Back for its eighth edition with a mission to educate Singaporeans on sustainability issues, this year’s DBS Marina Regatta features a 23,000 sq ft maze made of recycled material. Participants will only have 12 minutes to test their fitness skills and knowledge on environmental issues while overcoming physical obstacles within the maze.

After that, treat yourself to a smorgasbord of food dished out by second generation hawkers, from carrot cakes to fresh seafood to halal kebabs. Finally, unwind to the sweet and melodic voices of more than 20 young buskers, who will be performing around the bay.

When: May 31 – June 2
Where: The Promontory@Marina Bay 
Entry: Free, more information can be found here.

Make your own glutinous rice dumplings the traditional way at this year’s Wan Qing Dumpling Festival! Held in conjunction with Children’s Season 2019, an annual family-friendly festival organised by the National Heritage Board, the festival boasts an exciting weekend of fun activities everyone can enjoy. Besides hands-on workshops, there will also be music and storytelling performances, a caricature station, carnival games, a heritage walking trail (in English and Mandarin) and more.

When: June 1 – 2
Where: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Entry: Free, registration and payment required for certain activities. For more information, go here. 

READ MORE: 9 Unique Bak Changs To Surprise Your Family During Dragon Boat Festival

No time to go Japan for the June holidays? You can still relish in its culture at Resorts World Sentosa’s first-ever Summer Matsuri. Expect over 38 different Japanese foods, ranging from award-winning donburis (rice bowls) to delicious grilled seafood from Hokkaido and lipsmacking desserts.

There will also be cultural performances such as the Tokyo Koenji Awa-Odori Dance and Akita Kanto performances that you can enjoy while enjoying a cup of sake or two. We hear there will be two premium Japanese sake labels that will be featured exclusively at the event — Ginrei Gassan Kuro Label Daiginjyo Sake GSS 133 and Ginrei Gassan Ao Label Daiginjyo Sake GSS 132 — so keep your eyes peeled for them.

When: June 6 – 9 
Where:  The Forum, Resorts World Sentosa 
Entry: Free, go here for more information.

Need somewhere to let your kids run wild, have fun and expend their energy? Bring them to the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay this upcoming Children’s Festival where the area will be transformed into a carnival based on the upcoming Toy Story 4 movie.

Inspired by characters such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear, there are various exciting activities, including Bo Peep’s Adventure, an obstacle course, and carnival game booths. Finally, finish the day with a special Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 4-inspired edition of the Garden Rhapsody, a light and music show also inspired by the movie.

When: June 15 – 30
Where: Gardens by the Bay
Entry: Free, go here for more information.

With over 30 albums under her belt, Cantopop superstar Karen Mok is coming back in Singapore with a concert to celebrate her 25th anniversary. It could also be her final show here as the songstress announced her retirement from touring earlier this week.

Who would have thought the bombshell songstress was in the industry for that long? The two-time Golden Melody Awards Best Female Singer is also the creative director of her concert, where fans can look forward to both her classic favourites and newest hits. We hear that there will also be a special musical highlight at the concert that combines western and oriental musical styles such as tango, opera and Chinese folk music.

When: June 15
Where: Singapore Indoor Stadium
Entry: Tickets cost upwards of $108 via Apactix.

READ MORE: Adele To Whitney: 12 Iconic Female Grammy Performances That Gave Us Chills

Remember the glamorous, OTT yellow dress that Rihanna wore to the 2015 Met Gala that later spawned a flurry of memes? It was created by Chinese couturier Guo Pei, who will be showcasing her 29 embroidered couture creations as part of Asian Civilisations Museum’s Season of Chinese Art. Not only can you learn more about Chinese artistic traditions and how Guo Pei uses culture and traditions to imbue life to her works, this is probably the closest we can get to encountering Riri in real life.

When: June 15 – Sept 15
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum 
Entry: $12 for Singaporeans and PRs, $20 for foreigners. More information can be found here.

