14 Fun National Day Events to Celebrate Singapore’s 54th Birthday

It’s that time of the year again, mama! Don your best red and white outfit and party like it’s 1965 – National Day is almost here! Check out our guide to fun and free events happening all over the island

Celebrate what it means to be a Singaporean (and if you’re not Singaporean, simply celebrate all the reasons you love our Little Red Dot!) this 9 August in true red-and-white fashion!

The Basics

Here at Sassy Mama we love catching the National Day Parade every year and this year is no different. If you haven’t got tickets to the previews or the actual show, check out one of these top spots to catch fireworks for free. And click here for all the deets on NDP rehearsal times and this year’s newly-added Heartlands celebrations (fireworks included!) happening on 10 August.

If you’d rather not brave the crowds, tune in to any of the Mediacorp channels (Channel 5, Okto, Suria, Channel 8, Vasantham Central and Channel News Asia) from 5:45pm to watch the celebrations up close, without having to jostle for space.

Besides getting psyched for the parade, all kinds of awesome National Day events and promos are already being rolled out, mama! There’s plenty to see and do, and don’t get us started on all the super-fun kid-friendly activities all over the island.

Events

National Day Open House at the National Museum
Come dressed in your best red-and-white outfit and join in for two days of fun activities featuring Singapore’s icons, exciting performances and art installations. Share your thoughts on what Singapore means to you at the interactive ‘Writings on the Wall’ exhibition, while the kiddos get creative making pop-up birthday cards for Singapore. Wrap up the day with a live outdoor screening of the National Day Parade at the museum’s front lawn on 9 August! Bring a picnic mat and food, or purchase snacks from the on-site food trucks.

When: Friday, 9 August 2019, 10am – 9pm
Where: National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
How much: Free!

Family Art Activities at the National Gallery
In line with this year’s National Day and as a venue partner of NDP, the National Gallery Singapore is bringing its line-up of programmes closer to the community. Families can celebrate the National Day month with a plethora of activities in Singapore’s heartlands, including a storytelling session “Stories in Art: The Midas Touch” and family art workshops inspired by the Gallery Children’s Biennale.

When: 3 – 11 August 2019
Where: Various locations around Singapore
How much: Free!

Garden Rhapsody – Songs of Singapore
Gardens by the Bay’s Supertrees are already pretty impressive, but during August you can enjoy a special edition of Garden Rhapsody – the signature sound and light show at Supertree Grove – featuring eleven well-loved Singapore songs performed and re-arranged by local musicians including Joanna Dong, Rani Singam, Vocaluptuous and Linying.

When: 1 – 29 August, 7:45 and 8:45pm
Where: Supertree Grove, Gardens by the Bay
How much: Free!

Legends of Singapore
Kids will be fascinated by the live performances of legendary fables “The Scourge of the Swordfish” and “The Friendly Snake”, produced by Dick Lee Asia especially for National Day at Gardens by the Bay. In “The Friendly Snake”, the touching tale of the friendship between a snake and a village girl is brought to life through a vibrant combination of song, dance, drama, and puppetry with music by SAtheCollective – a group of musicians who put a contemporary spin on ethnic instruments. The other local tale in Legends of Singapore, “The Scourge of the Swordfish” is the story of how Bukit Merah got its name, and will take place at the Malay Garden. Orkestar Trio, who play traditional Malay instruments with a modern interpretation, will provide the music for The Scourge of the Swordfish.

When: Now till 15 September 2019; various timings between 4pm and 7pm
Where: Malay Garden & SG50 Lattice
How much: Free!

National Day Concert at Gardens by the Bay
Join for two days of exciting performances by Singapore’s best, including Dick Lee, Kit Chan, Jasmine Sokko, Kumar, Aisyah Aziz and many more! Don’t miss fun family activities, food trucks, and a chance to get up-close and personal with your favourite local celebrities. You can also get a free gift while stocks last.

When: Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 August 2019, 4 – 9:30pm
Where: The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay
How much: Free!

SCO Music Oasis Concert at the Botanic Gardens
Celebrate Singapore’s 54th birthday with Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. Expect an exciting line-up of familiar patriotic favourites, Xinyao classics and new inspirations. Dig out your most glamorous red and white outfit, and celebrate the nation together with the captivating sounds of Chinese orchestral music. Kids will get a kick out of the first song of the night – Quek Ling Kiong, resident conductor of SCO, will lead the orchestra to perform Super Mario Brothers Theme Medley, adapted from the Nintendo game of the same name! Then take a walk down memory lane as SCO performs Street Opera Of The Lion City which depicts the fun and exuberant activities during the olden days of Singapore.

When: Saturday, 10 August 2019, 6 – 7pm
Where: Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Singapore Botanic Gardens
How much: Free!

