Here are 17 things to do to make the best out of your upcoming long weekend!
With National Day just around the corner, we've included some additional activities for you to enjoy during the upcoming long weekend!
Count us lucky that attractions and activities are slowly opening up as we transition further into Phase 2, just in time for the upcoming long weekends! While going on a staycation is the current craze around town, check out these exciting activities that can be experienced online or offline too!
Celebrate National Day
1. NDP2020
Being held across the island, NDP2020 is going to be one special event! Taking place throughout the whole day, NDP2020 begins in the morning with the Prime Minister's speech followed by a parade at the Padang reviewed by the President.
As the parade goes into the heartlands this year, you might just catch a glimpse of the F-15SG fighter jets and the State Flag Flypast as they make their way around the country.
Picnic Spots to catch the National Day Flypast:
- Gardens by the Bay East
- Marina Barrage
- East Coast Park
- Sentosa Beaches
- West Coast Park
- Pasir Ris Park (State Flag Flypast Only)
- Changi Village (State Flag Flypast Only)
- Punggol East
- Punggol Settlement (State Flag Flypast Only)
- Lower Seletar Reservoir
Also travelling across Singapore is the Mobile Column featuring 66 assets from the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force.
Besides the parade, you can enjoy some home engagement activities together with your family in the afternoon and catch the live broadcast of the celebratory show on TV and online at 7pm!
Event Duration: 9 August 2020
Admission: Free
Event Page: NDP2020
2. Catch the fireworks
Video by CNA
Traditionally carried out at the Parade's venue you'll have to either be at the parade, travel to the parade's vicinity or live near the central area to enjoy the National Day fireworks display. However this year, you can enjoy this magnificent spectacle from your own home!
Being fired off from 10 locations across the heartlands, be sure to stand by your window or head over to an open space to fully enjoy the show.
Fireworks Location (Rough): Jurong West, Jurong East, Ang Mo Kio, Marsling, Yishun, Marine Parade, Punggol, Sengkang, Bedok, Tampines
Event Duration: 9 August 2020
Admission: Free
Event Page: NDP2020
3. National Gallery light up
If you've happened to pass by any iteration of the Singapore Night Festival before, you'd know how amazing the National Gallery looks when it's shrouded with lights and cool designs!
To commemorate Singapore's 55th year of independence and our spirit of resilience during these trying times, the facade of National Gallery Singapore will be illuminated in the national colours of red and white in a show of solidarity.
Event Duration: Until 30 August 2020 (7pm - 12 midnight daily)
Admission: Free
Event Page: Gallery Light up
4. Gardens by the Bay National Day Concert
Coming to you live from Gardens by the Bay, kick back, relax and enjoy performances by some of your favourite local artists like Nathan Hartono, Taufik Batisah and Yung Raja from the comfort of your home!
Hosted by Jean Danker, the concert also features performances from local stars like Desmond Tan and Felicia Chin. Not forgetting a special rendition of 'Home' by President Halimah Yacob too. Talk about a star-studded cast!
Event Duration: 10 August 2020, 8pm
Admission: Free
Event Page: Gardens by the Bay National Day Concert
5. Madame Tussauds
It's not every day that you get to see our Prime Minister up close and even take a selfie with him! Well, a wax figure of him at least.
Spend this National Day long weekend at Madame Tussauds with your family or friends and meet some of your favourite stars up close, maybe take some funny selfies with them too!
With our ongoing National Day promotion, enjoy a Family 4-in-1 combo with free ice cream for $50 OR a Friends' 4-in-1 combo with free snacks for $55!
Promotion Duration: 3 - 10 August 2020
Admission: Family Combo ($50), Friends' Combo ($55)
Event Page: Madame Tussauds
Participate in a festival
6. Singapore Science Festival
Get your goggles and gloves out because you’re going to be in for a fun day of hands-on learning with your kids! The sky’s the limit we say, as nurturing a sense of curiosity and dreaming big are part of the theme of this year’s Singapore Science Festival.
With the festival being fully digital, go on a virtual journey to experience, engage, and explore the power of science, all from the comfort of your own home!
Event Duration: 25 July - 8 August 2020
Admission: Free
Event Page: Singapore Science Festival
7. Singapore Heritage Festival 2020
Video by Singapore Heritage Festival
Have you ever been curious about learning more about your town? Although we’re a relatively small and young nation, there’s still much to discover about our rich history! From kampungs to our colonial days, there’s a story to be told from every street and building around this tiny red dot.
