Have you been bored recently? Want a little spontaneous excitement? Then, peek at our list of Try What Now — a series dedicated to showing what you (and your family and friends) can experience in Singapore for the coming month!
It’s already December! Just. Like. That. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – travel season, incredible sales, and, of course, the Christmas festivities! If you’re not travelling this holiday season, end the year with a smash with exhilarating events. ‘Ho, ho, ho’ it out at Christmas Wonderland and Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland, party your heart out at Zoukout 2023, and let your inner geek shine at Singapore Comic Con! And so much more comes your way this month. Behold, the final Try What Now guide of 2023!
Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay
We simply cannot begin this guide without mentioning the most magical event of the year! Every year, Christmas Wonderland does something we all thought impossible – bringing Christmas down to our tropical, (extremely) sunny Singapore.
Watch the Supertrees come to life during Garden Rhapsody to the beat of Christmas classics. Walk through the mesmerising, ethereal 65-metre-long Walk of Lights tunnel, now longer than ever before. Hop onto five amusement rides at Frosty’s Fairground for an unforgettable adventure. Have a go at carnival games at the Supertree Grove and Frosty’s Fairground at The Meadow. Shop, dine and be entertained by performances by local artists. Such is the allure of Singapore’s biggest yuletide event – there’s so much to do and something for everyone!
Date: 1 December 2023 to 1 January 2024
Location: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Price:
- Advance booking
- Adult – S$8 (1 Dec to 14 Dec 2023), S$12 (15 Dec to 25 Dec 2023), S$10 (26 Dec 2023 to 1 Jan 2024)
- Child – S$6
- Same day booking
- Adult – S$12 (1 Dec to 14 Dec 2023), S$14 (15 Dec to 25 Dec 2023), S$12 (26 Dec 2023 to 1 Jan 2024)
- Child – S$6
For more information, stay tuned to their official website and Instagram, Facebook and TikTok pages. Gardens by the Bay has even got you covered with directions on getting here. Whether for a romantic date or a fun hangout with friends and family, this enchanting experience is as Christmas as Christmas gets in Singapore!
ZoukOut 2023
The biggest dance party of the year has arrived. Everyone, ZoukOut is here! Asia’s longest-running dance music festival has returned for its 20th edition, and it’s tomorrow! In fact, ZoukOut 2023 will be Singapore’s first-ever sunset-to-sunrise party!
Imagine this. You watch as day turns into night, and under the hypnosis of the star-studded sky, you dance in the heart of a pulsating music festival with beats so hard your body can’t resist the spell of music. The air is charged with anticipation; tangible electricity courses through your soul as you dance like no one’s watching. Dance the night away with performing acts like Alesso, FISHER, and Dutch DJ Martin Garrix, who has performed at music festivals like Coachella and Ultra Music Festival.
Date: 2 December to 3 December 2023
Location: Siloso Beach, Sentosa, 51 Imbiah Walk Singapore 099538
Price:
- VIP Oasis – 1 Day: S$488
- Standard – 1 Day: S$188
- Student – Bundle of 4: S$141
- VIP Oasis – 2 Day: S$888
- Standard – 2 Day: S$298
*Tickets available at the time of writing
*No admission for individuals below 18 years old
Check out all things ZoukOut on their official website, Instagram and Facebook pages. Do you feel the adrenaline building up? Ready for partying like never before? Get your tickets now before they run out! (Impulsive purchases are always the best ones!)
Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland
Shifting gears back to the holiday festivities, another Christmas favourite returns to Singapore, and this time, bigger and better than ever with a 600-square-metre expansion and new additions that will redefine the magic of ice! Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together for the return of Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland!
This year’s rendition sports new attractions like the eight-metre-long Merry-Go-Round on Ice, a 98-metre-long Snow Slope, Singapore’s largest. A Double-Lane Couple Ice Slide, where you can glide hand-in-hand with your partner or bestie. And finally, Ice Magic’s Wooden Cottage mimics a cosy cabin day in the snow. End it all off with an Arctic light show display during the last hour of your session! Right outside the venue, enjoy the Winter Food Village with ten winter-themed culinary delight kiosks – from frosty corndogs to mulled wine!
