Fancy catching a film at a drive-in cinema reminiscent of Jurong in the 70s; embarking on explorations to learn about the lesser-known aspects of Chinatown’s history; or soaking in the old-meets-new charm of Jalan Besar? The 15th edition of the Singapore Heritage Festival (SHF), Singapore’s signature heritage festival organised by the National Heritage Board, will be offering all that, and more, over three weekends in April.
From 6 to 22 April 2018, SHF 2018 is encouraging Singaporeans to discover the lesser known aspects to our history, experience places and stories anew, and enjoy our tangible and intangible heritage through a specially curated line-up of programmes and activities. Working in partnership with close to 100 community partners, the festival will present more than 120 programmes across five key locations this year – Jurong, Jalan Besar, Chinatown, Bras Basah.Bugis and Toa Payoh.
Festival Director Angelita Teo said, “Over the past 15 years, the Singapore Heritage Festival has grown into a community-led event that Singaporeans are proud to call their own. This year, we are encouraged that passionate individuals and partners have stepped up and taken on a greater role in organising key highlights, such as in Chinatown and Jalan Besar, demonstrating that SHF is truly a festival by the people, for the people.”
SHF 2018 will feature a line-up of programmes to involve everyone island-wide – the three festival weekends will take place at the following key locations, while fringe programmes at other well-loved Singapore precincts and neighbourhoods will also be available throughout the duration of the festival.
Weekend One | Jurong (6 – 8 April)
Celebrate the industrial heritage of Jurong and its significance in our nation’s development as SHF brings the heritage of Jurong Town Hall to life. Explore the National Monument as you enjoy specially curated programmes inspired by Jurong’s heritage and the communities that grew alongside it, such as Jurong Songbook – an immersive roving performance by theatre group Sweet Tooth that takes visitors through the Jurong story with music, song and storytelling, giving them a chance to interact with characters of Jurong’s past such as a rubber plantation worker and an army soldier. The festival will also be recreating a drive-in cinema reminiscent of Jurong in the 1970s.
Weekend Two | Jalan Besar ( 13 – 14 April) & Chinatown (14 – 15 April)
Discover the multi-layered history and diverse heritage behind Jalan Besar and Chinatown, as our community partners in each area come together to present programmes for SHF 2018. Take part in a street party and shop at a creative market while immersing in the charm of Jalan Besar. Over at Chinatown, uncover the myriad of stories and memories behind the colourful facades of Chinatown’s shophouses through a series of “eat, drink, explore, and be merry” programmes.
Weekend Three | Bras Basah.Bugis (20 – 21 April) & Toa Payoh (21 – 22 April)
At the Arts & Heritage district, Bras Basah.Bugis, watch Armenian Street come to life in a celebration of all things Peranakan with the Armenian Street Party 2.0. Visit the National Museum of Singapore’s new exhibition The More We Get Together: Singapore’s Playgrounds 1930 – 2030, and see how these community spaces hold fond memories of growing up in Singapore. The spotlight will also be shone on Waterloo Street through a theatrical event by Theatre Practice that will explore the rich history of the street. At Toa Payoh’s iconic Dragon Playground, for the first time, the playground will be transformed into a carnival ground featuring a dynamic LED Dragon dance performance celebrating our intangible cultural heritage, outdoor movie screenings, a classic vintage car boot flea, as well as an assortment of popular local hawker delights.
When: 6 - 22 Apr 2018,
By: National Heritage Board (NHB)
