The Singapore Heritage Festival (SHF) is back for its 14th edition, and this time, there is a whole host of activities and programmes to check out. Organised by the National Heritage Board, SHF will be held over three weekends, from 28 April to 14 May, bringing visitors to iconic and less-explored locations such as Caldecott Hill and Bukit Pasoh. For a taste of our island’s history and rich heritage, we highlight the top five events that you should not miss:
For the first time, SHF is offering the rare opportunity to enter Caldecott Broadcast Centre (CBC), which will be specially opened to the public. Take the chance to get a glimpse at how our local productions were conceived and produced – highlights include Studio 6, a performance piece re-visiting the iconic stories, characters and scripts of our most beloved local TV shows, presented by contemporary theatre company Sweet Tooth by Cake.
Caldecott Broadcasting Centre Film Studio. Admission is free. Visit www.heritagefestival.sg for timings
Held in conjunction with the Indian Heritage Centre’s (IHC) second anniversary celebrations, Little India will be transformed with colourful street art installations, various dance, music and theatre performances and even food trails around the streets led by Singapore celebrity chefs. Don’t miss a live traditional Kerala puppet show presented by master puppeteers from Kerala’s Tholpavakoothu Sangam.
Campbell Lane, 7pm. Admission is free
To celebrate the rich and diverse history of Chinatown, an array of lion dances, martial arts showcases, music performances, and even a traditional puppetry show put up by the various clans and associations will be held at an exciting street party. Experience the vibrant and colourful atmosphere of the Chinatown area while attending an outdoor calligraphy session, a movie screening or a guided tour.
Bukit Pasoh Road, 4pm – 9pm. Admission is free
It’s no secret that Singaporeans are famous for their love for food – now, there is an exhibition wholly dedicated to the act of eating. Explore the way we put food in our mouth, the cutlery we eat with, who we eat with, and the processes that happen back in the kitchen so that we can enjoy food the way we do. The exhibition will look at the objects that cook, contain and carry our food to shed light on some of the habits, quirks, and practices here in Singapore.
Asian Civilisations Museum, through museum hours. Admission is free
If just one exhibition on the act of eating is not enough, there will also be the I Was Here outdoor installation, which is inspired by the Empress Place Food Centre that was previously located in front of the Former Empress Place Building (now the Asian Civilisations Museum). The installation explores our unique food heritage through shared experiences, stories, relationships, space and time. Featuring 10 modern interpretations of familiar hawker seating of the past, the installation invites the public to reclaim the space and reimagine its purpose.
Asian Civilisations Museum (outdoors). Admission is free
Like this? Check out 8 things you should not miss at the Voilah! French Festival, the Singapore Art Book Fair is back and we couldn’t be more excited and the top 5 luxurious Airbnbs in Singapore you seriously need to check into.