With TWO public holidays to look forward to in May (Labour Day and Vesak Day), you officially have more time to spend with the kids. And May promises to be a fun-filled month, with plenty of events to keep the whole family entertained. We round up 13 of the best family-friendly things to do around Singapore:
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Planning your June vacay? Well, Klook has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to let us know that there is more to Thailand than just Bangkok. Don’t believe it? Then head down to Klook’s week-long pop-up at Plaza Singapura where the travel booking platform has set up a series of travel talks by organisations such as The Travel Intern and Tripcanvas to share with you various other places and activities you can do in Thailand. There will be also be cooking demos by Baan Ying Restaurant and cultural performances, amongst many other activities.
When: 21 – 26 May
Where: Plaza Singapura
Entry: The event is free and you can get more info via Klook’s Facebook.
This Tony and Olivier award-winning musical needs little introduction. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical hit Phantom Of The Opera — which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018 — returns to Singapore once again to charm its audiences with its heartbreaking story and soaring musical pieces. The musical traces the life of a disfigured musical genius who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House. He falls deeply for a young soprano, Christine, but she loves another. The 37-strong cast will be supported by an 11-piece live orchestra. To get in the mood, you can try watching Nicole Sherzinger performing as Christine with four “Phantoms” at the 2011 Royal Variety Performance on Youtube.
When: 24 April – 8 June
Where: Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands
Entry: Tickets cost upwards of $75 via Sistic and Marina Bay Sands website.
Touted as Singapore’s largest farmers market, this festival is THE place to be if you’re all about that urban farming life. Browse and shop from over 90 local brands ranging from artisanal food to sustainable living, learn tips and tricks on growing your own food at home and so much more. Plus, there are tons of activities to keep kids entertained! Go here for more information.
When: 11 to 12 May
Where: Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre
Entry: Free
Catch the works of this beloved children’s author onstage in The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, Canada. Presented by Act 3 International, the production promises loads of educational fun for kids aged three to six. Showtimes vary.
When: Until 12 May
Where: Victoria Theatre
Entry: Tickets start from $18 for a child or adult, and there’s an option for a backstage tour as well. Book here.
It’s the biggest Hari Raya Bazaar, with about 500 stalls in and around the new Wisma Geylang Serai (where Malay Village used to be). The good news is that rents are lower, walkways will be bigger and there will be spaces to break fast during the holy month of Ramadan. Most stalls this year will feature more traditional Malay goodies and treats. While you’re there, enjoy the lovely Hari Raya light up along Geylang Serai as well. Go here for our top food recommendations!
When: 3 May – 5 June
Where: Wisma Geylang Serai
Entry: Free
With Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds voicing Pikachu in this live action movie, you can expect lots of wisecracking humour –kid-friendly, of course. In a world where people and Pokemon live together, Detective Pikachu helps Tim Goodman find his missing policeman dad. Part of the fun is seeing your fave Pokemon come to “life”!
When: From 9 May
Where: Cinemas islandwide
Watch the trailer below:
Don’t miss these kid-friendly events at SIFA: Watch Peter and the Wolf, which remakes Sergei Prokofiev’s symphonic fairy tale using puppetry and live videography (ages 5 and up; tickets from $30). Free events include We Can Dance, an interactive performance installation; De Relaxerette (pictured), where you lie in a hammock and listen to sounds and stories from Singapore and the Netherlands (ages 6 and up); and the Festival Closing Concert on June 2 at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
When: 16 May – 2 June
Where: Multiple locations
Entry: Prices vary. Get more information here.
This popular annual concert returns to the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Mother’s Day, May 12. Admission is free, so secure your seats early before the 6pm start time. The one-hour celebration features Singaporean talents, including 11-year-old prodigy Chloe Chua, who won the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in 2018, tenor Jonathan Charles Tay and baritone Martin Ng. There will be pre-concert performances at 5.45pm by Symphony 924 Young Talents Project alumni, soprano Lauren Yeo, Alyssa Goh and the Strings Sisters. Find out more here.
When: 12 May
Where: Singapore Botanic Gardens
Entry: Free
The annual Children’s Choir Concert by the Singapore Lyric Opera is back. Tune in to the beautiful young choral voices as they perform tunes such as Everybody Rejoice from the movie The Wiz and How Far I’ll Go, the Grammy award-winning song from Disney cartoon Moana. Conducted by chorus mistress Rose Loh, the Children’s Choir will be joined by guest singers from St Margaret’s Secondary School and Raffles Girls Primary School.
When: 25 May
Where: Victoria Concert Hall
Entry: Tickets cost upwards of $20 via Sistic.
Hari Raya Puasa is on June 5, but you can start the celebrations early at this event from 1pm to 5pm. Listen to traditional Malay folk stories, play up, and silkscreen a tote bag with motifs from the new the Islamic Art Gallery.
When: 25 May
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum
Entry: Free
The National Gallery Singapore’s Gallery Children’s Biennale returns for a second season, with 11 interactive artworks by Singapore and Southeast Asian artists. These include Chance Operations, which allows kids to compose their own tunes by using 300 ping pong balls to hit the chords of a colourful formation of wind chimes. It’s the work of Singapore’s representative at the 2019 Venice Biennale, Ang Song-Ming. Click here for details.
When: 25 May – 29 Dec
Where: Various locations
Entry: Entry is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents; foreigners pay $20.
Kumoya Cafe changes its theme every 3 months or so, and this time, it’s transformed into world’s first pop-up featuring a collaboration between Precious Moments and Care Bears.
When: Until 30 June
Where: Kumoya @ 8 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199320
Giant teacups, costume displays, animation, puppetry and a myriad of audiovisual and light projections — these are just some of the many exhibits that you can interact with at Artscience Museum’s collaboration with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Celebrating Lewis Carroll’s 1865 classic tale, Alice In Wonderland, get ready for a colourful and mind-boggling experience as the show brings you through the various iterations of Alice in popular culture. Find out more here.
When: Until 22 Sep
Where: ArtScience Museum
Entry: Tickets start from $11.
Text: Young Parents / Additional reporting: Elizabeth Liew and Ho Guo Xiong