From creating different sounds with a ping pong ball on wind chimes to crossing a 16-metre bridge that looks down into an endless rock formation, these are just two of the 11 interactive installations created by 13 local and Southeast Asian artists at the National Gallery as part of their 2019 Gallery Children’s Biennale.

Aimed at triggering a child’s imagination with fun, inspirational and educational artworks, the Biennale is a place for the young and the young at heart to discover the world round them. There will also be screening of films in collaboration with Singapore International Children’s Film Festival, alongside other exciting tours and artist-led workshops.

When: Now till Dec 29
Where: National Gallery Singapore
Entry: Free for Singaporeans and PRs, more information can be found here.

Get ready for a night filled with exhilarating dance and energetic music performances with Inala, a production that is a unique combination of South African and Western cultures. Twenty five dancers, singers and musicians will be performing choreography created by multiple award-winning Mark Baldwin OBE and current and former members of the Royal Ballet and Rambert, with music by The Soweto Gospel Choir.

When: June 19 – 22
Where: Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands
Entry: Tickets cost upwards of $55 via Sistic.

Experience French beauty up close at L’Occitane’s first ever beauty market in Singapore! The image above is an artist’s impression of what the space will look like, which will be crafted to look like a farmer’s market in France, perfect for tons of Instagram photo ops. Discover the natural, fresh ingredients that go into making all of your favourite hand creams and other products by the brand, and maybe pick up something or two while you’re there.

When: June 27 – 9 July
Where: ION Orchard B4 Atrium 
Entry: Free

Here’s another place to let your children (and yourself) develop their interest in the arts — the Goodman Open House is back with The Play-full Edition. You can expect over 20 workshops from learning how to make rubber stamps to how perfumes are made to making your own wind-chime. Plus there are a whole host of performances for you to enjoy too, including dance, drama and music.

When: June 22
Where: Goodman Arts Centre 
Entry: Free, registration and payment required for certain activities. Visit their website for more information.

Fans of xinyao and classic Chinese hits will love this jazzy production conducted by music director Jeremy Monteiro, and associate music director Weixiang Tan. Guest vocalists include singer Joanna Dong, who was a finalist in the Sing! China competition, US-based Melissa Tham and Jasmine Chen, one of the singers from Crazy Rich Asians. You will be treated to a night of songs from recent Chinese hits to classic favourites from singers such as Teresa Teng, Tracy Huang Ying Ying and Fong Fei Fei.

When: June 8 – 9
Where: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Auditorium 
Entry: Tickets cost upwards of $38 via Sistic.

Admirers of the Japanese culture have to mark this Sake Festival in their calendar. Over 450 labels of Japanese sake — from small, niche names to well-known modern breweries — will be available for tasting at the event. To complement the drinks, there will also be food and snacks cooked on the spot by well-known Japanese restaurants in Singapore. And bring your credit cards too because the event will be cashless.

When: June 22
Where: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 406
Entry: Last admissions will be at 4.30pm and you can get the tickets at $40 each via Sistic.

Carve your own rubber stamps, dye tote bags, or learn how to create unique woven coasters at multiple malls across Singapore this June. The workshops are held over several weekends in the month, but you’ll need a minimum spend in order to qualify, and slots are on a first-come-first-serve basis with limited seats, so be sure to go early!

When: Multiple weekends in June
Where: Various Frasers malls, including The Centrepoint, Changi City Point, Waterway Point, YewTee Point and Northpoint City. 
Entry: You’ll need a minimum spend of $30 in a single transaction to register. For more information, go here. 

Did you know: 25 per cent of Singapore’s land come from our land reclamation efforts? In partnership with local artist Charles Lim Yi Yong, the Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden at the National Gallery Singapore will be showcasing an installation that features the plants found in the reclaimed areas, such as Changi, Tuas and the Southern Islands. Not only will you get to learn more about the biodiversity that Singapore has to offer, the exhibit also aims to look at the history and narrative of land reclamation efforts.

When: Now till Oct 27
Where: National Gallery Singapore 
Entry: Free, go here for more information.

Photo: @nationalgallerysingapore/Instagram

Text: Ho Guo Xiong and Elizabeth Liew