Many of us were bummed out when the old wave of COVID-19 restrictions was reimposed. But with over 74 per cent of the population covered with their first dose of the vaccine and two-thirds set to be fully vaxxed by National Day, it seems like the relaxation of safety measures may be within reach again.
While we wait for the day to dine out at restaurants and food courts again, here’s a selection of fun – and safe – activities and events to keep you occupied in the month of August.
1. Visit Museum of Ice Cream Singapore
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Pfft. Make way for the Museum of Ice Cream Singapore (MOIC) instead!
Coming all the way from the United States of America, this experiential ice-cream themed museum has made its way to our sunny shores and will be opening its doors in the neighbourhood of Dempsey in August. Since its first pop-up in New York, this iconic attraction has an apparent waitlist of over 200,000 and has had prominent celebrities like Beyonce, David Beckham, and Katy Perry waltzing through its hallways and rooms.
Now that it’s finally here, the museum is definitely worth a visit to not only check out the hype but also sweeten up your dreary social media feed with Instagrammable shots of the pastel-coloured space. Look forward to 14 never-before-seen multisensory and interactive installations including the Singapore-inspired Dragon Playground, a pink and yellow jungle with 10,000 bananas as well as the largest MOIC Sprinkle Pool ever created.
And of course, to end the experience on a sweet note, visitors can enjoy five ice cream goodies during the 60 to 90-minute exploration with your guide. Tickets have already started selling since April but you can still purchase them on the website. Ticket prices start from S$38 per person.
To catch a sneak peek of what exhibitions and merchandise you can expect on-site, check out our MOIC preview coverage here!
2. Rediscover six post-independence Singapore Artists at the National Gallery
What better way to commemorate Singapore’s birthday month than to visit the works of six post-independence Singapore artists that contributed significantly to the development of the nation’s modern and contemporary art?
Something New Must Turn Up: Six Singaporean Artists After 1965 is a joint exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore of solo presentations by artists: Chng Seok Tin (莊心珍), Goh Beng Kwan (吴珉权), Jaafar Latiff, Lin Hsin Hsin (林欣欣), Mohammad Din Mohammad (محمد دین محمد), and Eng Tow (杜瑛).
Featuring over 300 artworks and more than 100 archival materials and objects spanning across decades, the exhibition explores the diverse artistic practices of these talents and show how they broke new ground in the local art scene. From collage and printmaking to batik and even digital art, immerse yourself in this rich visual experience brought to you by our very own Singaporean brothers and sisters.
To top it off, this exhibition is one of the many participating merchants for the NDP e-voucher promotion. Simply present the individual eCoupon or book your ticket here for free admission from now till 22 August.
3. Immerse yourself in the history of ballet at DANCE: A Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev
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Venture into the storied heritage of French ballet at Alliance Française de Singapour’s latest exhibition DANCE: A Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev.
For the first time ever, the non-profit and educational organisation will be showcasing the legacy of one of the greatest dancers in the history of classical ballet. Loaned from the private collection of Charles Jude, a former Etoile of the Opéra de Paris, Director of the Ballet de l’Opéra de Bordeaux, and also Nureyev’s protégé, 14 stunning costumes from Nureyev’s signature ballet performances will be on display for all to admire.
In line with the exhibition, there will also be a series of talks, workshops, and conferences to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the evolution of ballet and its role in the cultural landscape of France.
DANCE: A Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev is located at 1 Sarkies Road, Singapore 258130 and will be running until 15 September 2021 with free admission.
4. Exercise and help the underprivileged at 3M Moves @ South East 2021
From now to 11 October, South East Community Development Council and 3M will be hosting a virtual fitness campaign, 3M Moves @ South East 2021, to encourage everyone to exercise for a good cause.
Targetting to raise more than 7,000 exercise hours, this event aims to give back S$102,000 worth of 3M household products to 3,000 underprivileged students. For every 20 minutes of exercise, 3M will generously donate stationery to a student to aid in their transit from Home-Based to Blended Learning.
So as you maintain an active lifestyle during these turbulent times, why not give back to this community at the same time? You can contribute by attending online fitness classes by gym partners ImPAct @ Hong Lim Green and F45@Paya Lebar, Wushu or Taiji classes by Martial House, home workouts by ActiveSG and Health Promotion Board, or even your own leisure exercises.
Click here to sign up or to get more information on the virtual fitness event.
5. Explore the human body with internationally renowned artist Antony Gormley
If paintings aren’t exactly your thing, immerse yourself instead in a unique art experience through Antony Gormley’s largest presentation of sculptures, installations, and public artworks.
