The Singapore Night Festival (SNF 2024) is back in the Bras Brasah.Bugis precinct from 23 August to 7 September 2024. Taking place over three weekends, festival-goers can head to over 50 programmes including the usual projection mapping artworks, performances, Festival Villages, Night Lights installations and partner programmes.
Singapore Night Festival 2024 – Perfect for the September School Holidays
This year’s Singapore Night Festival 2024 is in its 15th edition. Inspired by the historical significance of BBB as the birthplace of some of Singapore’s first schools, including Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ), St. Joseph’s Institution and Tao Nan School, the theme explores the Art of Play.
The precinct’s rich educational history is illuminated through engaging and immersive artworks that deep dive into the concept of play and childhood.
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What is different about this year’s SNF is an additional weekend to explore offerings with the activation of new spots, a new late-night Festival Village, Bugis Street Art Lane and more. This means more things to do for the September school holidays!
Here are our top family-friendly picks for a playful night out with the fambam!
Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia
Get transported to the whimsically charming amusement parks of Singapore’s yesteryears as local contemporary artist Sam Lo “SKL0” presents Wonder World – The Machine Nostalgia. Immerse yourselves in a nostalgic wonderland complete with rides, game stalls, nostalgic trades and even a wrestling ring with a unique twist – wrestling performances and poetry performances fused!
Wonder World reimagines the entrancing magic of 1950s “great world” amusement parks in Singapore. Visitors can ponder the co-existence and balance between preserving heritage and embracing modernity, as well as think about the place of nostalgia in today’s society.
How about checking out the Meritocratic Gift Shop, game stalls that challenge achievement-focused culture or The Bizarre Bazaar where a quirky experience awaits?
Venue: Cathay Green
Dates: 23 to 25 August, 28 August to 1 September, 4 to 7 September 2024 (Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays)
Time: 7.30 pm to 11 pm (Last admission is at 10.45pm)
Ticketing:
- A minimum of one set of tokens is required per person for entry to this zone, serving as an entry charge. These tokens are not tied to individual visitors and can be transferred between families and friends. Visitors are allowed to remain in the gated area even if tokens have been exhausted.
- Early Bird Ticket Pricing at $20 from 17 July to 17 August
- Ticket Pricing at $25 from 18 August to 7 September
- 20% discount for first 100 tickets paid using Samsung Pay per night on site
Night Lights Installations
One instagrammable highlights of Singapore Night Festival 2024 will be Night Lights, with 10 site-specific luminous installations, inspired by the concept of play. Stroll to the installations on a breezy evening.
The Happiest Days of Our Lives, Stamford Arts Centre
First stop at Stamford Arts Centre (SAC), The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Rizman Putra evokes childhood nostalgia as it showcases images from the early 60s to 90s with vintage illustrations.
Scents of Being, National Design Centre Atrium
Don’t forget to make a stop to this olfactory encounter by Aesop. This highly sensory experience delves into the intricate relationship between scent and selve. Within a mystical forest, each of Aesop’s eleven perfumes inspired by myth, poetry, art or nature acts like a guiding light in the darkness, sparking curiosity and illuminating paths into uncharted realms.
Opera in Motion – A Dynamic Tribute to Chinese Opera, National Design Centre Courtyard
We recommend this interactive installation where one can cycle to activate the lights and check out the zoetrope! Check out a tricycle stacked with tarpaulin-covered boxes, and two zoetropes showcasing the movements of opera performers. Pedalling on the tricycle activates a mesmerising light projection of an illustrated Chinese opera scene on the centre’s walls. Ambient melodies and festive lighting complete the immersive experience. Opera in Motion blends tradition with modern innovation, offering a captivating journey through the world of Chinese opera.
Visitors also can scan the QR codes at the installation to discover more about the history of Chinese opera in Singapore through materials from the National Library (NL) and National Archives of Singapore (NAS). To find out more about the inspiration and creative process behind the installation, join the artists at the Opera in Motion: Artist Talk at the National Library Building’s Possibility Room on 24 August.
Delulu High, Bugis Street Art Lane
Next, get “Delulu High” at Bugis Street Art Lane. Inspired by the inner child with shared hopes and dreams, the creative installation transforms a gymnasium spaceto a place that is light, soft and feminine. Festival-goers can explore the Disco Bus and Affirmation Steps after, reimagining the dreaded part of school into playful and healing experiences.
