59 ways to celebrate Singapore’s National Day

Seven ways to experience the parade

Be a diehard patriotic: If you’re not among the 27,000 lucky individuals witnessing the National Day Parade (NDP) live at the Padang, relax and savour the spectacle from the comfort of your couch. Enjoy stunning aerial displays and energetic music performances by a cast of 3,000. Audiences can expect an explosion of visual splendour, a hallmark of well-known visual artist Brian Gothong Tan’s artistic vision. The show will kick off with a performance by Amni Musfirah, who is also the co-creative director of ChildAid 2024, the annual year-end charity concert organised by The Business Times and The Straits Times.

Get naughty with Gurmit: Comedian Gurmit Singh, who used to host NDPs regularly, is having an NDP watch party at The Projector with three other comedians: drag artist Becca D’Bus, TikTok star Daisy Anne Mitchell and cabaret performer Lychee Bye (who happens to be his daughter). Prepare for an irreverent, uncensored live commentary on the parade, complete with drinking games and a best-dressed contest. This event is only for those 18 and up. Visit Riot! Drag Show for details.

Curate your playlist: A recent survey by Milieu Insight of 1,000 Singapore citizens whittled down Singaporeans’ favourite NDP songs to a handful. Half of the Singaporeans polled picked Home sung by Kit Chan as the best NDP song, followed by Where I Belong by Tanya Chua.  What you like may depend on how old you are: Over one in three aged 16 to 24 chose 2011’s In A Heartbeat sung by Sylvia Ratonel, and almost two out of three aged 25 to 34 picked Home. 

Reserve your spot: If you still insist on catching the fireworks live, the best free places to catch it – outside of being a spectator at the parade, of course – are Marina Barrage, the Helix Bridge, the Marina Bay Promontory, One Fullerton and the Esplanade. Arrive before 7 pm for the best spots. The fireworks start at 8.15pm sharp and these places get packed long before that.

Fly high: If you decide to pull an all-nighter, get onto the Singapore Flyer, which will be operating a non-stop overnight flight at a discounted price of S$25, from 11 pm on Aug 9 to 8 am on Aug 10. The Flyer is also presenting Street Eats Under the Stars, a night market at the Waterfront Promenade beside the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix racetrack, with a wide variety of F&B offerings. On Aug 9, it runs from 5pm to 3am.  

Heartlands boleh: Worried about the post-celebration traffic congestion? Celebrate the occasion in the heartlands instead. There’ll be watch parties in Bishan (field opposite Bishan MRT Circle Line station), Yishun (field beside the futsal arena), Punggol (field beside Waterway Point), Paya Lebar (field next to Paya Lebar Quarter 1) and Buona Vista (field beside Buona Vista MRT station).

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Get nostalgic: National Museum Singapore takes you back to your childhood with scavenger hunts, traditional fan-making workshops, and light installations featuring old-school games such as chapteh, five stones and country flag erasers. Feel that sense of community and shared heritage with everyone around you – and then leave before 8 pm to catch the fireworks nearby.

12 restaurants with National Day treats 

Several restaurants have a National Day menu, and some have views of the fireworks to boot. The two Michelin-starred Saint Pierre at One Fullerton has a seven-course dinner degustation (S$488++ per pax) with dishes such as Hokkaido hairy crab and Omi beef – plus a great view of the pyrotechnics. Skai at the 70th floor of Swissotel The Stamford boasts a panoramic view; its four-course National Day menu (S$188++ per pax) includes the famous Wylarah wagyu for main and chendol for dessert.

