Things to do in Singapore today

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.

Escape rooms test your deducing skills, teamwork, and patience as you attempt to solve mind-boggling clues and break free. And that’s what makes them an intriguing and fun activity to do with your friends. The Trip: What Happened in Larspura is a free limited-time experience with three escape rooms. The game revolves around Larspura, a fictional island with a dark secret. Your mission? To infiltrate the island and uncover its mysteries.

Glasses of premium sake, paired with a live comedy performance by local comedian Hirzi Zulkiflie, equals a night of hysterical laughter. And that’s exactly what you can expect at Laughing Sake, an event organised by Goodwood Park Hotel. Attendees can enjoy two hours of free-flow sake, featuring premium options from Sake Teberu, and butler-passed canapés to pair with your booze. All these, along with Hirzi’s witty humour and hilarious quips as he charms the crowd. Tickets are priced from $69 per person and you can RSVP here.

The blind box craze continues at the CapitaLand malls, featuring the popular CryBaby series. There’ll be two eight-metre-tall Crybaby inflatables, Stupid Cupid and Kiss Kiss – Angel Version, located at Plaza Singapura, CQ @ Clarke Quay, and Bugis Junction. If you’ve got Crybaby merch, flex them at Funan and Westgate’s Crybaby-themed photo booth. Share your pictures on Instagram, tag @CapitaLandMallsSG and @popmartsg, and include the hashtags #LoveIsaBlindBox #loveintheair on Instagram for a chance to win a POP MART hamper (worth over $200). 

Fans of the lovable yellow minions, it’s time to don your blue overalls and visit the newly opened Minion Land from February 14, 2025. This new section at Universal Studios Singapore is split into three areas: Minion Marketplace, Gru’s Neighbourhood, and Super Silly Fun Land, with rides that are inspired by the popular Despicable Me and Minions series. Curb your cravings with minion-themed grub at the new restaurant, Super Hungry Food Stand, modelled after the waterfront snack stand in the movies. No trip is complete without exclusive merchandise such as toys, water bottles, clothes, and stationery, which you can find at Minion Marketplace.

Sneakerheads, pay attention. Sneaker Con Southeast Asia 2025 returns on February 22 and 23, 2025 at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, with over 200 vendors. Brand names include Puma, Ray-Ban, and popular local sneaker boutique Limited Edt. The event also brings back the Trading Pit, where attendees can trade, buy, or sell their kicks, as well as the in-built skate park to whizz around. Here’s where this year’s Sneaker Con gets exciting – fans will get to meet headliners Rae Lil Black, Mr. Sabotage, Culture Kicks, and more in the flesh. More details can be found here.

There’s no shame in admitting that we’re slaves to our cats. Feline owners can pamper their kitties at Singapore Cat Carnival 2025, where over 70 vendors including Catto, Moshicat, Pet Buddy, Gaia Pets, and Kitten Kitsch will be selling cat treats, accessories, and grooming products. Once you’re done shopping, head over to the DIY Paw Print Shadow Box workshop or create a DIY cardholder with your pet’s picture. The event also provides free basic grooming for your tabby, courtesy of ISFC Singapore. Find out more 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.

Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter and producer NIKI is returning to Singapore on February 18, 2025, set to perform at the Singapore Indoor Stadium as part of her Buzz World Tour. She will also be performing in cities like Hong Kong, Manila, Jakarta and Bangkok.

Show your furbaby (more) love by taking them to A Pawlentine’s Weekend at CHIJMES, where plenty of activities like pupcake-decorating workshops await. To join the workshop, simply spend a minimum of $20 at any pet-friendly restaurant at CHIJMES, like The Glasshouse or Privé@CHIJMES. Four-legged pals can zoom around at the Hoops of Love obstacle course and flaunt their agility. Don’t forget to swing by the Pet Market to stock up on pet essentials such as treats, accessories, and grooming products. Find out more here.