Celebrate Singapore’s 54th Birthday with the Wild Neighbours
Party with your extraordinary fellow Singaporeans at the wildlife parks in celebration of Singapore’s 54th birthday this month. Jurong Bird Park, River Safari and Singapore Zoo will run themed activities around Singapore’s native species through August. Learn more about them and other wild Singaporeans at the Love Your Neighbours activity booths and earn yourself a well-deserved exclusive animal pin when you complete the activities. And for the month of August, local residents visiting Jurong Bird Park, River Safari or Singapore Zoo can get a second admission at 54 per cent of the original price with every paying adult. (Not valid 9 – 12 August 2019.)

When: 1 – 31 August 2019
Where: 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
How much: Activities are free but normal admission applies

KidZania Go! to Our Tampines Hub
KidZania Singapore is heading to the East! After many successful runs, KidZania Singapore’s popular outdoor roadshow, KidZania Go! is now headed to Our Tampines Hub for its next instalment. For five days only, join in for fun-filled National Day celebrations with exclusive promotions and engaging stage performances. Kids can look forward to role-play activities and better understanding different occupations through experiential play.

When: 8 – 12 August 2019, 11am – 8pm
Where: Our Tampines Hub, Gate 1, 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523
How much: Free!

Heritage Hurray! Celebrate Singapore’s Heritage at the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (SYSNMH) will present an array of free public programmes in conjunction with National Day. Heritage Hurray! invites visitors to recognise Singapore’s rich cultural scene and shared heritage. Check out the community art market featuring a curation of goodies from both local and overseas artisans, follow heritage trails around Balestier, listen to storytelling sessions by local authors and veteran storytellers, and try your hand at toy painting or soap crafting!

When: Friday 9 – Saturday 10 August 2019, 10am – 5pm
Where: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 12 Tai Gin Rd, Singapore 327874
How much: Free!

Marquee Nightclub Kicks off Festivities with Rapper Lil Jon and Homegrown DJs
Grammy Award-winning American rapper, Lil Jon, best known for popularising the crunk music genre in the 2000s and hit singles including “Get Low” and “Yeah!” with R&B icon Usher, and “Turn Down For What” with DJ Snake, is set to helm the decks of Singapore’s hottest nightclub Marquee on Thursday 8 August. His performance will kick off the National Day weekend festivities at Marquee, which will be followed by Marquee Academy on Friday 9 August, featuring a line-up of homegrown DJs helming the decks, including DJs Jade Rasif, Mix Mischiefs, Krumbs, up and coming local DJ VII, and Marquee resident DJs Mass and Tang.

When: Friday 9 – Monday 12 August 2019, 10pm onwards
Where: Marquee Nightclub, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
How much: From $38

Activities for HomeTeamNS Members to Celebrate National Day
HomeTeamNS has organised a range of activities centred around National Day which everyone can enjoy – most activities are open to the public, unless stated otherwise. Highlights include trips to the Bicentennial Exhibition, a National Day celebration in Sembawang, and the National Day Carnival at Our Tampines Hub.

When: 2 – 18 August 2019
Where: Various locations around Singapore
How much: Free and ticketed activities.

National Day 2019 Celebrations at Our Tampines Hub

Look out for three days of fun-filled activities such as the F1 Roadshow, and free play at various sporting facilities, such as tennis courts and futsal clinics. Kiddos can enjoy face painting and acrobatic performances, as well as carnivals and free movie screenings. Watch free stage performances by local celebrities Broadway Beng’s Sebastian Tan, Chua En Lai and the cast from ‘Ah Boys to Men’. On 9 August, catch the mobile column passing by Our Tampines Hub (4pm), watch the ‘live’ NDP broadcast (5:30pm), and enjoy spectacular fireworks, a laser show and wave flame displays in the Town Square.

When: 8 – 10 August 2019; click above for specific timings
Where: Our Tampines Hub, Gate 1, 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523
How much: Free!

Millenia Walk Loves Local
Millenia Walk has carved out a slew of enticing offers and activities to celebrate Singapore’s birthday. The Great Hall at Millenia Walk will comprise a market fair where homegrown brands are featured, offering local delights from fashion and craft to food and whisky! In the evening and on weekends, catch live performances by local artists such as Sherman Toh and Dominic Chin, as they belt out contemporary songs and ballads. Millenia Walk will also be partnering with Food Bank Singapore, a registered charity who helps to collect excess food and redistributes them to organisations such as old folks’ homes and family service centres. Members of the public can do their part for the community by dropping off non-perishable food items here.

When: Market Fair and Performances through Sunday 4 August; Food Drive through 18 August
Where: Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039596
How much: Free!

Join the 13th National Day Sing-Along
Kick off the festivities on a high at the 13th National Day Sing-Along, organised by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. Groove along to all-time favourite NDP tunes presented by a 60-student strong combined schools’ choir from Woodgrove Primary School and Guangyang Secondary School, as well as local classics and familiar tunes with homegrown musical talents Tay Sia Yeun, Yokez, See Kai Zheng and Irwin (阿Win).

When: Saturday 3 August 2019, 7 – 9pm
Where: Toa Payoh HDB Hub, Mall Square Ground Floor, 560 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310460
How much: Free!

Read more:
Where to watch the National Day Fireworks for Free
All the Deets on NDP Rehearsals and New Heartlands Celebrations in 2019