This year, National Heritage Board’s signature festival Singapore HeritageFest 2024 features over 120 programmes presented with more than 80 partners. The festival will focus on the stories and living heritage behind Singapore’s buildings, sites, and structures from 1 to 26 May. Festival-goers can even explore using the Hop On Hop Off bus, or by boat.
The 21st edition of Singapore HeritageFest also coincides with the 25th year of Singapore’s conservation programme and 40 years of Total Defence.
Explore Singapore’s built heritage through offshore tours to kelongs and kampongs, ghostly encounters, old schools and heritage hotels, a secret “undisclosed” experience, 19th century buildings and more!
Singapore’s rich built heritage includes 75 National Monuments, over 7,000 conserved buildings and structures, and many other historical sites and landmarks such as bridges, reservoirs and cemeteries.
GIVEAWAY: Stand to Win a Family Bundle of 4 Tickets to Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster at LIttle SIFA.
Singapore Heritage Festival 2024: Family-friendly Programme Highlights
Together with more than 80 community partners, SHF 2024 celebrates the richness of Singapore’s built heritage which can be explored by foot, on bus and even boat.
SHF Festival Director David Chew said, “Singapore’s buildings, sites and structures – our built heritage – are more than just brick and stone. They hold the stories and experiences of diverse communities past and present, and it is the people and their stories that bring these spaces to life. They are showcases of the rich, unique culture and heritage that Singaporeans share, and we hope that many will have fun at the exciting offerings this year and discover new facets of our heritage at the same time. Ultimately, we hope that SHF will inspire Singaporeans to join us in celebrating and safeguarding our heritage together.”
Official Partner of Singapore Heritage Festival, local heritage brand Yeo’s will launch its special edition Orchid Chrysanthemum Tea at the festival. The drinks will be available during the festival at the National Museum of Singapore as well as other national events.
Here are some family-friendly programme highlights for Singapore Heritage Festival you can look forward to.
HOMEGROUND: We Built This City installation
Head to the front lawn of the National Museum of Singapore to check out a whimsical, colourful installation on quintessential aspects of Singapore’s identity from the kampung homes, HDB blocks.
In collaboration with DP Architects, who will also be presenting a series of tours of Singapore’s downtown area, the installation is a playful take on familiar buildings with many photo spots, a mini playground where families can walk through and interact with the elements. Look out for the adorable animals too!
Inaugural Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Experience (HOHO)
Want to explore via a bus? The Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus service is the classic way to see Singapore’s sights. Embark on a journey of buildings and landmarks through historical precincts such as Little India and Bras Basah.Bugis.
Discover the history and beauty of our built heritage. Children can also get a booklet to help them look out for interesting parts of the building, and be engaged during the experience.
There are two routes for HOHO. The route on 4 and 5 May takes passengers to Chinatown, Kampong Gelam and Little India going to sites like Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Thian Hock Keng, Leong San See Temple, Masjid Abdul Gafoor, Hajjah Fatimah Mosque and more. Meeting point is at Maxwell Food Centre
The other route on 25 and 26 May goes to Bras Basah.Bugis and Civic District going to National Museum of Singapore, CHIJMES, The Capitol Kempinkski Hotel Singapore, South Beach, Raffles Hotel, and more sites. Meeting point is at National Museum of Singapore.
Purchase your tickets here.
When: 4, 5, 25, 26 May 9 am to 6 pm
Cost: $10 onwards
Island Boat Tour + Kelong Visit
Cruise the northeastern waters of Singapore to learn about the history of its surrounding islands.
Led by a knowledgeable tour guide who has navigated the waters for years, the boat tour will let attendees discover lesser-known fun facts about Singapore’s history and learn about sustainable fish farming. It will take you upclose to Pulau Ubin and ends with a visit to a kelong.
When: 1, 4 to 5, 11 to 12, 18 to 19, 22 May, 8.30 am & 1, 22 May 4 pm
Duration: 3 hours
Cost: $80 per pax
Get tickets here.
Foothill Stories: A Roving Performance with a Craft Component
Travel back in time to 1912 where there are two schools located at the foot of Fort Canning Hill – Tao Nan School and Anglo-Chinese School. Take a walk to Children’s Museum Singapore and The Peranakan Museum, once schools serving the community and unravel their history together in the roving performance through shoebox puppetry and visual mapping, followed by a hands-on craft session.
