The best things to do in Singapore this weekend: August 15-17

After years of radio silence on the large-scale festival front, Singapore is finally getting its groove back on August 16 with a fresh new homegrown contender: Somewhere Out There Festival. And leading the charge? None other than Bonobo, the Grammy-nominated DJ and producer known for his transportive, genre-bending soundscapes. Last seen headlining Laneway Festival Singapore in 2018, Bonobo returns to our shores for a night of euphoria under the stars. He’ll be joined by other international DJs, regional musicians, and local collectives, such as South Korean alternative K-pop collective Balming Tiger and Dutch-Eritrean singer-songwriter Rimon.

The festival is set to be a landmark moment – one that proves Singapore can absolutely throw down with the best of them. Hit the 'Read More' link below for all you need to know about Somewhere Out There Festival.

See Tanjong Pagar more vibrant and creatively-charged than ever at Arts in the Alley: Walks of Life, a two-day festival happening this weekend. Three iconic venues, 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, Ann Siang House, and KēSa House will play host to a slew of interactive activities inspired by the neighbourhood's unique past. Think hands-on workshops, scriptwriting masterclasses by Singapore Repertory Theatre, and Chinese shadow puppetry performances. Putting the 'art' in 'Arts in the Alley' are also specially commissioned works, including a gorgeous wall mural you can find in the back alley of 21 Tanjong Pagar Road. Tickets are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for children, goodie bag included. 

The epic journey to Middle-earth gets a musical twist in critically acclaimed The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale, now landed in Singapore. Presented by Base Entertainment Asia, this unique production tells J.R.R. Tolkien's legendary story from the Hobbits' perspective through dazzling visuals, soul-stirring music, and a stellar cast of actor-musicians. The tale begins with Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday celebration in the Shire, unfolding with Frodo's perilous journy to Mordor with a mysterious gold ring in hand. Expect original compositions by A.R. Rahman, Finnish folk band Värttinä, and Christopher Nightingale in one magical night. Tickets can be purchased here.

Siglap is coming alive this August 17 with an adventure trail featuring five stops: Masalaa Bar, The Sundowner, Happy Place Tattoo, Next Door Spanish Café and Eater’s Market. Start at Santai to collect your bingo card and trail map, then complete fun missions like grabbing a pani puri or joining a bee encounter workshop to earn stamps and enter a lucky draw. If you’re among the first 20 to finish and return, you’ll get a free shot at Santai too. There will also be live music, grilled bites by Wicked Good Burgers, a garage sale and a soft soldering workshop along the way.

Let your hair down at a different sort of rave this weekend. New cool spot Rasa is throwing Exposure Rave: Matcha Rave Volume 2 on August 16, kicking off with a mat Pilates session followed by a matcha-fuelled dance party from 4pm to 8pm. Handcrafted matcha drinks are provided courtesy of Habit, while genre-blending sounds take over thanks to DJs Shahan, Swtlkr and Li.A. This is one party you'll leave without a pounding hangover. 

Add some edge to your wardrobe at Plop Market, the first-ever by multi-brand concept store Plop Apparels. This spot on 43 Arab Street is a bonafide treasure trove for those in love with cool, unconventional looks, stocking a curated mix of international names, including DNSR (South Korea), AESIR (a German-Vietnamese brand) and Bunnyhill Concept (Vietnam). At this two-day event, you'll get to bring home one-of-a-kind pre-loved pieces from local fashion creatives, such as Nicole Wong (@ncwong), Nathaniel Fong (@nathanielfong) and Relle (@relleshi). DJs Souljafeebs and Clammr will also be on the decks to provide a high-energy soundtrack all day. 

Wrapped up at the Somewhere Out There Festival but not quite ready to call it a night? Keep the energy going at Rasa, where the afterparty carries on into the night. Kuala Lumpur-based DJ Roshan Menon will take the decks with a genre-blending mix of electronic, funk, jazz and hip-hop. Local duo Kunda will follow with their signature Afro and Latin house grooves, while DJ Raja Rani brings a set that weaves deep house beats with multi-cultural influences.

