November has crept up on us and soon it’ll be Christmas.
Christmas hasn’t rolled around yet, but there’s no reason why November can’t be a blast, especially with you’ve got all these fun things to do! Brace yourself for incredible festivals, parties you won’t regret and some early Christmas shopping.
1. Mamma Mia! The Musical
Here we go again – the sunniest musical of all time is returning to the Marina Bay Sands Stage after four long years. Directed by Phyllida Llyod, the musical features over 22 of ABBA’s biggest hits like ‘Take a Chance On Me’ and ‘Dancing Queen’, and is essentially an ABBA jukebox you can sing along to.
The plot follows Sophie’s quest to discover the identity of her father on the eve of her wedding to walk her down the aisle. With over 60 million people having watched the musical and basked in its nostalgia, fun and laughter, MAMMA MIA! has solidified its status as one of the biggest musicals of all time.
3 to 18 Nov
Mastercard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands
2. Green Is The New Black
If you’re interested in sustainable fashion in Singapore, the conscious festival is back to fly the flag high with over 70 conscious brands. This year, the festival is focusing on reducing plastic consumption where visitors can take part in an immersive virtual reality experience to better understand the significance of reducing waste.
Healthy, sustainable, and guilt-free, the marketplace here definitely won’t leave a dent on your conscience. As always, there’ll also be a cluster of healthy food vendors to satiate your hunger, live demonstrations and workshops, as well as a handful of ticketed talks powered by DBS on the benefits and wonders of conscious living.
3 to 4 Nov
Parkroyal on Pickering
3. Guinness The Great Grill Out
What could be better for a chill weekend than beer, live music, and BBQ? Guinness’ The Great Grill Out has landed in Singapore for the first time ever and you’ll be greeted with a weekend of stuffing and chugging. Expect to sample the best beer and grill pairings with meats by the likes of Artichoke, Kilo and Red Eye Smokehouse.
For those with a ferocious appetite and a love for spice, try your hand at the spicy sausage eating competition.
Plus you can even learn a thing or two. Professional chefs will be revealing secrets and showing you how to incorporate Guinness stout into your recipes.
Bet you didn’t know how versatile this beer was until now!
24 to 25 Nov
Kult Kafe
4. #TBLblockparty 2018
With the promise of rare vintage finds, nibbles and a fun Christmas bazaar (because it’s never too early for Christmas, right?), this month sees Tan Boon Liat’s block party back for its second edition with 36 participating furniture brands.
If you’ve missed the inaugural one in 2016, this year’s edition promises to be bigger and better. Each shop has their thing, so make sure to work your way through all 15-storeys.
Don’t miss Journey East’s photography exhibit, Ethnicraft Online’s one-of-a-kind wooden treasures and rare museum-worthy Persian rugs from Hassan’s Carpets. You can expect tons of bites and drinks and massive deals and discounts at several stores including Hommage Lifestyle, The Beuro, The Past Perfect Collection and more.
24 to 25 Nov
Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
5. Etsy Craftivist SG
Etsy Craftivist SG will once again be bringing some of Singapore’s best creatives together and helping locals connect with the makers and designers. The curating team adheres to the highest standards, so only select crafters will have their chance to shine.
At this market, the emphasis is on bespoke products, so don’t be shy to request for more than a little customization (that the vendors will gladly deliver).
Unique merch you can snap up as christmas gifts include paper crafts with embroidery, personalized engraving on metals, and totebags with hand-drawn designs – all handmade and #MadeinSingapore.
30 Nov to 1 Dec
Capitol Singapore
6. Gimme Shelter
Channel your inner dancing queen and bust a move with Gimmie Shelter’s collection of forgotten classics and undiscovered gems.
Inspired by everything from the original house beats of Chicago’s Warehouse to the tracks of New York’s Loft, this is the place for all music lovers to discover and dance to forgotten gems. One thing’s for sure: there’ll be no breaks when this fiesta goes down.
17 Nov
Intermission Bar, The Projector
7. Sensorium
It’s time of the year again to start getting into the festive mood and this upcoming festival is sure to get you geared up. Happening for the first time, Sensorium is a combination of exhibitions, workshops, installations and more, created to invoke sensory play and wellness.
Be sure to venture into The Tickle Room, an interactive exhibit involving feathers to engage your sense of touch; sign up for coffee and chocolate appreciation workshops; create your own scent at a perfume mixology.
Most importantly, go on an acoustic journey with experimental Indonesian electro pop duo Bottlesmoker, who is performing only on Sunday. If your senses aren’t tingling yet, it will.
17 to 18 Nov
Funan Showsuite
8. Just EGG Food Truck Experience
In celebration of World Vegan Day on Thursday, the folks at Grand Hyatt Singapore will be launching San Francisco-based food tech innovator JUST Inc’s JUST Egg at their exclusive three day food truck.
Made from mung beans, this “egg” is completely plant-based and most importantly, tastes exactly like eggs.
The JUST Egg Patty ($5) is tucked in between a freshly-baked homemade corn bun, dairy-free cheddar cheese, avocado puree, and tomato jam. Also on the line up is an active panel discussion on The Future of Food at The Gallery by food and nutrition experts on the social and environmental impacts of the food industry.
1 to 3 Nov
Grand Hyatt Singapore
9. Singapore Writers Festival
Spread across 10 days, the literary festival pays homage to the world’s acclaimed writers with programmes based on a wide spectrum of topics from feminism to climate change. Ignite thought-provoking conversations through panel discussions, hands-on workshops, live performances, film screenings and more.
Although it is technically not a film festival, the Singapore Writers Festival has a drool-worthy line-up of film screenings: rapper and social activist M.I.A.’s long-awaited biopic MATANGI/MAYA/M.I.A., provocateur Gaspar Noe’s sangria-soaked nightmare Climax, and Lars Von Trier’s polarising psychological horror The House That Jack Built.
2 to 11 Nov
Various Locations
Website
10. Neon Lights
This annual music and arts festival never fails to draw the crowds who brave the mud, rain and sweat year after year. Gear up for another bash at Fort Canning.
Kicking things off on a high note on Friday is one of the biggest names in the line-up: Malaysian and Los Angeles-based R&B sensation, Yuna. Other exciting headliners include indie rock band Interpol, playing their first show in Singapore and Southeast Asia, and fast-rising dream-pop group Cigarettes After Sex.
Also, don’t miss the silent disco affair and UV face painting that lets you party with a psychedelic glow.
9 to 11 Nov
Fort Canning Park, Fort Gate
11. Sowing Room x Carpenter & Cook x Romanez Pop-up
With Christmas around the corner, earn the title of “best Secret Santa” and do good this festive season at this bespoke pop-up service.
Sowing Room will be providing a one-off bespoke service for customers to have fabrics of their choice made into tote bags, wet bags, clutch bags, lunch bags, cushion covers, coasters, oven mitts and more.
For every job done, customers will receive a complimentary cup of coffee from Carpenter & Cook.
1 to 3 Nov
Carpenter & Cook
Website
12. Dia de Muertos Singapore
Halloween may be over, but the fourth edition of Dia de Muertos Singapore is coming up on Nov 3.
The Mexican tradition Dia de Muertos – ‘Day of the Dead’ in Spanish – returns to the grounds of the F1 Pit building in remembrance of those who have passed onto the afterlife. Celebrate Mexican culture and catch storyteller Valentina Orti perform fascinating folk tales and pre-Hispanic dances through the night.
Plus, there will be dance workshops and performances by Esencias de Mexico and authentic Mex food from Munets Handcrafted Empanadas, Senor Taco and Casa Poncho so you know it’ll be good!
3 Nov
F1 Pit Building