Red House Café Raffles City
Red House Café pays tribute to the iconic Red House Bakery that once graced the site of Carlton Hotel. Have a giant slice of LED-lit cake at Raffles City while you learn about the history of Red House while surrounded by the energy of a modern-day café.
Through the Rose Window, Waterloo Street
Referencing the Waterloo Street chapel’s history as a school, this video-installation takes inspiration from In and out of Cherry Window, a singing game commonly played by school girls in the past. Games such as this played were ones that fostered bonds through creativity and imagination. From 1891 to 1925, the building was temporarily occupied by the first Methodist Girls’ School, while its original location at Short Street was undergoing renovations to accommodate more students.
First Flight, SMU’s Yong Pung How School of Law Building
The larger-than-life illuminated plane is an interactive installation that pays tribute to the vibrant play history of BBB and its schools. Remember the days of flying paper aeroplanes with your friends? Reminisce the past while envisioning the future of play.
Step into First Flight, an interactive installation that pays tribute to the vibrant play history of BBB and its iconic schools. This artwork celebrates the unbridled creativity of childhood, where paper planes symbolise the imagination and dreams that once soared through the former school grounds in the area.
As part of the initiative to surprise and delight in the BBB precinct, the larger-than-life illuminated paper plane seeks to radiate a sense of wonder, transforming the ordinary to inspire joy and imagination. Reminisce the past while envisioning the future of play in this immersive installation.
Festival-goers can fold their own paper planes and glide them in the middle of the installation.
Fortune Beads, Funan Mall
This gamified installation is great fun! Touch as many illuminated beads as possible, accumulate points to achieve the highest score. The engaging experience combines elements of strategy, agility and fun, challenging participants to test their skills and compete for fortune. The bears were inspired by beads of the abacus, a calculating tool still used today. The tool of commerce is a reference to the location of Funan Mall which was formerly Hock Lam Street, a popular food street for the pioneer generation.
Look Up, Sunbear! YMCA
A sunbear in town? This captivating sculpture by artist Tobyato was inspired by his artist residency at YMCA @ One Orchard. The sun bear carries the symbolism of strength, courage, wisdom and a love for nature. Engage with the sculpture through AR filters and lights.
Projection Mapping
Projection mapping installations are a festival staple you can’t miss. The installations will illuminate the facades of two cultural buildings – CHIJMES and Peranakan Museum both of which were once schools.
CHIJMES
CHIJMES will come alive with four captivating works: PINBOLA, Play Downstairs, A Whimsical Playground and A Prototype of Play. See familiar toys such as a pinball machine filled with childhood toys and artefacts, animations inspired by the magic of children’s imagination, ordinary objects transformed into gateways of extraordinary journeys and our ever-playful minds capable of creating games and finding joy.
The Peranakan Museum
The Peranakan Museum will be hosting a projection mapping work for Singapore Night Festival for the first time. The façade will feature a co-created work by regional artists and international collectives titled Between Threads. It celebrates intricate artistry and diverse perspectives of Peranakan communities.
Festival Villages
Singapore Night Festival 2024 will have four festival villages, including the debut of a late-night Festival Village Twilight Playground @ GR.iD. All four Festival Villages will feature Night Lights, performances and a diverse array of food experiences.
Here are the Festival Villages we recommend for families!
SMU Arts Fest 2024: PLAY
With an art installation, stage shows and a Food Village, this is where you can hang out for some music, dance and even a dragon playground inspired installation for more fun.
PLAY BACK revisits iconic eras from the 1960s to the 2000s, experience captivating music, dance and visual spectacles inspired by schoolyard games, Singapore heartlands, and entertainment scenes.
Dates: 30 & 31 August, 6 & 7 September
Timings: 8 pm, 9 pm, 10 pm, 30 minutes per session
Venue: SMU Campus Green
FREE PLAY is an enchanting outdoor installation inspired by the iconic dragon playground. The immersive experience celebrates the essence of free play, and invites participants to explore interactive elements that spark the imagination and embrace the transformative power of play and artistic expression.
Dates: 30 August to 7 September
Timings: All Day
Venue: SMU Campus Green
PIXEL PARADISE
Armenian Street will be transformed into Pixel Paradise. Inspired by the Peranakan Museum’s beaded objects and retro video games, immerse in a pixelated universe of playfrul art and gamified experiences.
Visit Children’s Museum Singapore and Peranakan Museum after hours too!
Dates: 23 August to 7 September
Time: Extended museum hours until 11 pm on 30 to 31 August & 6 to 7 September
Family-Friendly Partner Programmes: A Vibrant Showcase of Community-led Activations
Watch the line-up of performances across the festival’s weekends which celebrate creativity, heritage and the community.
