It’s all about water inflatables, food and Potato Head.
We’ve all probably heard of the DBS Regatta and assumed it was only about dragon boating and tanned, muscular athletes. But Singapore’s annual watersport festival is back this year, with a bang. The organisers are stepping it up this year – not only can the public catch the region’s top dragon-boating teams battle it out, they can also enjoy heaps of dynamic activities.
Held against the iconic Marina Bay skyline, DBS and the Singapore Dragon Boat Association will be bringing us a slew of activities that will satisfy anyone from an outdoor enthusiast and fitness lover to partygoers and music lovers alike.
This year, you can expect a festiva on both land and water. Options for water-sports include sailing and of course, dragon boating. This year’s dragon boat competition will see roughly 90 teams and more than 3,000 athletes battle it out on the waters for cash prizes totalling $134,000, the highest in Asia. For amateurs, you can try your hand at sailing during the regatta with DBS’s 18m-tall Swedish Match 40 sailboats, the first of its kind in Asia.
And for those of us who aren’t into water-sports: There are 5 whole other activities in store for you.
BAY BEACH
After a day of fun, relax on Bay Beach, a pop-up urban beach. It’ll be double the size of last year’s with colourful deck chairs to boot. Of course, a day at the beach is never complete without drinks. Bali’s famous beach club, Potato Head, will hold a pop-up Coconut Bar with special cocktails created exclusively for this event.
BAY EATS
Basically a food village, Bay Eats will feature food stalls from eateries such as Leng Leng ice cream, The Bell Jar and French eatery Garcon, among other curated picks by The Local People.
We won’t say anything if you’re simply there for the food.
BATTLE BAY
It’s secretly our heart’s desire to jump on inflatables and throw all worries aside. Well you can, and age is no restriction. Expect to tackle scaled walls, rope swings and balance blocks, all on a giant inflatable water course. Go solo or sign up as a team, and the fastest from each category has a shot at winning up to $8,000 in cash prizes.
BAY DOME
Imagine a gigantic Bay Dome offering an interactive art experience. Set to be Singapore’s largest, it will also feature an illustrated projection of the Marina Bay skyline. There’s also a chance for you to customise your own character and watch it come to life – like an ArtScience museum of sorts.
This year also sees the regatta partnering with electronic music festival behemoth Ultra, urban fitness brand lululemon and F&B curators The Local People.
PLAY DOME
This 9 metre-tall Play Dome will also host a string of free fitness classes that everyone is welcome to join, regardless of your fitness level. The Canadian athletic apparel brand, Lululemon will also be giving you a little surprise after the class, just ensure you’re registered from May 2 onwards.
By night, the dome will transform into a place where you can start counting down to the Ultra Music Festival. On 2 and 3 June, three Ultra Music Festival DJs will be playing each night, so it’s a perfect excuse for you to head down, if you’re giving Ultra a miss.
