The best things to do in Singapore this week (March 17-23)

Whether you've seen the award-winning show La La Land, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, or are experiencing it for the first time, La La Land – In Concert lets you immerse yourself in this captivating love story. With a live orchestra and jazz band performing the iconic soundtrack, the film unfolds on the big screen, making for an unforgettable experience. More details can be found here.

Don’t be too quick to think that the Porsche Singapore Classic is just about golf – the event returns to the Laguna National Golf Resort Club from March 20 to 23 with not just world-class golf action, but also enticing lifestyle experiences that everyone can enjoy. Head to the Spectator Village, where the par-tee is at. Refuel on tasty street eats, challenge your mates in various games, put your putting skills to the test, and climb your way up the leaderboard, where you can even stand a chance to win a brand-new Porsche Taycan Turbo S. The little ones can also have a go at the Carrera Kids Course for their first taste of golf. Keeping energies high with upbeat anthems is none other than UNGRUMP. Before you head home, be sure to leave your mark on the colouring wall, snap a photo with the Porsche Art Car, and grab exclusive merch.

If you’ve ever wanted to get acquainted with Latin American food and culture, then this vibrant festival in Dempsey Hill happening this month is a great place to begin. Latinada is the largest street food and music festival of its kind in Singapore, with 14 Latin American chefs from all around Asia cooking up a spread of Colombian, Mexican, Peruvian, Argentinian, and Chilean flavours. Beyond the food, expect a feast for the senses as well, with live music performances, vibrant decor, and a buzzing atmosphere to boot. Tickets are priced at $35 per adult, inclusive of a $20 redeemable cash voucher. Entries are limited to 500 people a day, so it’s fastest fingers first. Get your tickets here.

Jason Derulo’s a familiar name most of us would have heard of. And despite having been around the music scene for over a decade, he’s never held a concert in our city, ever. However, that’s about to change as the pop star will perform in Singapore for one night only on March 20, 2025. Ticket prices range from $198 to $228 and can be purchased via Sistic.

Plan a shopping spree with your pals as Boutique Fairs is back and bigger than ever with its Spring Summer Edition this year. This year’s edition features over 320 brands – shop fashion apparel from Barehands and Laundry Studio, snag accessories from Antonia Y. Jewelry, and browse skincare from Jeanie Botanicals. There's also a new food bar and a sheltered alfresco F&B area where you can relax and refuel before continuing your shopping. More details can be found here. 

Hold space for Wicked as the musical is arriving at our shores this March. Crowned as Broadway’s fourth longest-running production, Wicked follows the story of two witches, Elphaba and Galinda, in the time before and after Dorothy arrives in Oz. It delves into the intricate relationship between Elphaba, who transforms into the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’, and Galinda, who becomes ‘Glinda the Good’, while exploring the themes of identity and self-acceptance. Find out more about Wicked the musical in Singapore here.

Ask any Singaporean, and they will recognize the name Lee Kuan Yew. Hailed as Singapore’s founding father, Lee left behind an outstanding legacy, honoured in the 10 Years: Remembering LKY exhibition hosted by Instinc Space. This exhibition explores his visionary ‘Garden City’ concept for Singapore, showcasing works by local artists Boo Sze Yang, Justin Lee, and Yeo Shih Yun, alongside international artists Chang Hui Fang from Taiwan and Laudi Abilama from Lebanon. Find out more here.

Earth Hour is happening on March 22 this year. Turn off the lights at home and join the movement at Sentosa Sensoryscape, where there are sustainability-centric activities for the whole fam. Craft a World Water Day-inspired art piece, or learn about eco-friendly food options. The Switch Off performance, hosted by Joakim Gomez, kickstarts at 7.30pm, with live performances by local talents. The symbolic ‘switch off’ will happen at 8.30pm, where landmarks, businesses and communities around Singapore will turn off all non-essential lights in support of the movement. More information on the event can be found here.

Forget overstimulating play zones – Rocketland keeps things simple with calming yellow tones and soothing rhythmic beats to keep kids focused and relaxed. This is also designed to promote better behavior and even improve sleep patterns – a win for sleep-deprived parents. The 5,000-square-foot space is also great for little legs, so they can explore the space fully without the meltdown. Plus, with Aperia Mall’s glass ceiling, they can also soak up natural sunlight for a healthy dose of Vitamin D without the sticky heat.

Cherry blossoms are now abloom at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, with a slew of real cherry trees and accompanying Japanese-inspired displays. The latest edition is said to feature the largest number and widest variety of sakura trees compared to all past displays, with species like the early-blooming chishima-zakura, the Yoshino Shidare (Japanese weeping cherry), and the distinctly pink kawazu-zakura that’s making its first appearance here. This year’s event also places a special emphasis on Fukuoka’s hidden gems, so look forward to larger-than-life installations modelled after Kyushu’s majestic Kokura Castle and Fukuoka Castle’s Phantom Tower. Adding on to that are 130 glowing bamboo lanterns specially flown in from the actual Kokura Castle, striking red torii gates, and small wooden plaques bearing handwritten wishes.