Doors open from 8pm for those keen to settle in early, with the party kicking off properly from 10.30pm until late. Entry is free for festival-goers with a Somewhere Out There Festival wristband, while tickets for everyone else start from $21.

Celebrate the reopening of The Cathay this weekend with shopping, activities, and freebies. From August 15 to 17, the refreshed mall will be buzzing with lifestyle booths and engaging workshops, such as singing, dance and acting classes, cooking demos, a wine masterclass, and hair styling sessions. 

Little ones under 12 can bounce around for free at the bouncy castles, while pet owners can shop stylish accessories at the dedicated pet zone. Adding a bit of star power to the festivities are special appearances by Joakim Gomez, Sonia Chew, Zong Zijie, Kimberly Chia and Bryan Kok. 

Enjoyed the cute fruit-themed exhibition at Heartware Store & Gallery a couple of months back? The art space at Joo Chiat is now hosting Japanese artist maitoparta’s first solo Singapore showcase titled Itadakimasu! – featuring her signature kooky-looking wooden sculptures all handpainted in bright colours. There will also be exhibition-exclusive posters, plushies, bag charms and more, and pretty much everything you see displayed will be for sale. Be quick, because some of them are one-of-a-kind, with no remakes. Entry is free. Find out more here.

Enter the whimsical world of The Little Prince like never before in The Little Prince: The Journey of Stars, a multi-sensory digital art exhibition now open at Groundseesaw in Parkview Square. Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved novella, this immersive experience reimagines key scenes and characters through sweeping 3D projections, emotive narration and a soul-stirring soundtrack that will enchant fans both young and old.

Spread across five giant walls that soar six metres high, this storytelling spectacle invites you to follow the Little Prince on his cosmic journey – from his rose-covered home planet to his encounters with the fox and the lamplighter, all while exploring deeper themes of love, loss, and the beauty of human connection. The experience unfolds in three stages: a seated digital film, a highlights zone, and an interactive gallery where visitors can snap photos and reflect on the journey.

Opening on July 24, the new attraction features 22 immersive zones, life-sized animatronics, interactive exhibits, and digital projections working together to bring the story of the ocean and its habitats to life. There's a clearer narrative now as you journey through the oceanarium, starting with a single drop of water and prehistoric marine creatures, progressing through various ocean habitats to the future of our oceans. 

Our top tip: set aside at least three hours to explore the Singapore Oceanarium – even more if you're the sort who likes to read every panel and try every activity. And we certainly lost some time zoning out in front of the 36-metre panel full of sharks, rays, and fish in the Open Ocean zone.

Thanks to Emerald Hill – a spin-off of popular Mediacorp series The Little Nyonya – Peranakan fever is sweeping over Singapore, and Sentosa is also getting in on the fanfare. From now till the end of August, hop on over to the scenic island and experience a cultural immersion like no other with kebaya rental, Nyonya-inspired afternoon tea, and heritage craft workshops where you’ll learn the art of tile painting and floral embroidery. But the grand highlight? Larger-than-life installations of giant beaded slippers, tingkats and teapots, and a kaleidoscopic replica of a Peranakan shophouse with nightly light shows. Find out more here.

Kampong Boogie is back – and it’s bringing the heat to Gourmet Park Kampong Bugis. Celebrating its 8th anniversary, this cult-fave open-air party returns with a brand-new weekly backyard BBQ bloc party series. Expect a rotating DJ lineup with dopamine-fuelled beats, tasty global street eats, and of course, a smoky Caribbean cookout by Camp Caribbean’s head chef Ricardo Allen. Plus, your $15 ticket includes an F&B voucher. Each Saturday spins a different vibe – from Latin fiestas to Afro-Caribbean rhythms – so no two nights feel the same.

Enjoy the beauty of nature at the Sentosa Sunset Watch Party. Held at Palawan Beach, this free event invites sunset enthusiasts to admire the golden hues as the sun sets over the horizon. Visitors can also take part in wellness activities, and there will also be a sunset-themed photo exhibition and free photo printouts for guests.