Date: 9 December to 21 January 2024
Location: Bayfront Event Space, 12A Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018970
Price:
- Early Bird Ticket: S$29 (limited availability; while stocks last)
- Entry into the Winter Food Village is free.
| Day | Price of Regular Tickets |
| Weekdays | S$39 for adults, S$29 for children |
| Weekends | S$39 |
| Public Holidays and Eves: | S$49 with one cup of free hot chocolate |
Opening Hours:
- Ice Magic Experience: 10am to 7pm
- Winter Food Village: 10am to 10pm
Like what you’re hearing? Want to immerse yourself in the ultimate winter experience in Singapore? Buy your tickets now on SISTIC and keep up with every update on their Instagram and Facebook pages!
Space Fest @EXPO
Oh my! Singapore’s largest indoor space-themed carnival is here, and you’re welcome to take on this holiday season! Say hello to Space Fest @EXPO, where stars await you with over 20 space-themed carnival rides by Singapore’s leading (and our favourite!) carnival organiser, Uncle Ringo! 10,000 square metres of exhibition hall space into an intergalactic playground with vibes and aesthetics like no other.
Where there’s a carnival, there’s more than just the rides. Feast on intergalactic treats, beverages, and gourmet food-truck delights at the Zero-G Bistro, or head to the Aurora Bazaar, a buzzing marketplace perfect for some festive shopping and self-care goodies. Get ready for a (inter)stellar line-up of live entertainment and stage performances by local bands such as Jive Talkin’, Shaggies and The ETC at the Space Beats stage only on the weekends.
Date: 2 to 31 December 2023
Location: Singapore Expo Hall 6, 1 Expo Dr, Singapore 486150
Price: Free
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday: 1pm to 9pm, Friday to Sunday: 11am to 9pm
Head to the Singapore Expo’s official website for all the details. Moonwalk your way there for a time like no other amidst the stars! The stars are the place to be, aren’t they?
Singapore International Film Festival
Film buffs, unite! Your time has come! Proudly presenting a diverse selection of 101 films from 50 countries, the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) brings forth its tradition of celebrating the incredible art of storytelling through films once more.
As part of the 10th Singapore Media Festival, feast on their myriad of programmes put together just for us film fanatics. Dive headfirst into Singapore’s experimental filmmaking history in the Not Housed: History of Experimental Cinema in Singapore Exhibition. Celebrate the craft of storytelling through acting with actress Fan Bing Bing, the recipient of the SGIFF’s Cinema Icon Award in her self-curated film highlights. Enjoy the highlight of the Festival, the Asian Feature Film Competition!
Date: 30 November to 10 December 2023
Price:
- Festival Opening: S$25
- Special Presentation: S$20
- All Other Films: S$15
- In Conversation: Fan Bingbing: S$10
There’s so much more we can’t possibly write in full, so check out SGIFF’s official website, Festival Guide and Festival Calendar for everything you need to know, from locations and timings to programmes and screenings! And stay tuned to their Instagram and Facebook pages for all the updates.
A Universal Christmas by Universal Studios Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore (USS), you have done it once again. You prove just how you make every occasion better – whether it’s Halloween or Chinese New Year. And now, you’ve done it once again with Christmas! USS brings us A Universal Christmas!
Become besties with your favourite DreamWorks’ Trolls in their tree-trimming party filled with glitter and music. (Yes, you’re invited!) Watch Santa do what he does best at Santa’s North Pole HQ and follow him to deliver larger-than-life gifts to some of our favourite characters. Santa also makes our dreams come true with an inexplicable snowfall! And capture memories with holiday-themed character encounters all around the park, from Shrek and Princess Fiona to Bumblebee the Transformer.
Date: 2 December 2023 to 1 January 2024
Location: Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
Price:
- Adult (Ages 13 and above): S$92
- Child (Ages 4-12): S$71
For more information on what to expect and other packages, check it out on Universal Studios Singapore’s official website! Going on adrenaline-pumping rides, watching the snow fall, visiting Santa and his headquarters – ah, the perfect Christmas!
Singapore Comic Con
Comic-Con? In Singapore? Oh, yes! Singapore Comic Con (SGCC), previously known as Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention, is Southeast Asia’s biggest celebration, bringing you the best Western and Asian pop culture! Also part of Singapore Media Festival, get to see toys, collectables and comics to esports and cosplay; there is something for everyone to experience.