You also can’t go wrong with rooftop restaurant Level33: For the occasion, there’ll be live food stations offering radish cake reimagined with mushrooms and truffle, oyster omelette chawanmushi, ondeh ondeh ice-cream and other twists on local flavours (S$268++ per pax). If you insist on Japanese, there’s Oumi on the 51st floor of CapitaSpring with a National Day menu at S$198++ per pax. If you prefer Mexican, Super Loco at Customs House offers a three-hour free-flow Mexican-meet-Asian dining experience (S$289++), and also a Mexican party and DJ on the decks. If you want to be even closer to the Padang, how about Yan at National Gallery Singapore? The Cantonese restaurant is serving delightful new dim sum flavours such as deep-fried satay chicken dumplings and xiao long bao with bak kut teh pork.

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At Pan Pacific buffet restaurant Edge (S$128++ per adult), dig into Singapore’s iconic dishes made especially scrumptious for the occasion, including Singapore laksa with baby lobster, deep-fried durian and chempedak cake. At Novotel Singapore’s food parade, sample a wide selection of Singapore’s favourite street food such as Rochor beancurd and Sin Kee chicken rice, as well as Novotel’s own line of “Singlish” beer. At The Masses at Capitol Singapore, the National Day communal menu (S$59.90++) has sourdough served with butter and house-made caramel kaya and crab meat kueh pie tee.

Anthology on Circular Road offers creative cocktail and tapas pairings, such as the reversed kaya toast cocktail with otah mantou sliders. Sol & Luna at CapitaSpring has a high tea menu with savoury specials such as foie gras kaya butter croissant and laksa shooter. At all Tiong Bahru Bakery outlets, there are limited-time National treats that include the satay chicken pie, black pepper crab pie, chilli crab focaccia, and pandan and gula Melaka tart.

Five recent books to snuggle up to

Behind The Banyan: Ho Kwon Ping On Building A Global Brand by Aaron Low: Banyan Tree founder and executive chairman Ho tells the story of how he built one of the most iconic hospitality groups in the world. Living The Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir by Kishore Mahbubani: Top diplomat, professor Mahbubani, chronicles his life from a poverty-stricken childhood to an illustrious globetrotting career. Catskull by Myle Yan Tay: A big winner at the recent Singapore Book Awards, this debut novel tells the story of a teenager who becomes a vigilante after witnessing injustices in Singapore. Sample and Loop: A Simple History of Singaporeans In America by Koh Jee Leong: Acclaimed US-based Singapore-born poet Koh has penned a bittersweet set of poems about Singaporeans who’ve migrated to the US, including author Kevin Kwan (Crazy Rich Asians) and ceramicist Wee Hong-Ling. We Are Not The Enemy: The Practice Of Advocacy In Singapore edited by Constance Singham and Margaret Thomas: Activism often gets a bad rep, but Singham and Thomas are determined to prove that advocates want nothing but the best for the country, through essays by prominent names such as Kirsten Han, Alfian Sa’at, Cherian George and Remy Choo.  

Six good showcases of local art

The best place to see Singapore art is National Gallery Singapore. Its DBS Singapore Gallery showcases some of the most amazing art ever produced on these shores. All our modern and contemporary giants are represented, from Cheong Soo Pieng and Chua Mia Tee to Simryn Gill and Zul Mahmod. Also worth visiting is The Private Museum on Emily Hill, where a new exhibition features local greats such as Chen Sai Hua Kuan and Cheo Chai-Hiang. Meanwhile in Gillman Barracks, Ames Yavuz has a stellar group exhibition of new media curated by the excellent Clara Che Wei Peh. Art Outreach has a heartfelt exhibition centred on memory and affect by Adeline Kueh, and Yeo Workshop is showcasing the quirky young ceramicist Shayne Phua. At independent art space Starch in Tagore Lane, curators Gillian Daniel and Kristine Tan celebrate Asian histories and cultures through the works of five fresh, experimental artists – just what you need to reset your perspective.   