When: 4, 5, 11, 12 May, 11 am, 2 pm, 12 pm and 3 pm
Cost: $18 per pax
Register here.
Our Storied Past: Heritage Tour and Afternoon Tea
Go on a heritage tour of three heritage buildings then indulge in a bespoke afternoon tea experience at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore.
Immerse in the glorious past of iconic Stamford House, Capitol Building and CHIJMES. Did you know that Stamford Building used to be an upscale departmental store? & that Capitol Theatre was one of the biggest theatres in prewar Malaya? It was even visited by Charlie Chaplin!
The Heritage Tour and Afternoon Tea experience is available every Wednesday and Saturday from 1 to 25 May 2024.
When: 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 May, 3 pm
Where: The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
Cost: $52 on Wednesday and $58 on Saturday
Book your spot here.
Back-of-House Tour: “Former Supreme Court: Unseen, Unheard”
Join this exclusive tour which offers a glimpse into the restricted areas of the former Supreme Court, usually out of bounds to the public.
Traverse hidden passageways, climb through a trapdoor into the prisoner’s dock, go behind-the-scenes to find out more about courtroom proceedings and the experience of people on trial. Discover stories of high-profile cases in Singapore’s history tried in the courtrooms.
When: Every Saturday 4.30 pm, Every Sunday 2.30 pm and 4.30 pm
Cost: Free for locals
Book here.
Cashin House Heritage Tour: A Journey Through Time
Take the path less trodden and visit an obscure spot in Singapore, Cashin House at Lim Chu Kang Nature Park.
Sited in a part of Singapore pretty much out of the way for many folks, Lim Chu Kang Nature Park has been undergoing habitat restoration with Cashin House undergoing a careful reconstruction for visitors to learn more about these significant place.
Renowned heritage enthusiast Jerome Lim leads this guided tour which gives attendees an opportunity to connect with the past and gain a deeper appreciation for the built heritage of the historical gem.
When: 11 & 18 May, 8.30 am and 10.45 am
Cost: Free
Register here.
Explorer’s Expedition of The Battlebox
Set out on an adventure to unlock the mysteries of a WWII bunker. This tour is specially for curious participants aged 9 to 14. Uncover the stories of each room in the maze-like complex on this tour.
When: 11 May & 18 May, 1 pm
Where: Fort Canning Park, 1 Cox Terrace
Cost: $20 per pax
Get your tickets here.
(Her)story of Samsui Women with Pauline Fun
Discover the lighter side of the Samsui women who built our nation, the story behind their red headscarves, the food they avoided eating, where they used to hang out and what special festival celebrations they held dear to their hearts.
Join Pauline Fun, the granddaughter of a Samsui woman on a tour around Chinatown. Hear her weave her family story into the larger social history of the celebrated strong women figures.
When: 12 May & 26 May, 9 am and 2 pm (9 am in English, 2 pm in Mandarin)
Where: Chinatown, Clarke Quay MRT Exit A
Cost: $10 (Inclusive of beverage/ice-cream at one of the special sites)
Register for the English tour here and the Chinese tour here.
Get Your Legacy Lens Kits (Free)
Get a complimentary limited-edition Legacy Lens Kits that come with 10 lens cards. These lens cards allow you to align the outline to the real-life structure of various heritage buildings in the area. Compare the past with the present!
We think this will be a nifty tool for those whose little ones have much energy to expend. The lens kit is complimentary and redeemable with a min. spend of $50 in a single receipt at Capitol Singapore and CHIJMES.
Where: CHIJMES, Capitol Singapore
When: 1 to 12 May, 5 pm to 10 pm at CHIJMES, 13 to 26 May 12 pm to 8 pm at Capitol Singapore
Singapore Heritage Festival’s Closing Weekend Block Party
Gather at the lawn of the National Museum of Singapore on 25 and 26 May and let the good times roll.
There will be food, craft and music performances, replicating the communal experience of celebrations and festivities at the shared residential spaces.
Check out the full details of programmes on Singapore Heritage Festival’s site.