Often casting his own body as a base, Gormely is internationally renowned for his use of a variety of forms and materials that explore the relationship between the human body and space. His newest commission at National Gallery Singapore’s Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery, called Horizon Field Singapore (2021), invites visitors to experience art and architecture in new ways.
Look forward to walking through a vast matrix of rings, as well as admire three whimsical sculptures around the gallery that present defining aspects of Gormley’s extensive study of the human body.
Horizon Field Singapore (2021) is located at National Gallery Singapore and will run from 6 August 2021 to 30 October 2022 with free admission.
6. Create masterful resin pieces at a resin workshop
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You don’t have to be Picasso or Da Vinci to create beautiful artworks. The magic of art is creating something while having fun – and at Magicten Resin Art Studio, you’ll do just that!
With four different workshops to create trinkets, dishes, and furniture art pieces, you’ll be a master of resin art at the end of each class. Ranging from S$30 to S$180, these programmes will equip you with everything you need, from tools and paint to accessories, that will help you create the masterpiece of your dreams.
For beginners, we recommend the Trial Workshop (S$30/pax) to explore the art of UV resin and epoxy resin. Choose between the 90-minute class that lets you make – and take home – a pair of mini-stud earrings and a mini-key charm or the 60-minute workshop and produce an 8cm round coaster.
Hop over to Magicten’s website to view their range of workshops or pay a visit to the Instagram page to see the stunning pieces you can create.
7. Go on a night adventure at Rainforest Lumina
Can’t stand the blistering summer heat? Then Singapore Zoo’s Rainforest Lumina would be the perfect after-dark activity for you.
The final season of Southeast Asia’s only Lumina showcase, this multimedia night walk presents ten multisensory zones for visitors to explore the lush rainforest of Singapore Zoo and meet creature crews like Maya the orangutan or the white tiger. Immerse yourself in a symphony of lights, harmonious background music, and interactive play with your buddy or significant other in this perfect night adventure.
Rainforest Lumina is running now till 13 February 2022. Tickets range from S$14 to S$18 and can be bought on the website.
8. Embark on a puzzle hunt with Ransack
If you thought you’ve seen all of Singapore and its wonders, think again. Ransack, a Singapore-based puzzle game design company, will bring you on a mind-boggling adventure through a series of captivating games curated to learn more about Singapore.
Inspired by escape rooms and treasure hunts, Ransack offers themed hunts such as military-themed Abort the Fort at Fort Canning Park, The King’s Feast where you explore hawker culture, and Chinatown Murders where you dive into a role-playing tour to unearth the dark secrets of the district.
Each hunt is priced between S$39 to S$55, lasting around two and a half hours. Tickets can be bought on Ransack’s website.
9. Escape reality at ArtScience Museum’s Virtual Realms: Videogames Transformed
With all that is going on in the world right now, escaping reality for a short while certainly doesn’t sound too bad. Thankfully, ArtScience Museum has a virtual realm that will let us escape momentarily.
Making its global premiere, Virtual Realms: Videogames Transformed is a multi-sensorial exhibition that moves videogames from the screen to the museum gallery. Look forward to large-scale, immersive installations by six of the world’s most acclaimed videogame developers including KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, Enhance, thatgamecompany, Media Molecule, Tequila Works, and David OReilly.
Each developer has partnered with a different media artist or design studio to create pieces driven by a distinctive theme: SYNESTHESIA, UNITY, CONNECTION, PLAY, NARRATIVE, and EVERYTHING.
Virtual Realms: Videogames Transformed is currently ongoing at the Artscience Museum until 9 January 2022. Tickets can be bought on the ArtScience Museum’s website.
10. Catch a virtual fashion show to support local labels
Local labels will be hitting the runway this August at the inaugural J&T Fashion Week organised by J&T Express, Southeast Asia’s leading e-commerce logistics provider, in Singapore. Themed ‘Support SG Local: Going Further and Beyond’, the digital fashion week is part of J&T Express’ ongoing efforts to support homegrown retail and fashion brands that have been affected by the global pandemic.
In conjunction with the five-day event which will be held from 18 to 22 August 2021, watch models strut their stuff in outfits from about 20 homegrown labels – MDS Collections and Saturday Club included – at the virtual fashion show that will be streaming on 20 August at 7pm across J&T Express’ social platforms on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
And if you like what you saw on the runway, you’ll be able to shop directly during the livestream simply by scanning the QR code that will appear during the show,
On top of that front-row access to Singapore’s fashion during the five-day event, you can also score exclusive promotions and discounts of up to 90% off from participating brands via the J&T Fashion Week microsite, as well as participate in exciting giveaways through J&T Express’ official Facebook and Instagram pages.
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