Jessie KohNo year-end vacation plans? Lamenting being stuck in Singapore while your peers jet off to various countries?
Well, there’s no need to fret, as there are plenty of events and festivals happening in November and December 2015 to ensure a busy (leisure) calendar for you, even without stepping out of Singapore!
1. National Gallery Singapore Opening Celebrations
Housed in Singapore’s former Supreme Court and the City Hall, National Gallery Singapore will be the largest visual arts venue locally upon its opening. Celebrations will accompany its launch on Nov 24, and visitors can expect a carnival on the nearby Padang, art workshops, forums, a line-up of music and dance programmes, and more in the two-week long celebrations. Furthermore, entry to the museum will also be free in the opening fortnight for all visitors.
Grab your complimentary tickets online and look forward to being part of the celebrations! Specific timings for individual events can be found on the National Gallery Singapore website.
Nov 24 – Dec 6. Monday – Thursday: 10am–7pm (last admission at 6.30pm); Friday – Sunday: 10am-11pm (last admission at 10.30pm)
2. Singapore International Film Festival
The 26th edition of the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) will be taking place from Nov 26 to Dec 6, and more than 140 films will be screened at the festival, together with a host of other events such as master classes and post-screening talks by filmmakers.
Take this chance to venture out of mainstream Hollywood flicks and check out the wide variety of films offered by SGIFF, from their curated selection of world cinema, to local classics (Mee Pok Man, Bugis Street) and their special programme of Chinese independent documentaries.
Tickets can be purchased online, with various discounts available for students, senior citizens and other groups.
Also read: Staycations in Singapore: 12 Hotels With Infinity Pools You Will Love
2. 5th Rendezvous with French Cinema
Another film festival, Redenzvous with French Cinema, will also be happening this year-end — organised by the Institut Français, the Alliance française and Unifrance, the 5th year of this festival will again showcase a range of contemporary French films, screening across different locations in Singapore between Dec 4 to 13.
Highlights include the 2015 Palme d’or winner Dheepan, and Breathe, directed by director-actress Mélanie Laurent. If you can’t make it to France for your holidays this year, this may well be a good alternative!
3. Neon Lights
The inaugural edition of Neon Lights is set to take over Fort Canning on Nov 28 and 29 this year. Touted as “a new major art and music destination festival”, Neon Lights’ music line-up is eclectic and impressive, with the likes of Chic (feat. Nile Rodgers), Damien Rice and Ratatat taking the stage at this weekend festival.
Art will also be a focal point at Neon Lights, with diverse programming including dance, theatre, cabaret, spoken word, visual arts performances and more.
Additionally, children are very much welcome at Neon Lights, with a children’s workshop series ensuring that families with kids will also be able to join in the fun.
4. Anime Festival Asia
For all you anime lovers out there, the Anime Festival Asia (AFA) will be the must-go event. From Nov 27 to 29, the largest regional anime convention will be held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, with merchandise booths, showcase stages, celebrity cosplayers in attendance, and of course, the I Love Anisong concerts as part of the festival activities.
AFA ’15 is sure to be a spectacle, and with exhibition tickets starting from as low as $13, those seeking a taste of popular Japanese culture should definitely consider attending this convention.
5. Singapore: Inside Out
Singapore: Inside Out is a travelling showcase highlighting our local creative talents, with the previous stops being Beijing, London and New York City.
An initiative by the Singapore Tourism Board, this showcase seeks to bring international attention to Singapore’s growing arts scene, and from Nov 27 Nov to Dec 6, locals will finally be able to view the Singapore: Inside Out presentation for themselves.
The homecoming showcase (free admission) will be located in the Bugis area at Tan Quee Lan St, with interactive installations, film screenings, and live performances and more on display — don’t miss the chance to catch the best of our local creative community at this event!
6. The Large Hadron Collider Exhibition
If you’re looking for something more science-y and educational to do during your holidays, the Large Hadron Collider Exhibition held at the ArtScience Museum should be right up your alley.
The award-winning exhibition on the world’s largest particle collider replicates the experience of visiting the European Organisation for Nuclear Research’s (CERN) underground facility, promising an immersive exhibition that is both informative and a feast for the eyes.
The ArtScience Museum will be hosting this exhibition’s Asian debut from Nov 14 (so yup, it is open for visitors already!) to Feb 14 (10am–7pm) next year, and ticketing details can be found online, with an adult ticket for Singaporean residents going at an affordable S$10.
7. Café Week
We might all have heard of Restaurant Week, but Café Week?
Well, 2015 will see the first ever Café Week in Singapore, featuring 14 cafés such as Group Therapy and Prive Café over two weeks (Dec 10–13 and Dec 17–20). There will be three available menus (brunch, tea, dinner) to choose from, with prices starting at $15.
Reservations are now open, so café-lovers and foodies should move quickly to ensure that they don’t miss out on this inaugural event!
Also Read: 10 Ulu Cafes in Singapore Totally Worth Driving To
Besides this selection of activities, many other events such as Zouk Out (for those who like to party) and Bliss Out (for the swathes of yoga enthusiasts out there) will help make your calendar a packed one — there’s definitely no need to lament your lack of travel plans this year!
All photos are taken from the events’ website/Facebook page, unless otherwise stated.