Bluey, the world’s favourite blue puppy and award-winning sensation that has won the hearts of so many families around the world, is returning to the big stage at SGCC, along with a “Bluey Live Experience”. Catch an immersive 3D experience of Lil Wild, a Mediacorp okto favourite! Don’t miss the SGCC 2023 Cosplay Competition, where your favourite characters come to life in an awe-inspiring marriage of creativity and imagination.
Date: 9 and 10 December 2023
Location: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956
Price:
- SGCC 1-Day Ticket: S$35
- SGCC 2-Day Ticket: S$65
- SGCC 1-Day Ticket + 1 hour early access on 9th Dec: S$45
- SGCC 1-day ticket + 1 hour early access on 9th Dec (For Frank by OCBC Card Members): S$42
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm
For all the hot deets, check out SGCC’s official website, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok pages. Let your inner child out at this wondrous experience!
EOY J-Culture Festival 2023
Calling all J-pop and anime lovers! Gather with your fellow J-fans and weebs for self-made performances, cosplay, illustrations, photography, and more at the EOY J-Culture Festival, Singapore’s largest non-profit annual Japanese pop-culture festival! Get ready for non-stop entertainment with talents from Singapore and all around Asia.
Aside from performances, look forward to the Creators’ Alley, where over 130 exhibitors present a magnificent array of J-culture merchandise, ranging from official anime merchandise to original artwork and doujin works by self-made creators from Singapore and the region. With guests like Miko and Lilia from Japan and The Glass Girls (Mint & Kaimook) from Thailand set to grace the event, this is bound to be a banging end to your year!
Date: 30 December to 31 December 2023
Location: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 403, 1 Raffles Boulevard Singapore 039593
Price:
- 1 Day Pass: S$21.27 (inclusive of S$2.22 booking fee)
- 2 Day Pass: S$41.02 (inclusive of S$2.22 booking fee)
- Premium Pass (2 Days): S$138 (sale valid till 30 December 2023)
Feel your inner fangirl or fanboy shaking with excitement? Check out Events of the Year’s official website, Instagram and Facebook pages for more.
SmileyWorld Town at Downtown East
Easties, your wish has been granted. This Christmas, Downtown East brings you an array of delightful activities at SmileyWorld Town!
Giant SmileyWorld Floats. A five-metre-long Ball Pit. Life-sized Jenga. A photo booth with six unique types of photo strips. An interactive board. Claw machines with amazing goodies. So much fun awaits you at SmileyWorld Town, where you’re bound to leave smiling from ear to ear! Come with family or bring your friends and immerse yourself in the togetherness of Christmas at Downtown East!
Date: 1 December 2023 to 1 January 2024
Location: Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Cl, Singapore 519599
Price: Free entry (S$10 per session in the photo booth)
Check out Downtown East’s official website for more information. Sometimes, it’s the little things that make Christmas very special. Sometimes, it’s the big things, like giant floats and giant Jenga!
The Christmas Atelier 2023
It’s not Christmas without shopping! Shop till you drop at The Christmas Atelier 2023, Singapore’s favourite holiday market! The Atelier and Co.’s 7,000-square-foot space has been transformed into a shopper’s paradise this holiday season.
Featuring over 40 exciting Singapore brands and artisans, expect to find winter sweets and treats and everything in between. This year’s theme is Santa’s Toy Factory, so don’t be surprised if you see Santa’s elves and helpers in your very midst! Shop for stunning flora from The Floral Atelier, customise your leather products with Bynd Artisan, or get your kids all fitted up for the countless Christmas dinners and reunions at Maison Q. All this and so much more awaits you at what is promised to be a sensory experience!
Date: 1 December to 3 December 2023
Location: The Atelier & Co., 2 Alexandra Road Delta House, 8th Floor, Singapore 159919
Price: Free (Registration is compulsory)
Learn everything you need to know at The Atelier & Co.’s official website. ‘Girl Math’ is spending all the money you’ve saved throughout the year during the holiday season to beat the gloom of the impending year because mental health is priceless. So don’t hold back! Shop till you drop!
Like any of the selections we have for you this month, or should we include others in this list or the next? Let us know at [email protected], or slide into our DMs on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. See you next month!
Visuals courtesy of Christmas Wonderland, Space Fest @EXPO, Singapore Media Festival, and Universal Studios Singapore.