This sakura display at Gardens by the Bay just started welcoming visitors on March 8, and will be running for almost a full month till April 6, 2025. Entry is priced at $12 for local adults. Find out more and get your tickets here.

It’s food festival season this March, with the Kita Food Festival making its anticipated return to Singapore. The annual event celebrates the best of Asia’s culinary maestros and diverse food scene.

This March 12 to 15, it’s all about legendary crossovers — think four-hands dinners, kitchen takeovers, and more. You have Chef Eugene See of the mod-Sichuan joint Birds of a Feather join arms with Chef Kelvin Cheung of Dubai’s Jun on March 12 and 13 for a four-hands dinner ($118 per person). Meanwhile, Singapore’s only West African restaurant Tamba will be hosting award-winning Australian chef Brian Cole on March 14 and 15 for a kitchen takeover. The six-course West African feast is priced at $198 per person. And there’s still more — check out the full programme here.

The Kita Food Festival restaurant series ends with a bang on March 15 with Kita’s Big Barbecue ($88 per person). This massive backyard cookout will take place at the alfresco Gourmet Park Kampong Bugis, featuring six barbecued dishes prepared by chefs from buzzy joints across Southeast Asia. Familiar names include chefs Ricardo Allen (Camp Caribbean) and Adam Penney (Carnaby), as well as Waymann Cheong from the highly-raved Lucky Hole in Penang.

Find out more about Kita Food Festival here.

Nearly 30 years on and Disney On Ice is still as magical as ever. Calling all Disney fans, young and young-at-heart, grab your mouse ears as Mickey and friends skate in to bring modern favourites like Moana and Mirabel from Encanto, as well as long-time Disney Princesses to life – on ice, of course. This new show celebrates heroism through heartwarming tales of bravery and resilience. Expect impressive figure skating moves, dazzling costumes, and breathtaking sets, all elevated with innovative lighting and exhilarating special effects. It’s a show that will leave you cheering, laughing, and maybe even wiping away a tear or two.

The Five Footway Festival 2025 is back and better, where guests can get an exclusive peek behind the curtain at the Hand Puppet Craft Showcase by Paper Monkey Theatre and find out how these stunning puppets are created. While you’re at it, keep your eyes peeled for the Stilt Walkers who’ll be parading through Chinatown. Don’t miss the Five-Footways Exhibition either, a deep dive into the iconic five-footways of Chinatown. Finally, take a stroll through time at the Chinatown Heritage Centre, where you can step into a perfectly recreated 1950s Chinatown shophouse. It’s the only place in Singapore where you can experience the everyday lives of Chinatown’s early residents. Check out the full programme itinerary here.

It’s about to get wet and wild at Downtown East with the return of Songkran Festival. The month-long revelry brings Thailand’s iconic celebration to us at Wild Wild Wet, with live singing performances and exciting Muay Thai demo matches. The water festival features a giant inflatable maze to dash around in, and a dunk tank to douse your pals in water. Event tickets are priced from $22 for adults and $16 for children, and all passes come with a free Singha beer or Malee coconut water. More details can be found here.

We may not have cherry blossoms swaying in the breeze, but there’s a Sakura Matsuri food festival that’s bringing Japan’s hanami traditions right to Singapore this March. Organised by Isetan, this gastronomical pop-up features cherry blossom-infused treats, street food, artisanal matcha desserts and more – come hungry.

Hop into the Easter spirit early with an epic egg hunt featuring 100 giant eggs scattered across Bird Paradise, each representing different bird habitats. Kids can also join the Ranger Buddies Eggs-pedition to discover C.O.U.R.A.G.E. life skills and take part in a digital Easter Eggs-ploration for cool rewards. Don’t miss the first-ever Avian Easter Parade on selected weekends, where colourful dancers take flight, and a special edition of the park’s Songbirds Keeper Talk to learn more about our feathered friends. Pro tip: be a WildPass holder and enjoy free entry for kids with every adult ticket from March 15 to April 20.

It’s a celebration of Peranakan food at the Armenian Street Party: Peranakan Stars, where foodies can explore and learn how to cook scrumptious Peranakan dishes. Shop the night market and snag gorgeous Peranakan ware and clothing, or learn how to cook nyonya chap chye and satay ayam goreng at a live cooking demonstration. Treat yourself to a star makeover and be dressed in traditional Peranakan attire, then end your visit by grooving along to the live performances by Dick Lee and more.

