The merchants of Katong-Joo Chiat are taking to the street this Saturday, 3 October 2026, at the Joo Chiat Street Social, part of Land Transport Authority’s Joo Chiat Car-Free Day 2026.
Car-Free Day 2026 at Joo Chiat
Every year, cities around the world celebrate World Car-Free Day to promote a car-lite lifestyle. This year, Car-Free Day in Singapore is 3 October will be held along Joo Chiat Road from 3.30 pm to 9.30 pm.
The section of Joo Chiat Road between Dunman Road and East Coast Road will become a car-free community space with family-friendly activities, interactive experiences, live
performances and heritage-themed programming for the event.
Do take note that the stretch of road will be closed to traffic from 8 am on Sat, 3 October 2026 until 2 am on Sun, 4 October 2026 as part of the setup for the event.
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Joo Chiat Street Social, an Initiative of the Katong-Joo Chiat Business Association
With Joo Chiat Road closed to traffic between Dunman Road and East Coast Road, businesses in the neighbourhood will step out of their shophouses and onto the road itself as part of the Joo Chiat Street Social initiative.
This is the first time that the precinct’s merchants have activated the street together under a single programme and the initiative is being led by the Katong-Joo Chiat Business Association.
There will be programming organised into themed and music zones spread along the entire stretch of Joo Chiat Road.
Different Zones for Different Folks
The Music Zone is helmed by The House of Creo, Alibabar Hawker Oktoberfest, and the Weekend Brew Club. Visitors can expect live music from local acts such as Glen Wee, Gravitti with Khai, The Monty Crew, and Wayne Sandz.
There will be drinks galore, hawker grub, and Weekend Brew Club is powering a two free-drinks redemption.
The Kids / Art Zone will be a colourful, hands-on space for families, with giant blue-block building and sensory play from Kaboodle, clay activities, kintsugi workshops, painting and craft, plus parent-child games.
Kids can also get moving with outdoor obstacle courses, mini sports games and fun movement challenges.
The Picnic zone is laid-back with astroturf, a picnic setup and a line-up of local and international flavours promises to make lying back and watching the busyness of it all, rewarding.
The Fitness Zone features the Spartans Boxing Championship, arguably Singapore’s first street-side boxing tourney. Much of Joo Chiat’s fitness-oriented merchants are also taking part, including experiences by Fight Therapy’s Muay Thai coaches, a Race the Kids Hyrox arena, and a Pilates reformer challenge.
The Wellness Zone is for the fit and the zen of mind. Part of Joo Chiat road will transform into an open-air wellness studio, with seven local businesses coming together to run two concurrent wellness programmes. Look out for free 30 min to 1 hour yoga, pilates, breathwork and movement classes.
The Pet Zone is Joo Chiat’s pet-focused merchants’ answer to the ephemeral question of “who let the dogs out?” There will be varied retail pop-up experiences, athletic hounds can take part in a dog race, while laidback pets can have their portraits taken.
Pawsible is attempting to break a record for the longest banner painted by pawprints. Newly opened Meraki Vets will be the official pet first aid station for the Pet Zone.
The Music and Art Zone is helmed by GOOODHOOOD: Joo Chiat Edition by Hello Arigato, a mini community-driven activation that features free portraits by local illustrators, a large-scale community drawing on the road that is lead by artist Tobyato. There will also be music by homegrown musicians.
Also look out for a café-and-bar discovery trail where visitors can try signature coffees and craft beers at participating outlets along the route.
In total, there are 90 merchants participating in Joo Chiat Street Social.
Joo Chiat Street Social
When: Saturday, 3 October 2026, 3.30 pm to 9.30 pm
Where: Joo Chiat Road, from East Coast Road to Dunman Road
Free admission
Website: Joo Chiat Street Social
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