Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) returns in four weekends in May! Its 20th edition will uncover lesser known stories about Singapore’s history and heritage with over 80 programmes.
This year also marks 50th anniversary of SBS Transit and SportSG. Sports and transportation enthusiasts would not want to miss out on the events, activities and heritage trails. Take a mystery bus tour with unknown destinations, hop onboard a train and go on a learning journey and watch a light-hearted play based on the stories of familiar transport workers.
Choose from heritage and cultural trails, hands-on workshops, tours, talks, exhibitions and film screenings!
Highlights of SHF Programmes
Festival-goers can check out over 80 programmes organised in partnership with over 60 community partners such as Children’s Museum Singapore, Football Association of Singapore, SBS Transit, Singapore Silat Federation and The Kalari Academy.
One onsite highlight is the brightly coloured Homeground installation in National Museum of Singapore. It brings together 10 well-loved heritage trails set in an immersive shophouse designed in collaboration with artist Sadiq Mansor. Visitors can check out artworks with elements of the 10 heritage trails, attend storytelling sessions, craft activities and quizzes.
If you miss Sports Day in school, visit National Museum of Singapore on the last weekend of May to experience school sports day! Throw on your old PE attire, take part in a relay, hop in a gunny sack, guide a bicycle rim with a stick and even try out sports. A Martial Artstravaganza awaits, with experts showcasing skills in wushu, silat and silambam.
People to look out for this year include Matthew Tay, Singapore’s youngest bus driver turned bus captain and bus enthusiast Muhd Naz Farihin at A Showcase of Public Transport Memorabilia.
Their passion for buses is apparent, having pursued the career path of a bus driver as well as amassing a stunning personal collection of items including fare boxes, registration plates, license plates, bus models.
Matthew will also lead a mystery bus tour in the West with undisclosed destinations guaranteed to be a memorable ride. Mystery bus tours will also be held every year for SHF.
Other tours include an exclusive tour of Jalan Besar Stadium, Ulu Pandan Bus Depot, Mandai Train Depot.
Watch a play inspired by the stories of transport workers Changing Shift, staged under the Banyan Tree at National Museum of Singapore.
The familiar occupations represented would remind viewers about the hard work of transport workers, their daily challenges and how acts of kindness can change lives.
Vintage car lovers – listen up! Heard to Armenian Street Park to feast your eyes on classic cars and motorcycles on display. You can interact with the owners from Classic Car Club Singapore and learn more about friends of “Herbie”.
Don’t miss the immersive experiences like Silat Cultural Open House where participants can try their hand (and legs) at Silat. Check out Indian martial art – Silambam and learn the basic techniques.
SHF 2023 Programmes for the Little Ones
Children are not forgotten in the SHF lineup. There are crafting activities at Peranakan Museum on beading a classic car keychain as well as story-telling about two siblings feuding over their grandfather’s favourite car.
Love LEGO? Everyone can join in the LEGO building workshop at Indian Heritage Centre to construct their own NEL LEGO train plus learn interesting facts about the North-East Line.
Scavenger hunts are on at Children’s Museum Singapore. Participants will be in search of all-things-transportation in the galleries and participate in an art-led dramatised storytelling and craft session. Children can also enjoy loose parts play with a mystery box of items and then bring home their very own creation.
SHF 2023 Programme Registration
Set those reminders and alarms for 20 April noon! Singapore HeritageFest programmes will be open for registration on the dot, so do click fast.
For more information, visit this site.