Three theatre shows to delight in

Our top recommendation is Don’t Call Him Mr Mari Kita, composer Julian Wong’s excellent tribute to music maker Zubir Said, who composed Singapore’s national anthem. Everyone who’s seen this Wild Rice musical-biography has raved about it – and it’s high time you see it too, if you haven’t. Opening on Aug 15 is Checkpoint Theatre’s Playing With Fire, a dramatic investigation into Singapore’s petrochemical industry, which made the country wealthy, but at a high environmental cost. There’s also Esplanade Studio’s One Day We’ll Understand, a haunting multimedia performance about the Malayan Emergency (1948 to 1960) and the long shadows it cast, by acclaimed artist Sim Chi Yin.

Four concerts to experience

Outside the NDP, there are some terrific concerts to catch. At Resorts World Sentosa, Dick Lee, Kit Chan, Taufik Batisah and others are coming together for a Dick Lee & Friends concert on Aug 10 at the Resorts World Ballroom. On the following night, Temasek Foundation x Singapore Symphony Orchestra jointly present a classical showcase at Esplanade Concert Hall featuring compositions by eight local composers and a combined choir. Speaking of choir, the Singapore Lyric Opera Adult Chorus is presenting a selection of popular classical tunes at the Esplanade Recital Studio. But if your taste leans towards indie fare, check out the Trifecta Backyard Sessions National Day edition on Aug 17 at Trifecta Skate Bowl with indie darlings Weish, Forests, Cashew Chemists and Pleasantry.  

Five EPs/albums to blast at home

Who says Singapore music isn’t worth listening to? Here are five EPs and albums released in the past 12 months to check out. Chapter One by Shazza: Hers is one of the loveliest voices to emerge in the music scene in 2024, and her debut album feels like an early Taylor Swift effort, infused with an emotive innocence and a pop-country vibe. Hidden Intimacies by Dominic Chin: Reminiscent of Charlie Puth, Chin’s smooth, sexy vocals are perfect for his blend of pop and R&B with a touch of hip-hop. His latest EP of three songs boasts the very dancey number, Haste. Mirror In The Gleam by Kin Leonn: His ambient music continues to defy expectations; here through his sonic tapestries that capture the essence of Singapore’s city rhythms. The Nomad Diaries by Count Vernon: This indie-rock project fronted by vocalist and guitarist Eli Ordonez splices electronica, post-punk, synth-pop, drum and bass to tackle urgent issues such as global warming and social injustices. All Around You by Subsonic Eye: Another indie rock band that doesn’t get enough love, Subsonic Eye delivers an exhilarating concoction of pop-rock inspired by the bustling cityscape of Singapore. 

Five ways to enjoy our botanical splendour

Singapore prides itself on its lush greenery amid urban settings, and Gardens By The Bay is the epitome of this vision. As a showcase of botanical brilliance and high technology, this futuristic park is currently showing the stunning Impressions Of Monet immersive exhibition at the Flower Dome. Over at Suntec, the Singapore Garden Festival is a glorious showcase of horticultural artistry by award-winning floral designers. But if you choose to stay home and order some lovely flowers instead, you can’t go wrong with local botanical studios This Humid House, Wonderland Botanicals and The Floral Atelier.

12 local fashion designers to champion

Wear your red-and-white heart on your sleeve with homegrown fashion labels. For men, we love Graye for its stylish minimalism, The Authority for its chic jackets, and Biro for its laidback Japanese aesthetics and superior fabrics. There’s also red carpet-ready Dzojchen started by Singaporean-British designer Chelsea Scott-Blackhall, whose designs have been worn by celebs like singer Shawn Mendes and DJ Diplo. For women, there’s Rye’s chic everyday staples, The Missing Piece’s vibrant floral dresses, Reckless Ericka’s unabashed whimsy, and In Good Company’s effortlessly sophisticated designs (which are also available for men). No one blends Asian traditions and contemporary silhouettes quite like Ong Shunmugam, and no one does pleated dresses quite as stunningly as Ginlee. For accessories, we love Carrie K for her distinctive jewellery pieces, and the up-and-coming Tanchen Studio for its quirky head-turning designs.