest to its highest point in this Shore to Hill Nature Walk. The final stop is a climb up the 74-m Puaka Hill for a bird’s eye view of Ubin Quarry and even across the straits to Malaysia. Registration is required for this paid walk.
When: 15 June 2024, 8 am to 11 am
How much: $38 per person
Pesta Ubin x OMT Family Day by NParks Ubin
Part of the One Million Trees (OMT) initiative, this is a half-day educational event during the school holidays for families, that goes beyond the physical activity of planting trees! Families will be greeted with an introduction to Pulau Ubin, Pesta Ubin and tree-planting, followed by tree-planting and an experience of different planting sites on Ubin. Registration is required. Find out more about this tree-planting event at Pesta Ubin.
When: 15 June 2024, 9 am to 1 pm
How much: Free!
Pedal Ubin by NUS Toddycats
Go on a cycle tour introducing the natural and cultural heritage of Pulau Ubin. Registration is required for Pedal Ubin by NUS Toddycats.
When: 16 June 2024, 8 am to 11.30 am
How much: Free!
Malay Kampung Heritage Tour by Syazwan Wan’s Ubin Journal
Experience Pulau Ubin through the lens of the Ubin Orang Pulau as Wan brings you around his ancestral island’s Malay kampung and shares with you captivating stories behind its community, culture and history! Registration is required for the Malay Kampung Heritage Tour by Syazwan Wan’s Ubin Journal.
When: 22 June 2024 10 am to 1 pm
How much: Free!
Mouse-deer Magic night walk with Marcus Chua by Nature Society Singapore
Join Marcus Chua, a mouse-deer researcher, for a night walk on Pulau Ubin to spot and learn about the greater mouse-deer! Walk Ubin’s tranquil kampung wilderness with Marcus and give yourself the wonderful opportunity of close encounters with our native wildlife! Who knows, you might even be lucky enough to spot a leopard cat! Registration is required for Mouse-deer Magic night walk with Marcus Chua by Nature Society Singapore.
When: 22 June 2024, 6.30 pm to 10.30
How much: Free!
Artefacts-Handling Exhibition Booth by Young Nautilus
Are you brave enough to touch and guess the secret animal artefacts in our mystery boxes? Take part in an interactive artefacts-handling session at Pulau Ubin’s Ubin Assembly Area, where you’ll learn about the island’s fascinating biodiversity via up close interaction with a taxidermised Sea Turtle, dried Seahorse Shark egg specimens and more! Registration is not required. Also keep a look out for other booths by SWAG and Outward Bound Singapore.
When: 22 June 2024, 9 am to 1 pm
How much: Free!
Kampung Games by UCares
Play traditional old school games like Chaptek, Five Stones, Zero-point, Hopscotch at the Kampung Games by UCares at the Ubin Assembly Area.
When: 22 June 2024, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm
How much: Free!
If you are planning to head to Pulau Ubin during the June school holidays, you can find out more about Pesta Ubin. Or if you just want to visit and enjoy the island on your own, you may enjoy our stories on lesser known sights on Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa, cycling at Pulau Ubin, the Ketam mountain bike trail, camping on Pulau Ubin, and our overview of Pulau Ubin.
