Couldn’t get tickets for the National Day Parade this year? Have no fear – here are some alternative ways to celebrate Singapore’s 52nd birthday.
1. Celebrate in style at The Great Singapore Cookout.
9 August 2017 | 6pm – 11pm | Wood & Steel Gastrobar, Stewords Riverboat at 31 Marina Coastal Drive Berth 1, Marina South Pier, Singapore 018988 | Call 6278 5775 or email them for reservations. | Tickets: $52++ (Adult); $28++ (Children 12 years and below); $45++ (Students/Seniors above 60 years old)
Want to catch the National Day Parade in style and have a feast of epic proportions? Wood & Steel Gastrobar is hosting an all-you-can-eat buffet at its unique venue on Stewords Riverboat, a “floating” restaurant so to speak. Besides a stunning view of the Singapore skyline at night, you can also expect to indulge in an impressive spread of signature local dishes – such as Satay, Sambal Stingray, Popiah and Rojak. Not a bad way to show some patriotism eh?
The National Day Parade will be streamed lived at the venue via a projector, and thanks to the restaurant’s close proximity to Marina Bay, you will also be able to enjoy the iconic fireworks display at night.
(Source: Stewords Riverboat Facebook)
2. Get nostalgic at the Sentosa Heritage Carnival 2017.
4 to 13 August 2017 | 11am – 9pm | Sentosa, Palawan Green (Beach Station) | Free Admission (Sentosa entry fee applies.)
Fancy a #throwback to old school Singapore? Sentosa’s Heritage Carnival 2017 will take you back in time to post-war Singapore, when our island nation was but a simple fishing village. Snap a selfie with the ‘villagers’, marvel at the retro exhibits and celebrate Singapore in the best way possible – with a feast of local delights, of course. The National Day Parade will also be broadcast live on 9 August on the facade of iFly Singapore – and hey, if you stick around until nighttime, you might be able to catch the Merlion Magic Lights Show (a strangely trippy but cool experience nonetheless).
(Source: Sentosa Official Facebook)
3. Feast on local food at Marriott Cafe’s National Day Buffet.
9 August 2017 | 12pm – 3pm (Lunch); 3pm – 6pm (Afternoon Tea); 6pm – 10pm (Dinner) | Marriott Cafe at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865 | Price: From $48++ per person. Make your reservation here. For enquiries, call 6831 4605.
If you want to skip all the festivities and get straight to the food (#yasss), you’ll be pleased to know that Marriott Cafe is rolling out a special menu for National Day. The curated selection of food will include iconic local dishes, Mod-Sin cuisine and some International picks.
There are three seatings on National Day (Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner), but you can look forward to highlights like Singapore Chilli Crab, Hokkien Mee, BBQ Sambal Stingray and lots more.
Singapore Chilli Crab (Source: Marriot Cafe at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel Facebook)
4. Relive your school years at the National Day Mass Jumping® Workout 2017.
6 August 2017 | 9am – 7pm | Sports Hub, OCBC Square (outside Kallang Wave Mall) | Tickets: $3 per person. Register for the event here.
Remember how you had to do the Great Singapore Workout in school? Well, you can relive the experience (and burn some serious calories) at JumpLah! Singapore, a mass workout centred around a trampoline. Feeling skeptical? Trampoline workouts actually work most of the muscles in your body, so you get the benefits of both cardio and strength exercises.
Each session is about 50 minutes long, and sessions run from early morning until the evening on 6 August 2017. It also costs next to nothing to join a class, so no excuses now – it’s time to sweat it out in preparation for all that National Day feasting you know you’ll be doing.
(Source: Jumping Singapore Facebook)
5. Get revved for retro at the NKF Long Long Time Ago Charity Carnival.
5 to 6 August 2017 | 11am – 8pm | Marina Barrage at 8 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018951 | Free Admission
This National Day, give your parents or older relatives something to reminisce about at the NKF Long Long Time Ago Charity Carnival. The event will pay homage to Singapore in the 70’s and 80’s, with retro-themed food and snacks, a flea market and a screening of Jack Neo’s nostalgic film, Long Long Time Ago. There will also be a trampoline and bouncy castle for the kids (or kids at heart, ahem), so this is the perfect excuse for a day out with the family. Funds raised from the event will go towards patients with artificial kidneys.
(Source: NKF Singapore Facebook)
6. Pay tribute to the Garden City at the Majulah Picnic Party.
9 August 2017 | 4pm – 8pm | SAFRA Toa Payoh at 293 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 319387 | Email them for more information. | Free Admission
While we never say no to a little air conditioning around here, sometimes it’s good to get out for some fresh air. After all, we are the Garden City – so why not celebrate National Day with a picnic party? SAFRA Toa Payoh will be hosting a picnic party for all, with food, festivities and fun activities for the whole family. There will also be a live screening of the National Day Parade, so you can still enjoy your favourite Parade moments with friends and family.
(Source: SAFRA Toa Payoh Facebook)
7. Celebrate Singapore culture with Army Daze 2.
4 – 20 August 2017 | Drama Centre Theatre, #03-01 National Library Building, 100 Victoria St, Singapore 188064 | Tickets: from $43. Get your tickets here.
Singapore’s favourite play on National Service returns to the stage once again, this time with a brand new script and original music to enthral audiences. Michael Chiang’s Army Daze 2 reunites all your favourite characters for a major #throwback, with plenty of nostalgic moments and army jokes packed into this highly-anticipated sequel. The play is directed by Beatrice Chia-Richmond and will showcase original songs by Don Richmond. The line-up of actors also includes some of Singapore’s best, such as Hossan Leong, Shane Mardjuki, Chua Enlai and Oon Shu An.
(Source: Sistic)
8. Support a local film by catching Wonder Boy in cinemas.
Now showing in leading cinemas.
Benjamin Kheng and Julie Tan star in Wonder Boy, a coming-of-age tale about an aspiring musician in 1970s Singapore. The film is loosely based on local singer-songwriter Dick Lee’s personal story, and is incidentally directed by him as well. While Wonder Boy hasn’t received rave reviews so far, the story offers a different perspective on the Singapore story. Besides, don’t you want to see Benjamin Kheng looking ultra toot in his mushroom hairdo?
