The best things to do in Singapore this week (Nov 18-24)

If you’re up for a cinematic journey to France without the long-haul flight, then be sure to check out the upcoming vOilah! French Film Festival from November 14 to 30, 2024. This year marks its 40th anniversary, featuring a handpicked lineup of 36 films that will whisk Singaporeans off to the heart of French cinema. This year's festival has a lineup that spans both box office hits and indie gems. For those who want to get behind the scenes, three French stars – Franck Dubosc, Camille Razat, and Mélanie Robert – will be attending screenings and sharing insights. For its finale, the festival teams up with the Singapore International Film Festival (SIFF) to screen Spirit World, a French-Singapore collaboration film by local director Eric Khoo, starring none other than Catherine Deneuve – a fitting close to a festival that celebrates cultural connections and timeless storytelling, if we do say so ourselves.

Find out more about vOilah! French Film Festival here.

Prepare to be whisked away at the unveiling of The Macallan Harmony 4: Vibrant Oak. From November 22 to 24, The Macallan House Singapore transforms into an immersive oak forest, where the rich oak story behind this legendary single malt scotch whisky comes to life. For just $30, you’ll enjoy a dram of the brand-new Vibrant Oak – delighting you with notes of vanilla, citrus, and sweet oak – as well as a cocktail on the side. Members of The Macallan Society will also be treated to an additional exclusive cocktail. Aged in first-fill American and sherry-seasoned oak casks, this whisky is a tribute to nature’s beauty and craftsmanship. And the best part? You can also bring home a bottle of the magic. Vibrant Oak is available for purchase at The Macallan House and online.

Yet another luxury fashion brand is getting into the Christmas spirit and we’re all for it. First Christian Dior’s Christmas Star at Ion Orchard and now Ralph Lauren’s 16-metre-tall Holiday Tree at Jewel Changi Airport’s famed Forest Valley. The specially-designed centrepiece promises a spectacular sight against the popular Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Take part in the festivities at the Holiday Postcard Printing Kiosk. Have fun customising postcards with pictures of you and your loved ones and have them personalised and printed at the Polo Ralph Lauren store on level one of Jewel Changi Airport. Be quick as the experience ends on December 31, 2024. Aside from customising postcards, you can also personalise your Polo apparel and accessories, like tees and water bottles, at the Polo Custom Pop-up, running until February 16, 2025 at the store.

In less than three weeks, Wine Connection – the largest wine retail chain in Southeast Asia – will be bringing back its annual wine-tasting fair to Singapore. The two-day event will take place on November 23 and 24 at Wine Connection Bistro at Robertson Walk. As part of the fair, wine lovers will be able to sample over 170 labels of wine, 40 of which are exclusive sneak peeks of Wine Connection’s upcoming 2025 collection. Participants will also get to interact with 30 winemakers and estate representatives. Looking to delve deeper into the world of wine? Join a masterclass (from $80) with special sessions hosted by industry experts. Tickets for Wine Connection’s annual tasting are priced at $49.90 per person. Find out more and get your tickets here.

Something’s cooking on Siloso Beach and you don’t want to miss it. The much-anticipated seventh edition of Sentosa GrillFest is back with over 30 vendors and four food zones, serving everything from smoked meats and flame-kissed sides to freshly grilled seafood and even charred desserts. Feast on dry-aged beef burgers and beautifully seared short ribs. For surf without the turf, chow down on freshly charred Boston lobsters served with addictive garlic butter.

Over at the international village zone, expect to get a taste of tacos, tandoori, and more bites from a range of cuisines. What’s a grill festival without icy cold ones and sweet treats to polish off the meal? Grab a tiramisu cone or head to the brew island zone for craft beers from Clumzy Plumzy x Sigcoco or favourites like Chang.

While you munch away, enjoy live performances by local bands and even a thrilling fire show. When you need a break from the feasting, head to the jumbo-sized single-player beer pong to win free beer or discounted drinks from the bar. Find out more here.

