It’s almost spooky season! Although our local Gates of Hell at Universal Studios (aka Halloween Horror Nights) will be closed this year, there are still many cool spaces, online portals and events, that are looking forward to having you in their programmes.
Check out the best things to do this October!
Mid-Autumn Festival at Gardens by the Bay
No doubt you’ve noticed the colourful lanterns hanging all over town that are shining brighter than ever! Take part in the autumn festivities held until 4 October at Gardens by the Bay, where you can witness about 2,000 hand-painted lanterns light up as the sun goes down. There are also a series of online virtual programmes that are taking the place of annual live performances and activities that would usually take place at the Gardens.
Sky High Hawker
Enjoy local delights with a view on 3-4 October, set atop the iconic Marina Bay Sands where some of Singapore's best chefs and local hawkers whip up their best dishes. Sample the creations of 2am:dessertbar's Janice Wong, New Ubin Seafood's Pang Seng Meng, One Prawn Noodle's Gwyneth Ang, Café Mariam's Hassan Abdul Majeed, Haron Satay's Lynna and Shima Haron, and even a bao-burger from Chef Joey Sergentakis. If you need a cocktail or or two? Leave it to resident mixologist Andrew Hyman and Brass Lion Distillery's Kino Soh.
President’s Star Charity
Mediacorp's annual flagship fundraiser is back this year with a star-studded line-up headed by award-winning Scottish crooner Lewis Capaldi and Indonesian pop powerhouse Rossa. Spotlighting the message of 'Believe You Can', the President's Star Charity aims to encourage self-belief and empowerment, trusting that even the tiniest acts can bring big, positive changes.
The benefit concert will be broadcasted live on Channel 5, MeWatch, and MeWatch's YouTube channel on October 4 at 7.30pm, with TV presenter Diana Ser and singer-actor Fauzie Laily as your hosts.
Around the World in 80 Days
AndSoForth is back! This new immersive dining theatre experience is based on the adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days. Unlike the usual book club, this one features the use of costumes, set designs, and cuisines to interpret the famous novel, so come with an empty stomach. While there are more hands-on activities to partake, there will be no live performances this time due to the current regulations. And like any AndSoForth experiences, the secret location will be disclosed to ticket holders within 24 hours before the workshop.
Flock at the Nest
For the discerning music fan open to new sounds, Flock at The Nest is a digital concert and intimate showcase for musicians to present original compositions live. Get to know artists such as multihyphenated star Benjamin Kheng, singer-songwriter Lewloh, and R&B darling Marian Carmel as they reveal different sides of their artistry in a cosy set-up at a new space – The Nest, housed within Pasir Panjang Power Station, which is preserved in all its industrial glory.
da:ns festival
Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a newbie, the annual dance festival will open your mind, uplift your spirit, and get you moving with a series of performances and workshops – even if it's all held online. See dance reimagined with a Zoom boogie, pop and lock with a Japanese street dance quartet, follow a traditional Balinese dance, learn from a creative workshop and dancers of Company Wayne McGregor, and catch a glimpse of a ballet star's everyday life.
Singapore Chinese Film Festival
To accommodate movie lovers and filmmakers during this time, the eighth edition of the Singapore Chinese Film Festival is holding both online and in-cinema screenings for the first time. Screened at Filmgarde Bugis+, and streamed on Shaw KinoLounge, the festival highlights 33 films, with an added bonus of complimentary admission to the Amoy Dialect Classics discussions and all online Q&A sessions.
Singapore Writers Festival
Get your nose out of your books, because it’s almost time for the 23rd edition of Singapore Writers Festival. Like many other events this year, the festival will be held in a digital format. Inspired by this year's theme of 'intimacy', international headliners will include the author of best-seller White Teeth, Zadie Smith, and poet of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Life on Mars, Tracy K Smith.
Halloween Fun For Everyone
Halloween Horror Nights might be cancelled this year, but that doesn't mean there can't be some halloween fun and trick-or-treat adventures around Universal Studios Singapore, complete with free candies, gummies, and chocolates! Back by popular demand, Minion Monsters Tricky Treats takes centre stage once again with FrankenBob, Stuart Mummy, and Kevin Dracula in their Halloween costumes.
S.E.A. Aquarium’s Deep BOO Sea
S.E.A. Aquarium is celebrating Halloween too with Deep BOO Sea, where you'll come face-to-face with some of nature's scariest-looking marine animals such as the Japanese warbonnet and the wolf eel. There are also other activities such as a treasure photo hunt where you seek the lost pearls that are hidden within five habitats in the aquarium. For every riddle solved and pearl found, you stand a chance to win a mystery gift!