Hello, August! This month, Singapore is turning 49, and there’s no better way to celebrate our beloved city-state’s birthday than by going loco local. From tasty eats to homegrown flicks and the hottest bands, here are 10+1 ways to show your love for all things Singaporean:
Equinox
1. Eat like a patriot.
You’ll be spoilt for choice this month with the slew of National Day dining promos up for grabs, from ritzy restos in the sky to terrific spots to load up on some bubbly. Or whip up your very own National Day-inspired meals in (what else) red and white – our HoneyKids meal planner will come in handy.
2. Do the mambo jambo.
Zouk’s days might be numbered, but that the party ain’t over yet: they’re bringing back popular synchronised dance party Mambo Jambo on the eve of National Day (8 Aug). Get groovy and start prepping those signature ‘Square Room’ moves, stat. #SaveZouk
3. Go back in time to Singapore in the ‘70s.
Travel back to a time when bell-bottoms and coke-bottle glasses were fashion staples in Dick Lee’s musical comedy Hotpants (14-30 Aug). Follow three mother-daughter pairs and their hilarious ups and downs as they experience life in a land where strange new pop music, modern morals, and shorter hemlines are all the rage.
Zouk
4. Rock out to local music.
The IGNITE! Music Festival (15-16 Aug) at Republic Polytechnic has got us all in a tizzy, and with good reason. With an exciting line-up of local artistes – 53A, Charlie Lim, and The Sam Willows included – this free event will definitely have people turning up in droves, so grab admission tickets quick and head down early.
5. Watch a made-in-Singapore film.
Revamp your film diet by heading to First Take @ The Substation (16 Aug), which is screening five local films about different facets of life in our little red dot. Check out Afterhours, a film on Singapore’s invisible force, aka foreign workers, by a team of students from NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication Studies. Admission is free.
6. Support creative local talent.
Creatory Festival (23-24 Aug) is a two-day affair that showcases the work of 60 creatives in food, design, art, music and more. From live art installations to yummy grub from Singapore’s most popular chefs, Creatory will house the best of the best in Singapore all under one roof.
Mid-Autumn Festival
7. Stuff yourself with mooncakes.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with this traditional treat at the Mid-Autumn Festival (we’re partial to the alcohol-infused ones). Grab a paper lantern – or try making your own – and soak up the sights at Chinatown’s Mid-Autumn Festival (23 Aug-28 Sep). The official opening ceremony on 24 Aug will have a dragon dance performance and a spectacular fireworks display.
8. Celebrate Malay culture.
With the Hari Raya festivities going on in full swing, the Pesta Raya Malay Festival of Arts (28 -31 Aug) will give you an inside peek into Malay arts and culture. Free performances will take place at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre or Concourse – make a trip down and enjoy cultural song and dance performances by Sriwana and the Great Malay Songbook.
9. Sing along to xinyao.
The xinyao movement, now in its 32rd year, is arguably one of the most popular youth music subcultures here. Enjoy these pleasing Chinese pop harmonies that began in the mid-1980s in post-war Singapore at the Xinyao Reunion Concert (30 Aug).
Kampong Buangkok
10. Visit our last kampong (and take lots of #throwback photos).
If you have an insatiable thirst for adventure and love finding out about Singapore’s heritage, this one’s for you. Kampong Lorong Buangkok, off Yio Chu Kang Road, is our last remaining kampong and might disappear soon, since it has been identified as an area for redevelopment since 2009. This sleepy village, housing only a handful of friendly Chinese and Malay families, will charm you to no end.
11. Hang the Singapore flag proudly.
Love this country you call home? This might be a no-brainer, but we’re still saying it: fly the national flag proudly outside your home or office. Extra brownie points if you know what the crescent moon and five stars symbolise!
Main image: 53A