Get ready to spread the festive cheer because the highly anticipated annual Christmas on A Great Street returns on November 9 with a stunning 14-metre-tall outdoor Christmas tree and several weekends of live performances, pop-ups, attractions, and more. This year’s Christmas on A Great Street includes the ever-popular Great Christmas Eve Street Party, two Great Christmas Villages, must-see outdoor augmented reality (AR) projections, countdowns for Christmas and the New Year, and a new bar-hopping event. Look forward to two Great Christmas Villages – one at Shaw House Urban Plaza and the other at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza. You’ll want to have your phones out to view a special immersive AR projection of golden sparkles, snowflakes and fireworks raining down on the façade of Hilton Singapore Orchard. Find out more here.

The stunning Gardens by the Bay is set to get even more magical this festive season. For the first time in Singapore, get ready to see all your Disney and Pixar favourites come to life at the floral wonderland’s new Garden of Wonder. Whether you’re a fan of the iconic Mickey Mouse or Toy Story characters, visit this showcase to see them come to life in the form of charming plant sculptures, also known as topiaries. As if it couldn’t get any cuter, there’s also a Flavours of Singapore zone that features Disney characters in a local setting – look out for Donald Duck and his plate of chilli crab and catch Stitch feasting on durians. Commemorate your visit by picking up some exclusive Disney-themed merch at the floral, Disney-themed pop-up store. Get in on the magic here.

It’s a good time to be a pet pawrent. If you’ve already added Singapore’s largest indoor dog pool to your list of places to bring your fur kid, make sure to add Singapore’s largest outdoor dog playground to it as well because Paws & Play is the place to be at this holiday. Best of all, entry is free. Your pup gets to roam free across 2000 square metres at The Oval in Seletar Aerospace Park, featuring larger-than-life, Instagram-worthy installations like an enormous dog bowl, a giant doghouse, and towering four-meter-high mushrooms.  Thrilling adventures aside, you’ll also want to unwind at pet-friendly restaurants within the park, or lounge on The Oval’s lawn picnic-style with bites. Visit on December 15 to catch a festive market hosted by The Summerhouse where you can shop for all your last-minute gifts, from toys and handmade jewellery to pet treats and accessories.

If you’ve always yearned to visit Korea’s famous Snoopy Garden – a sprawling nature park in Jeju full of Peanuts-themed character installations – here’s your chance to do so without setting foot on a plane. You’ll now be able to find life-sized installations featuring Snoopy & Friends, which are currently scattered across the Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise as part of the comic franchise’s 50th anniversary celebrations. This gamified experience includes trails with checkpoints and digital missions. Upon successful completion of all the tasks, you’ll be rewarded with exclusive Snoopy keepsake badges. Along the way, you'll come across a handful of photo spots featuring the endearing Peanuts gang. Get excited because the zoo's Glamping in the Wild sessions are back, this time in a special Snoopy edition. Find out more here.

Our white Christmas dreams have come early because Snow City, Singapore's favourite indoor snow attraction, has just gotten a fresh revamp and it’s looking dreamier than ever. Expect four new themed adventure zones like Glacier Rush, an adrenaline junkie’s haven – whizz down a brand new 120-metre-long Glacier Luge beside the winter wonderland’s iconic snow hill slide. The Snow Village houses a mini illuminated ice maze and a majestic ice castle, with snowfall sessions that are sure to be met with awe by the little ones. Find out more about what you can expect from this winter wonderland that’s already open to the public here.

You won’t need to book a flight to the Philippines to see some of the country’s most stunning orchids – known for being among the most beautiful in the world. Just head down to Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest from now until January 2025 to enjoy some of the country’s most exquisite orchids on display. With the help of 20 Filipinos, from domestic workers to students from the NUS Filipino Cultural Club working alongside resident horticulturists, Gardens by the Bahay Kubo: A Fiesta of Orchids will showcase more than 40 Philippine orchid varieties, including iconic species from the Vanda, Dendrobium, and Phalaenopsis genera. The display’s namesake, the Bahay Kubo, takes centre stage amidst the orchids. Also, be sure to visit soon, as there's a limited time for the blooming of the Waling-waling, a coveted orchid species affectionately known as the Queen of Philippine Flowers and revered by the indigenous Bagobo people. Find out more here.