A Date with Tradition
Learn juggling, pick up Korean folk art painting and catch Chinese Opera at Stamford Arts Centre. Discover Korean traditional art of MinHwa and participate in drop-in craft activities. Parents and children can design a drawstring pouch, master circus skills, play classic childhood games, watch an engaging storytelling accompanied by traditional instruments, and create vibrant pieces inspired by MinHwa.
Venue: Stamford Arts Centre
Dates: 23 to 24, 30 to 31 August & 6 to 7 September 2024
Timings: 6 to 10.30 pm on 23, 24, 30 August & 6 September, 3 to 10.30 pm on 31 August and 7 September
Ticketing: Most programmes are free
The Voices of Singapore Festival
Singapore’s largest non-competitive choral event, will be taking place alongside SNF for the first time. Expect activities like concerts, singalongs, solo and a capella performances.
Venue: CHIJMES Hall, Capitol Singapore Outdoor Plaza, VOS Capitol Studios
Date: 2 to 5 September 2024
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm
Ticketing: Paid & Free Admission
nesting, resting, 1 2 3!
This child-friendly performance will make us reflect on how we play, nest and open up our worlds to welcome new friends into our lives and communities
Venue: Lewin Terrace, entry through Children’s Museum Singapore carpark
Dates: 23 to 24 August, 30 to 31 August, 6 -7 September
Installation: 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm (last admission at 10 pm)
Performance: 7.45 pm to 8.15 pm, $5 per pax
The Tree of Dreams
This performance is a sequel to last year’s Singapore Night Festival of The Bird, The Squirrel and the Sambar Deer of Bukit Larangan. Join the animals and a young camper to find the Tree of Dreams and uncover the mysteries behind it.
Venue: Along Fort Canning Rise
Date: 23 to 24 August, 30 to 31 August, 6 to 7 September
Timing: 8.30 pm to 9 pm
Open House at Children’s Museum Singapore
Hooray! Children’s Museum Singapore is open to grownups! Head there for an evening of free access during the weekends of SNF.
Date: 23 to 24 August, 30 to 31 August, 6 to 7 September
Timing: 7.30 pm to 10 pm
Re:Play AT SG
Immerse yourself in Singapore’s rich history with All Things Singapore. Visit the National Library and National Archives of Singapore to relive and reimagine our vibrant heritage. Enjoy art installations, celebrate Singapore’s stories and experience the magic of childhood.
Library Party After Dark will include a line-up of dance performances on 23 August, with Silent Disco and Chinese opera performances on 24 August. Visit the interactive installation of nostalgic games like pick-up sticks, five stones and marbles, at the Atrium! Read more information about Re;Play.
Venue: National Library Building & National Archives Building
Timing: 7 pm to 11 pm
Board Games, Retro Arcade & Lego Workshop at National Museum Singapore
Moondeck’ Board Games Bar
Enjoy some screen-free bonding time on the museum’s roof deck at Moondeck’ Board Games Bar! Run by the Mind Café, families can enjoy board games, food and drinks and a view by the moonlight.
Venue: Sundeck, Level 3
Dates: 23 to 24 August, 30 to 31 August, 6 to 7 September, charges apply
Retro Arcade Zone
Relive memories with Dance Dance Revolution, BIshi Bashi, Daytona and other games at the Reto Arcade Zone.
Venue: Glass Atrium, Level 2
Dates: 23 to 24 August, 30 to 31 August, 6 to 7 September
Ticketing: Entry is free, duration of play and number of game tokens will be restricted
LEGO Workshop: Riotous Playground Fun
Join in a unique LEGO-building workshop with acclaimed Brick Artist Jeffrey Kong from Artisan Bricks Singapore. Tracethe evolution of play and create memories together to build iconic sandpit playgrounds of yesteryear.
Venue: Reunion, Level 1
Dates: 31 August & 7 September, 8 to 9.30 pm
Ticketing: $43.60 per adult-child pair, for ages 8 and up
Head on down to Singapore Night Festival 2024, 23 Aug to 7 Sep
Singapore Night Festival 2024 will be running from 23 August to 7 September 2024, the festival has free admission with selected ticketed programmes which are available for purchase.
Visit the Singapore Night Festival 2024’s website for more details. Or you may also enjoy reading about Festival at the Fort, being held in conjunction with Singapore Night Festival.
