With September comes a slew of exhilarating activities, from cultural to educational to plain good fun. Whether you’re a race-car fanatic or looking for some films to catch, September is the month with something for everyone. So go out there and revel in the festivities. These events will keep you entertained throughout the month.
Main image: Instagram @swapathon
Why shop when you can swap your clothes for someone else’s? This method of sustainable shopping is free and reduces waste. Rifle through other people’s wardrobes to find your new favourites at Swapathon, the very first sustainable fashion marathon that the Swapaholic team is organising in partnership with Marina Barrage and Terra SG, a social enterprise.
At Swapathon, before swapping clothes with other participants, you have to first earn ‘swap points’ by taking part in workshops and green vendor booths while enjoying snacks provided and grooving to live music at the Sustainable Village. You can also hone your swapping skills at the plant, book and beauty swap before diving into the main fashion swap.
September 7, 2pm – 8pm
Marina Barrage,8 Marina Gardens Drive. Visit its website for more info.
Image: Instagram @walkingwithdinosaurslive
Satisfy your Jurassic Park dreams with the biggest dinosaur show in the world, Walking With Dinosaurs, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. This family show has been enjoyed by more than nine million people in over 250 cities all over the world, and now you can get up close to the dazzling $20-million production of 18 life-sized dinosaurs from nine different species — from the Brachiosaurus to the Tyrannosaurus Rex — animated by jaw-dropping state-of-the-art technology. The showcase is based on the eponymous award-winning BBC TV series. Look forward to scenes of interaction between dinosaurs such as an eye-opening depiction of how carnivorous dinosaurs evolved into two-legged creatures.
August 29 – September 8, $78 – $148.
Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk. Get tickets here.
The Singapore River Festival (SRF) makes its return for the fifth year with exciting activities happening during the weekends from August to September to celebrate our cultural diversity, heritage, people and places. As Singapore marks its Bicentennial year, the festival sees an exciting lineup that will be held at Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, from local food fairs to performances by homegrown musicians.
For the month of September, revel in the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations as the river transforms into a luminous, festive wonderland for the season of reunions. With a host of family-themed events and fringe activities such as the Lantern Walkabout, which takes place through Robertson Walk, followed by a cruise down the Singapore River on a riverboat.
September 14-15, $25.
Robertson Quay. Visit its website for more info.
Image: Instagram @latinadasg
The second installation of LATINADA, Singapore’s first Latin American Food Festival, promises to be bigger, bolder and better. The brainchild of Peruvian chef Daniel Chavez, who helms the OLA Kitchen Group, LATINADA was created to showcase the culinary and cultural diversity of notable regions in Latin America. The annual festival will see 11 chefs and 13 restaurants from Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Chile gather to whip up dishes to take you on a week-long Latino adventure. Think hearty Mexican street food, Chilean barbecues, tapas parties, cocktails inspired by the diverse islands of the Central Americas and four-hands dinners showcasing Latin American flavours.
The festival will kick off with “Domingo Tropical!” at Camp Kilo, with the Charcoal Club transforming into a mini street food festival, where you can indulge in favourites such as tacos, roasted pork, ceviche and themed cocktails, while bumping along to the heart-pumping sounds of Latin America – Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Latin Pop and more.
September 8 – 16.
Specific locations found on its Facebook page.
Image: Instagram @f1nightrace
Gear up for a turbo-charged weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit this F1 season. The premier motor-sport event in Singapore will see headliners British rock band Muse, EDM group Swedish House Mafia, and Californian rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers take over the night race’s entertainment stage. Also in the lineup are some of the biggest names in music — pop icon Gwen Stefani, DJ Fatboy Slim, legendary composer and musician Hans Zimmer, American roots rock duo Larkin Poe and more.
Beyond the music gigs, the Singapore Grand Prix also features many talented drivers from all over the world, including world champions and winners such as Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. Tickets are priced from $38 for single-day platforms and $98 for single-day grandstands.
September 20-22, $38 – $98.
Marina Bay Street Circuit, Connaught Drive. Visit its website for more info.
Image: Instagram @caleidoskopable
The Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, is one of the most popular Chinese festivals (hello, mooncakes!). In Chinatown, festivities kick into full swing starting from the light-up on Aug 31 (6.30pm – 10pm). Admire a colourful display of traditional lanterns and street decorations displayed along the cultural stretch and soak in the festivities during the traditional Chinese festival. Fringe activities such as a lantern painting competition, mass lantern walk, lion dance performances, a festive bazaar, and nightly stage shows by local entertainers and overseas performing troupes will also keep you well entertained. As you go on the heritage and food trail, munch on festive goodies such as mooncakes and pomelos, and shop for handicrafts and ornaments from street-side stalls.
August 31 – September 28.
Various locations in Chinatown. Visit its website for more info.
Organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and curated by Formwerkz Architects, the annual Archifest is a celebration of local architecture and the built environment in Singapore.
This year’s festival revolves around the theme of Craft. Discover what went behind designing the various buildings around Singapore, and learn from the masters of the craft through an immersive line-up of master classes, lectures, exhibitions, panel discussions, architectural tours and hands-on workshops hosted by local artisans and makers. Sign up for the exclusive Architours and explore how materials, space and form are crafted into spatial realities.
September 27 – 9 October.
URA Centre and various locations. For more information, go here.
Image: Instagram @fitbit
Get stepping this September with Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS)!
Organised by CPAS, Steptember is a fitness and charity initiative to raise funds for CPAS’ education, training and therapy services for people living with cerebral palsy. For Steptember, aim to take 10,000 steps a day for 28 days – from Sept 3 to 30 – and contribute to the cause. Choose from a range of 40 activities — swimming, cycling, yoga and more — and have the activity converted into steps to count towards your 10,000-step goal. Disability-friendly activities are also included so everyone can take part.
Gather your friends and sign up in teams of two to four. Alternatively, you can sign up as a company to do a team-bonding activity for a cause. Then, set a fundraising target for your team (you will automatically get your very own fundraising page when you register). Ask friends, family members and colleagues to sponsor you by making an online donation or you can even hold mini fundraisers as you track and share your progress on social media.
Registration is $25 per person, where you’d receive a Steptember Kit, which includes an info flyer and an exclusive Steptember Singapore wristband. Early birds may opt to receive a pedometer, while stocks last.
September 3 – 30.
More details can be found at its website.
Image: Facebook, Infocomm Media Development Authority – IMDA
B.Y.O. Cinema returns for its second run with five outdoor movie screenings alongside free-flow popcorn, churros and candy floss. Instead of Hollywood blockbusters, B.Y.O Cinema features local titles — from comedies to zombie apocalypses to nostalgia-driven tales — such as Lulu the Movie, It’s a Great, Great World, and Zombiepura.
Held at various locations such as the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Green, Grange Road carpark, Design Orchard’s rooftop and Esplanade Forecourt Garden, you can cosy up on a picnic mat and watch a movie under the stars. Admission is free.
August 31 – September 28.
Fort Canning Park, Fort Canning Road, and other locations. Visit the website for more info.