ArtScience Museum presents The World of Studio Ghibli, from October 4, 2024 to February 2, 2025. This will be Studio Ghibli’s first ever showcase in Singapore and also one of its largest editions to date, exploring its iconic animation and storytelling. The upcoming iteration will also feature new additions from Studio Ghibli’s latest film The Boy and the Heron.

Put your comfiest shoes on because the huge exhibition spans 2,400 square metres, across 11 galleries. Dive into the world of 11 famous Ghibli films like My Neighbour Totoro (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997), and Spirited Away (2001). Visitors will be able to meet their favourite characters and immerse themselves in 16 large-scale interactive theatrical sets from various iconic films throughout the studio's history. And that’s not all – enjoy 16 art installations that will take you through Studio Ghibli’s creative processes, and grab yourself official merchandise at the retail store. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ArtScience Museum’s webpage here.

A festive mood is bubbling across the island – cue Orchard Road’s annual light-up and Gardens by the Bay’s Christmas Wonderland. These are classics, but Changi Airport sings a cuter tune with 2024’s edition of Changi Festive Village. Instead of going with a typical wintry theme featuring Santa and Frosty mascots, Singapore’s airport has decided to honour Hello Kitty – the cult-favourite Sanrio character who’s celebrating her 50th anniversary this year. She's joined by friends like My Melody, Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll and more throughout the rest of the airport’s terminals. The Sanrio fun continues with a themed carnival featuring Hello Kitty and the gang, meet-and-greet sessions, and pop-up merchandise stores – not one but three in total. Find out more about the Sanrio-themed Changi Festive Village 2024 here.

From October 17 to the end of December, head to any Shake Shack store islandwide to get a taste of the highly-anticipated collaboration menu between beloved burger brand Shake Shack and the popular Keng Eng Kee Seafood. You’ll find a series of zi char-inspired menu items like the white pepper beef burger ($11.80) and the coffee-glazed chicken burger ($11.80). Both items are inspired by the restaurant’s famous white pepper crab and coffee pork ribs respectively. On top of that, snacks like the coffee-glazed chicken bites ($9.10) and white pepper fries ($6.80), doused with Keng Eng Kee’s house white pepper sauce and topped with spring onions, will also be available.

As part of the collaboration, Shake Shack’s signature drinks will also be spruced up with local flavours. The classic lemonade and milkshake series will see new additions – the Buah Long Long lemonade ($5.70), and the bandung shake ($9.50). Find out more here.

Batik, a timeless art form and symbol of Southeast Asian heritage, takes centre stage at the Peranakan Museum. This captivating exhibition shines a spotlight on the creative and entrepreneurial journeys of three remarkable Peranakan women from the bustling port city of Pekalongan, Indonesia. Meet Nyonya Oeij Soen King, her daughter-in-law Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, and granddaughter Jane Hendromartono, each a batik master in her own right. Discover their inspiring stories through about 200 objects, including cherished family heirlooms and 60 stunning batik pieces from the 1890s to the 1980s. You can also explore batik’s evolution through time at the interactive stations. Then take a fun mobile quiz to uncover your personal batik style and score an exclusive bookmark to take home. Keep an eye out for exciting pop-up performances, hands-on craft activities, and engaging curator tours during your visit. 

Things are about to get gaudy – but in a good way. Don your best colourful ensemble and celebrate creativity at Crossfade. This vibrant exhibition presented by homegrown creative community Gofy fuses cultures through the works of three emerging Indonesian artists: Cokorda Martin, Refli, and Yoel Kristiandi. Hosted in the eclectic space of Draft Land, the award-winning cocktails-on-tap bar from Taiwan, it explores the rich interplay of Indonesian and Chinese influences. Experience the seamless transition of old and new, East and West, as each brushstroke tells a story of shared heritage. While you're there, snag limited edition merch and your favourite pieces through handy QR codes.

