World City Guide

Special Events

Ponggol, Hindu Harvest Festival, mid-Jan, various locations
Lunar New Year Light-Up, colourful display to celebrate the Lunar New Year, mid-Jan/early Feb, Chinatown and various locations
Chinese New Year, late Jan/early Feb, Chinatown and various locations
Hari Raya Haji, celebrating the return of pilgrims from Mecca, late Jan (10 days earlier each year), various locations
Singapore River Raft Race, a race with rafts made from recycled rubbish, Feb, Singapore River
Singapore International Festival for Children, two-week festival, Mar, various locations
Birthday of Lao Zi, one-week Taoist festival to worship founder, Mar, throughout the city
Singapore International Comedy Festival, two-week comedy festival, mid-late Mar, various venues
Singapore Fashion Festival, two-weeks late Mar-early Apr, various venues, especially shopping malls
Singapore Food Festival, four-week festival (website: www.singaporefoodfestival.com.sg), late Mar-Apr, various locations
International Latin Festival, two-day festival with music and stalls, early Apr, Fort Canning
Qing Ming Festival, Chinese community gives thanks to the ancestors, early Apr, various locations
Singapore International Film Festival, two-week film festival (website: www.filmfest.org.sg), mid-Apr
Singapore Rugby Sevens (website: www.sru.org.sg), Apr, National Stadium
Vesak Day, commemorating Lord Buddha’s entry into Nirvana, mid-May, all Buddhist temples
Singapore Airlines International Cup, world’s richest horse race (website: www.turfclub.com.sg), mid-May, Turf Club
Singapore Arts Festival, three-week festival of international dance, music and drama (website: www.singaporeartsfest.com), late May-mid Jun, various locations
Great Singapore Sale, annual two-week shopping bonanza, (website: www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg), late May-Jun, Orchard Road and various locations
Starlight Cinema Festival, one-month season of outdoor screenings, (website; www.starlightcinema.com) from mid-June, Fort Canning Green
Singapore Dragon Boat Festival, dragon boat racing which commemorates the search for Chinese poet and patriot, Qu Yuan, (website: www.sdba.org.sg) mid-Jun, starts Marina Promenade
International Piano Festival, (website: www.pianofestival.com.sg) Jul, Victoria Concert Hall
Festival of the Hungry Ghost, month-long Taoist festival, with street banquets and operas, from late Jul/early Aug, various locations
National Day Celebrations, (website: www.ndp.org.sg), parade, 9 Aug, National Stadium and various locations
WOMAD Singapore, festival with international performers, (website: www.womadsingapore.com), late Aug-early Sep, Fort Canning Park
Lantern Festival, late Aug-late Sep, Chinese Garden
International Guitar Festival, early Sep, various venues
Mid-Autumn Festival, week-long festival celebrating the year’s fullest moon, Sep, Chinatown and various locations
Birthday of the Monkey God, procession, late Sep, Temple of the Monkey God, Seng Poh Road
Nine Emperor Gods Festival, images of the nine gods paraded in sedan chairs, mid-Oct, Nine Emperor Gods Temple
Deepavali Light-Up, annual celebration features a three-week festival, early Oct/Nov, Little India
Hari Raya Light-Up, Muslim families celebrate Hari Raya Puasa, the end of Ramadan, early Nov 2005 (10 days earlier every year), Geylang Serai
Singapore River Buskers Festival, mid-Nov, Singapore River
Christmas Light-Up, festive lights for Christmas throughout the city, mid-Nov-Dec
Singapore International Marathon, (website: www.singaporemarathon.com), early Dec, starts National Stadium New Year’s Eve, countdown party, 1 Jan, Suntec City