Browse through collections of old photos or tune in to a live video session to learn more about our unique Singaporean culture.
Event Duration: Until 31 December 2020
Admission: Free
Event Page: Singapore Heritage Festival
8. Virtual Italian Film Festival
Video by KVIFF
With cinemas reopening in recent weeks, we are finally able to head out to catch our favourite movies! And we can honestly tell you nothing beats the satisfaction of a large screen and surround sound system.
If you’re a film buff and want to watch some arthouse films, check out the Virtual Italian Film Festival that is a collaboration between The Projector and the Embassy for Italy. With the Projector’s new streaming platform, kick back and enjoy the long weekend binging on these curated films.
Event Duration: 30 July - 30 September 2020
Admission: Opening Film (Free), Subsequent (Pay-per-view)
Event Page: Virtual Italian Film Festival
Can’t get enough of movies?
Enjoy the great outdoors
9. #SGOutrunCovid Virtual Race
It’s great to get out of your home to enjoy the fresh air and greenery of Singapore every once in a while, we do have some beautiful parks here! While you’re at it, you can even participate in the #SGOutrunCovid virtual race in support of our frontline workers!
All you need to do is clock a minimum of 1km for your run and send it via DM to the SGOutrunCovid’s Instagram page. New Balance will donate 50 pairs of shoes to local frontline medical workers for every collective 10,000km clocked, up to 350 pairs of shoes.
Event Duration: 15 June - 8 August 2020
Admission: Free
Event Page: #SGOutrunCovid Instagram Page
10. Island Hopping
Video by NParksSG
Did you know that Singapore has a whopping 64 islands around it! While most of them are landfills or uninhabited islands, there are a few that’s worth visiting. Perfect for a day trip, head over to these islands for a quick escape from the bustling city!
Check out our Southern Islands and Pulau Ubin Guides
11. Go cycling
Judging from the bicycles we see on the roads these days, it’s safe to say that cycling has gained some popularity over the circuit breaker period! Being a great form of exercise and also perfect for discovering new sights that you wouldn’t have seen on public transport, use this long weekend to explore every nook and cranny of Singapore!
12. Visit the Istana
Video by The Straits Times
We can hear the roar of fighter jets in the sky, see flags being hung from windows and notice iconic songs playing at NTUC, this only means National Day is coming soon! As a yearly tradition, the doors of the Istana would be open during this period for visitors to take a look at one of Singapore’s oldest heritage sites!
Due to the Circuit Breaker, this year’s open house would be held online instead, via President Halimah Yacob's Facebook and Instagram pages to boot! Join our President as she takes us on a tour around the Istana on 2 August.
Event Duration: 2 August 2020
Admission: Free
Event Page: https://www.istana.gov.sg/
Have a blast with these exciting activities!
13. Wild Wild Wet
Video by TUBERIDES
With Singapore’s weather being at a constant HOT, there’s no surprise that we love our water sports! Take a trip down to the East this long weekend to enjoy one of Singapore’s biggest water parks. Relax as you float along the lazy river or if you’re up for it, challenge yourself to one of Asia’s longest free-fall water slides.
14. Skyline Luge
Video by HEL
Feel the wind in your hair and the thrill of overtaking your friends as you race down the slopes of Sentosa! If you don’t have a licence and want to experience what driving is like, the Skyline Luge is the perfect activity for you!
15. S.E.A Aquarium
Video by CoralFish12g
Spend a day out with your family to learn more about the amazing world of marine animals at one of the world’s largest aquariums! With more than 1,000 underwater species including manta rays and whale sharks to amaze at, you’ll definitely have a bubblin time at S.E.A Aquarium!
If you plan of exploring more of Sentosa!
16. Universal Studios Singapore
Video by sherrybyw
If there’s one place in Singapore where we could get lost from fun and excitement for the whole day, it’s got to be Universal Studios Singapore! Having just reopened last week to the public, extra safety measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of park-goers. Now, excuse us as we see how many times we can take Battlestar Galactica in a row!
17. Jewel Changi Airport
Although we can't travel at this point in time, making trips to the Airport might just curb our appetite for travel right? All jokes aside, a trip to Jewel would offer you so much more than plane-spotting!
For some fun with the family, explore the Canopy Park with your kids and get the best view of the fountain too. You can also explore the various delicious dining options like Shake Shack and A&W, because it's not every day that you go to Jewel.