If your idea of a good weekend involves vintage thrifting, live performances, and interactive activities, the Resurrack Vintage Market is one place you’ll want to be. Every weekend from November 2 onwards, head to this vintage marketplace at Bugis Street Art Lane to pick up cool collectibles like vinyl records, thrifted clothes, and digital cameras. There’ll be more than 50 vendors from Singapore and Malaysia and live performances from local artists. When you need a break, head to the photo booth to capture the memories or swing by the jewellery-making stalls for some DIY fun. Of course, there’ll also be food stalls to fuel your shopping spree, or check out our Bugis guide for other great eats. Find out more here.

Experience the magic of the Northern Lights at Gardens by the Bay's Supertree Grove. From May 4 onwards, a spellbinding outdoor installation called Borealis will light up the Supertrees in a display reminiscent of the polar lights you'd normally have to travel to Iceland, Sweden, or other far-flung regions to witness. It's the work of Switzerland-based artist Dan Acher, who has ingeniously layered light beams and cloud particles to create a mesmerising dance of light and colour. Coupled with an atmospheric score by French composer Guillaume Desbois, Borealis promises to be an out-of-this-world experience. Admission is free – find out more here.

Here’s a happy hour deal for those seeking respite from the jam-packed drinking holes in town. Verandah Pool Bar & Grill is launching a new daily special, where a varied selection of 20 drinks and bar bites are all going at just $9 each between 5pm to 8pm. Pick your poison; there’s a whole range of 13 craft beers, wines, and spirits including 1925 lager, Bodega Norton chardonnay, and Johnnie Walker red label whisky as part of this happy hour menu. While you’re at it, munch on a couple of $9 nibbles such as burnt black garlic pork belly, baby squid tempura, and Thai curry crab scramble – the pairing possibilities are endless.

This happy hour deal officially kicks off on September 27, 2024 and will run till December 30. In the meantime, find out more about Verandah Pool Bar & Grill here.

Ever so often, you chance upon a source of inspiration that prompts you to reflect on yourself and the world around us – for us, it is both the artworks of Teo Eng Seng and the man himself. If you’re curious to find out how so, then your next art date should be to National Gallery’s upcoming exhibition, Teo Eng Seng: We’re Happy. Are You Happy?, running from September 6, 2024 to February 2, 2025.

The show is divided into two sections that reflect the philosophies that guided artist Teo throughout his career: Don’t Try to Read it, See it, Feel it – showcasing the spirit of innovation and Sweet Talk, Straight Talk: A Global Citizen Engaging in Social Commentary through Art – exhibiting the use of art as both a medium for social engagement and public messaging.

Snatch your kids away from their devices and bring them for a playful romp around town. Centred around elements of play, the National Museum of Singapore’s newest exhibition, Play:Date – Unlocking Cabinets of Play, features over 250 locally and globally recognisable toys spanning the eras. Running from now until January 5, 2025, the free showcase aims to recognise toys and play as important to Singapore’s cultural heritage. Look out for large-scale artworks on the museum's facade as well as a kaleidoscopic digital display along the inner arches of the building's entrance. Inside, there's an immersive showcase divided into three sections that will appeal car enthusiasts, gamers, and collectors with its impressive collection of rare character figurines, collectibles, and nostalgic toys from brands like McDonald's, Mattel, Disney, and Tamiya.

Singapore’s Bayfront Event Space is set to shine like never before with the arrival of illumi, the world’s largest light, sound and multimedia illumination event, starting September 13, 2024. This marks the event’s international debut, featuring the world’s tallest illuminated tree titled ‘Tree of Lights’ that stands at 47 metres. In Singapore’s edition, visitors are invited to explore nine themed worlds such as The Enchanted Maples – one that will transport guests to Canada with glowing maple leaves and sweet treats from Sugar Shack. Other zones include a winter wonderland with shimmering snowflakes featuring curtains of twinkling lights titled Wall of Lights, and Puppies and Kitties, a space that will be taken over by 200 illuminated animal structure.

Tickets are priced from $33 and are available for purchase on TremTix and Pelago. Currently, there are slots all the way till December 8, 2024. DBS/POSB credit and debit cardholders are entitled to an exclusive early bird discount of 20 percent, until August 31, 2024 only.