Automotive enthusiasts will know that Wicked Wallop is not to be missed. The 10th edition of the event embodies the hot rod culture of America in the 60’s, so expect a wide variety of classic cars and vamped up motorcycles on display. Once you’re done admiring the vehicles, shop for automotive products from international vendors such as Mooneyes Japan and Art of Speed Malaysia and enjoy live performances by The Souls, Cassidy La Creme, and more. That is, if you can peel your eyes away from the beautiful ladies participating in the Miss Wicked Walloop Pin-Up Girl 2025 Contest. The event takes place at Carros Centre on February 22 and 23, and you can find out more here.

In case you’ve missed the news, opera singer Sarah Brightman will return to the theatre stage after 30 years with the newest production of Sunset Boulevard by Andrew Lloyd Webber – the same composer behind the iconic Phantom of the Opera. This sensational musical follows the struggles of Norma Desmond, an also-ran silent movie actress, and how her passionate relationship with screenwriter Joe Gillis ultimately ends in tragedy. Tickets are available now and show details can be found here.

Giant caterpillars and fearsome dinosaurs come alive at Kidsfest Singapore 2025 from February 6th to March 1st, 2025. Presented by ABA Productions, the event includes theatrical performances of beloved children’s storybooks. This includes puppet shows of the iconic The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, where kids can interact with the various carnivores and herbivores. Strange Martians take the stage in The Way Back Home, and The Lion Inside is an uplifting story about a little mouse’s journey to unleashing his inner lion. Ticket prices start from $42 and bookings are available now. View the schedule and find out more 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

The Bridgerton craze is far from over. The Candlelight: Best of Bridgerton on Strings features songs from the hit Netflix show, performed by a live string ensemble amidst the romantic glow of dozens of candles. The setlist includes songs from all three series, such as thank u, next, Give Me Everything, and Cheap Thrills. Each showcase runs for an hour, and seating is assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis in your respective zone.

You don't need to be an art aficionado to instantly recognise a Jean-Michel Basquiat masterpiece. His striking, bold-coloured work is a staple of the 1980s art scene, embodying the rebellious spirit of the era. For your chance to unpick the late artist’s mind, immerse yourself in Behind the Canvas Series 1: Jean-Michel Basquiat, open from now till March 6 at Marina Bay Sands. This global-first experience takes you inside Basquiat’s world, tracing his rise from a New York street artist to a global pop culture icon. Journey through 10 immersive rooms and marvel at 160 meticulously framed pages from Basquiat's Notebooks, 12 iconic works from The Head—The Mind Drawings, and 25 original licensed prints. Then conclude at the exclusive Crown and Canvas Lounge, featuring a bar and live DJ sets. Tickets start from $48 (Singapore residents) and $59 (non-residents)  – get yours 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.

Every season brings about new displays at Gardens by the Bay, and this Chinese New Year is no exception. The Spring Blossoms 2025 display pays homage to this year’s snake zodiac, featuring over 1,000 beautiful dahlias and a 4.5m-tall floral sculpture of Madam White Snake, a female snake spirit in China’s folklore. This life-like display comprises over 23,000 plants including moth orchids, kalanchoes and cyclamens. Accompanying this is a snake sculpture and a 7m-tall replica of Leifeng Pagoda where Madam White Snake was imprisoned. You’ll notice two smaller pagodas inside the Leifeng Pagoda – these pagodas are part of the Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco exhibition at the Asian Civilisations Museum. 

Somewhere Near Home is the artist Adam Handler’s first solo exhibition in Singapore. The New York-born painter is known for his colourful and whimsical paintings done with oil sticks, and this exhibition is no exception. He uses an explosion of vivid colours and layered compositions to create characters that have simple yet expressive forms. Each artwork is a reflection of his early childhood memories at home, evoking a sense of joy, comfort, sadness and anger. The exhibition is held at LOY Contemporary Art Gallery and more details can be found here.

Pop Mart fans must be feeling extra lucky this festive season, because Jewel Changi has just gotten a playful springtime touch with Chinese New Year decor featuring your favourite blind box characters such as Labubu, Skullpanda, Hacipupu and more. These cute installations are inspired by various figurine series – including the new seasonal ‘Wealthy Snake’s New Year Celebration’ one – and are spread all over the scenic Canopy Park in vibrant floral set-ups. Find out more and learn how you can cop yourself a limited-edition Pop Mart mahjong set here.

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.