The event runs every Friday and Saturday from 6pm to 8pm. 

What if we told you that you could walk among dinosaurs – all without a time machine? After touring the world in cities like Berlin and Toronto, the immersive dinosaur-themed exhibition Jurassic World: The Experience is roaring its way into Singapore and taking over Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest with life-like dinosaur animatronics and interactive snippets throughout. We’re talking towering 8.5-metre-tall Brachiosaurus, a thrashing Tyrannosaurus Rex and a petting zoo where you can interact with adorable baby dinosaurs. 

The Gallery Children's Biennale returns to National Gallery Singapore from May 31, 2025 to March 29, 2026 for its fifth edition, themed Tomorrow We'll Be.... Coinciding with the Gallery’s 10th anniversary and Singapore’s 60th birthday, this year’s event invites visitors to explore the possibilities of their future through the values of joy, kindness, dream and love. Families can look forward to eight immersive and multi-sensory installations by local and international artists, alongside a series of engaging programmes designed to inspire creativity and reflection.

If you missed the previous Wiggle Wiggle pop-up at Plaza Singapura, here’s your second chance to dive back into its colourful world. The South Korean lifestyle brand has teamed up with the Singapore Flyer from now till September 28, 2025, transforming five capsules with vibrant retro colours and Wiggle Wiggle’s signature motifs – think whimsical flowers and cute bears. Don’t forget to stop by the pop-up store at Level 1 to snag merchandise like stationery, accessories and apparel. More details can be found here.

Local creative community GOFY presents Melting Thresholds, a group exhibition spotlighting four emerging Southeast Asian artists – Shu and Money Wang from Malaysia, Nina Sach from Thailand, and Jaeyyelle from Singapore. Running from May 17 to September 14, 2025 at Sweet Cheeks, the show explores dreamlike spaces through a series of quirky artworks that reflect on identity, memory, and transformation. The exhibition also features limited-edition gelato flavours by Sweet Cheeks, and all artworks are available for purchase on-site. 

Step through a vine-covered entrance and into the realm of Wonders of Nature, the New Art Museum Singapore's newest kid-friendly exhibition that highlights the significance of the natural world. Featuring works by eight international artists including Yayoi Kusama and Go Yayanagi, the exhibition unfolds across five sections, each offering interactive artworks and immersive projections that bring the beauty of nature to life through art.

National Gallery Singapore’s latest show highlights the journeys of influential Asian artists like Foujita Tsuguharu, Georgette Chen, and Liu Kang, who brought their unique cultural backgrounds to Paris at the height of its modern art movement. The exhibition uncovers how their personal stories and heritage shaped their work, leaving a lasting mark on Paris’s art scene and influencing the course of modern art. 

Held at Resorts World Sentosa, the Singapore edition of Harry Potter: Visions of Magic promises to be even bigger and better, with an additional 10,000 square feet of space for even more magical moments to unfold. Step into familiar scenes from the Potterverse including the Room of Requirement, Newt’s Menagerie, the Ministry of Magic, and more, as special interactive technology and multimedia elements are weaved with captivating soundscapes to bring enchantment to us muggles. See plenty of realistic replicas from the movies, along with eye-catching illuminations, for tons of photo-worthy opportunities. Find out more here.

Batik, a timeless art form and symbol of Southeast Asian heritage, takes centre stage at the Peranakan Museum. This captivating exhibition shines a spotlight on the creative and entrepreneurial journeys of three remarkable Peranakan women from the bustling port city of Pekalongan, Indonesia. Meet Nyonya Oeij Soen King, her daughter-in-law Nyonya Oeij Kok Sing, and granddaughter Jane Hendromartono, each a batik master in her own right. Discover their inspiring stories through about 200 objects, including cherished family heirlooms and 60 stunning batik pieces from the 1890s to the 1980s. You can also explore batik’s evolution through time at the interactive stations. Then take a fun mobile quiz to uncover your personal batik style and score an exclusive bookmark to take home. Keep an eye out for exciting pop-up performances, hands-on craft activities, and engaging curator tours during your visit.