Bored recently? Perhaps wanting a little spontaneous excitement? Take a peek at our Try What Now list — a series dedicated to showing what you (and your family and friends) can experience for the coming month!
This May, take advantage of all the holidays that fall within the month with the various experiences on offer, such as one that celebrates Singapore’s rich culture and history or another that navigates the digital space.
1. Singapore HeritageFest 2022
Singapore HeritageFest 2022 is the 19th edition of the longstanding event. This year focuses on shining a light on Singapore’s travel evolution through the years and the country’s vast natural heritage.
A lineup of activities has been prepared for this year, including heritage and cultural trails, hands-on workshops, video documentaries, tours, exhibitions and digital programmes. Go on a trail across Sentosa to see the island’s various changes, or hop on board a train to learn about Singapore’s lesser-known travel and tourism facts.
Date: Now till 29 May 2022
More information and registration for the event can be found here.
2. Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s May Concerts
Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) enters May with a flurry of performances to get your ears off on a high note. This month includes concerts by SSO Principal Flutist Jin Ta, who combines with Chief Conductor Hans Graf to bring French composer Jacques Ibert’s 1934 Flute Concerto to the fore. Also on show is The SNYO Percussion Ensemble, which brings avant-garde composer John Cage’s works to life!
Date: Various dates across May
More information on the complete list of programmes can be found here.
3. Cultural Extravaganza 2022
Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) celebrates its 5th anniversary with a bang! Their premier event, Cultural Extravaganza, brings 14 different programmes for the public to experience over 38 days, headlined by stars like singer Marcus Lee and actors Andie Chen and Ayden Sng.
Programme highlights include Shadow Moon, a contemporary musical using a unique hybrid of upbeat alternative music and xinyao poetry that tells the tale of two youths in love — with the cast of Bonnie Loo, Sugie Phua, Audrey Luo, Timothy Wan, and Andy Yew performing. Another treat is Mythology RElooked, where you delve into the world of Chinese mythology through an interactive art experience with the help of augmented reality (AR) technology.
Date: 13 May to 19 June 2022
Location: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Blvd, Singapore 018906
More information on the complete list of programmes can be found here.
4. Digital for Life Festival
The Digital for Life Festival is an event that celebrates the digital lifestyle with live-stream sessions, webinars and workshops that help to bring people closer to embracing and adopting digital for their lives. One of the highlights includes an interactive experience created by the LEGO Group that kids can enjoy as they learn online etiquette through a series of videos and minigames.
Date: 21 to 29 May 2022
More information on the complete list of programmes can be found here.
5. Wan Qing Dragon Boat Festival 2022
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the oldest and most famous cultural festivals. Now, you too can further envelop yourself in its electric atmosphere with live performances, cultural workshops, heritage walking tours, storytelling sessions, and more — particularly during the festival’s weekend open house.
There are food trails to savour the gastronomic delights of Balestier, where you can visit and sample bites from heritage shops such as Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory and Sweetlands Confectionery and Bakery while learning their food history. Young ones can even build their own Dragon boats using recycled materials with a special workshop by Tan Beng Tian (theatre practitioner and co-founder of The Finger Players).
Date: 21 May – 3 June 2022
More information on the festival can be found on Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall’s official website.
6. Hari Raya Open House 2022 – #LastKopekRayaFest
Continue the Ramadan celebrations with the Hari Raya Open House at the Malay Heritage Centre, both onsite and online. Experience live performances, vibrant art installations, fun drop-in craft workshops, and storytelling sessions amidst a “last kopek” weekend atmosphere.
Date: 27 to 29 May 2022
Location: Malay Heritage Centre, 85 Sultan Gate Singapore 198501
More information can be found on Malay Heritage Centre’s official website.
Liked any of the selections we have for you this month, or have others you think we should include in this list or the next? Let us know @ [email protected], or slide into our DMs on Facebook and Instagram. See you next month!
Visuals courtesy of National Heritage Board, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, IMDA, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, and Malay Heritage Centre (in order).
*Article updated with corrected name