Sometimes the best way to beat the Singapore heat is with a dose of thrills and spills. After making waves at its debut last year, Kiztopia’s Splashtopia is back at Palawan Green, Sentosa for more splashin’ good fun with its biggest edition yet. This year’s pirate-themed water wonderland invites families to seas the moment (see what we did there?) with 10 massive, specially designed inflatables. Your mission? Team up with the Kiztopia Friends to fend off pesky pirates and take on Dr. Octo, a giant purple octopus, all while tackling obstacle courses, zooming down water slides, and uncovering treasure-filled surprises at every turn. And it's not just for the school holidays – Splashtopia runs from March 7 to 31, so there’s plenty of time to make a splash.

Experience the inner workings of the mind like never before in Mirror Mirror: Journey Into the Mind, opening on March 1 at Marina Bay Sands. Created by Moment Factory, this immersive exhibition takes visitors through eight interactive rooms that explore themes such as memory, perception, and ego. Using innovative technology and artistic expression, the exhibit brings the intangible aspects of the human psyche to life in a visually stunning and thought-provoking way.

The Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar is undoubtedly one of the biggest Ramadan events happening every year, and this year’s rendition features over 500 stalls. These booths are either halal-certified or Muslim-friendly, selling items from festive clothes to yummy grub. Come hungry, as there are 150 F&B stalls to browse, including BFF Seafood, manned by local influencer Ridhwan Azman. More details can be found here.

The Ramadan celebrations begin on February 19 with Gemilang Kampong Gelam Ramadan Bazaar 2025, featuring over 80 F&B vendors including Satay Ummi and House of Lemang. The bazaar also includes craft workshops, where you can learn Arabic calligraphy at Erwan Bar’s workshop or create your own Dikir Barat puppets. Undoubtedly the star of the show, the Sultan Mosque Light Show will showcase symbolic imagery like date trees and music composed by local composer Sha’aban Yahya. Keep up to date with the event here.

A hero to some and a vandal to others, Banksy has sparked global intrigue with his provocative art since the ‘90s. While the man himself remains elusive, you can now explore his genius without leaving the city. For the first time in Singapore, The Art of Banksy: “Without Limits” Exhibition takes over the shiny new Fever Exhibition Hall on Scotts Road with over 200 pieces, from original prints to immersive installations. Unique to Singapore is a Walled Off Hotel-style entrance lobby inspired by Banksy’s 2017 boutique hotel project – the one famously dubbed as having ‘the worst view of any hotel in the world.’ Inside, you’ll find some of his greatest hits: the hauntingly satirical Dismaland installation, the iconic Flower Thrower print, and the striking Phone Booth sculpture. And who knows? With many clues scattered throughout, you might even crack the mystery of who Banksy really is. 

Book tickets here

Seeing Forest by Robert Zhao Renhui invites the audience to explore the lesser-known world of Singapore’s secondary forests, which are areas that have regrown after human-caused deforestation. The exhibition will feature a mix of videos and sculptures, originally shown in Venice, transforming SAM’s gallery into an immersive forest-like environment filled with sights, sounds, and stories. Zhao’s work brings these spaces to life, showing everything from sambar deer that escaped a zoo in the ‘70s to Japanese sparrowhawks stopping for a drink, and even a wild boar giving birth just outside Zhao’s apartment.

You know what they say: the bigger, the better. And that’s exactly what you can expect this holiday season at A Big, Big World, running from now until February 16, 2025 at Sentosa. From festive carnivals to larger-than-life experiences and immersive events, the island’s newest takeover spans three locations: Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Sensoryscape, and Palawan Beach. Each zone offers a unique experience, alongside a magical beachside experience at nightfall with giant floating, marine-inspired inflatables. In celebration of Chinese New Year, there’ll also be an 88m-tall Starlit Dragon and a giant dragon kite. 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, all your Disney and Pixar favourites are coming to life at the floral wonderland’s new Garden of Wonder showcase. As you stroll through Gardens by the Bay’s Floral Fantasy, you’ll be greeted by eight stunning themed topiaries featuring lovable characters like Winnie the Pooh, Ariel and Flounder from The Little Mermaid, and Mike and Sulley from Monsters, Inc. Get in on the magic here.

Held at Resorts World Sentosa, the Singapore edition of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic promises to be even bigger and better, with an additional 10,000 square feet of space for even more magical moments to unfold. Step into familiar scenes from the Potterverse including the Room of Requirement, Newt’s Menagerie, Ministry of Magic, and more, as special interactive technology and multimedia elements are weaved with captivating soundscapes to bring enchantment to us muggles. With realistic replicas of what you see in the movies, along with eye-catching illuminations, there are sure to be a ton of photo-worthy opportunities. 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. 

Singapore’s Bayfront Event Space shines like never before with the arrival of illumi, the world’s largest light, sound and multimedia illumination event. This marks the event’s international debut, featuring the world’s tallest illuminated tree titled ‘Tree of Lights’ which 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 structures.