The Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 (also known as Mooncake Festival), which falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is one of the most important festivals for the Chinese community around the world.

And this year's Festival falls on 4 October 2017, a Wednesday. What this means is that the bulk of the Mid-Autumn activities will be taking place on the weekend of 30 September and 1 October. But actually, some of the family-friendly activities are in fact starting THIS WEEKEND (23 & 24 Sep)!


The Mid-Autumn Festival is all about spending time with the family, parading lanterns and of course, gorging on mooncakes, what better way to spend these 2 following weekends than to get those lanterns ready, head out and bring the kiddos down to the following festivities.

Depending on your preference, there are five to choose from:

#1 If you wish to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with humongous colourful lantern displays, including a spectacular light and sound show:


A much-anticipated event in the Gardens' calendar, Mid-Autumn @ Gardens by the Bay draws visitors with its large-scale lantern displays and myriad festivities amidst a lush garden setting.
This year, the Gardens celebrates autumn abundance with lantern sets symbolic of bountiful harvests and good fortune, nightly cultural performances, a food street featuring Asian delights, and craft booths offering activities like lantern decorating, umbrella painting and Chinese knotting.

LANTERN DISPLAY
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | 7pm - 11pm
Outdoor: Golden Garden, Canopy, Floral Clock, Supertree Grove, Dragonfly Lake, Dragonfly Bridge & Bayfront Plaza | Indoor: Flower Dome*
*Admission charge to the conservatories applies.


Take a stroll through the outdoor gardens where sprawling lantern sets bring to life scenes of bountiful harvests and abundance. Don't miss "Waters of Prosperity", the largest lantern display created by the Gardens to date. Spanning an area of 1,250 square metres over water, this lantern set portrays a fishing village teeming with 70 carp-shaped lanterns.

Other highlights include "Grains of Gold", a paddy field illuminated with 4,000 glowing rice stalks; "Splendour of Blooms" featuring some 250 waterlily-shaped lanterns floating on the lake; and "Flight of the Dragonflies" with more than 100 dragonfly-shaped lanterns adorning the Supertrees. The lanterns dotting the outdoor gardens continue inside Flower Dome as part of the "Autumn Harvest" floral display; look out for a plethora of fruit and vegetable-shaped lanterns including a giant pumpkin-shaped one!


FUN ZONE
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | 6pm - 9.30pm | Supertree Grove

Try your hand at arts and crafts like lantern decorating, umbrella painting and Chinese knotting at the interactive craft booths. Booths include: Lantern decorating, Umbrella Painting, Chinese knots, Glowsticks and Balloons.

BLOSSOMING HARVEST(TRADITIONAL ARTS SHOWCASE)
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | Mon - Thur: 8pm to 8.45pm; Fri - Sun: 7pm - 7.45pm, 8pm - 8.45pm | Supertree Grove
*Special performance on a 40-foot trailer on 29 Sep & 4 Oct, 9pm

Presented in partnership with the National Arts Council, "Blossoming Harvest" is a series of free cultural performances held nightly at the Supertree Grove. A display of local traditional arts groups, be prepared to be enthralled by elegant traditional music and dance performances. Our young talents will also be presenting contemporary interpretations of traditional forms.

ILLUMINATIONS OF JOY
22 Sep - 18 Oct | 7pm - 11pm | Silver Garden

The Silver Garden comes aglow with some 1,000 light installations created by beneficiaries from 30 social service organisations in Singapore. Illuminations of Joy celebrates a bicultural festival of lights with a display that will run from Mid-Autumn to Deepavali in the Gardens.

GARDEN RHAPSODY: TALES OF THE MOON
22 Sep - 31 Oct 2017 | 7.45pm and 8.45pm | Supertree Grove

For this special Mid-Autumn edition, the light and sound show will showcase spectacular lights like none before, and feature a medley of popular tunes that revolve around the moon, such as the jazz favourite 'Fly Me to the Moon' and the Chinese classic 'The Moon Represents my Heart' (月亮代表我的心). Immerse yourself in a breathtaking concoction of dancing lights from the Supertrees and evocative soundtracks beneath the gentle glow of the moon.

FOOD STREET
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | 6pm - 9.30pm | Colonnade (Supertree Grove)

Indulge in a spread of Asian delights at Colonnade at Supertree Grove!

#2 If you wish to soak in the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival atmosphere:

Photo courtesy of Belinda Tan

Walk down memory lane with your loved ones at Chinatown’s annual Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations this September! Soak in the joyous atmosphere that will bring back nostalgic memories of your childhood, as the streets of the Chinatown precinct are illuminated by a plethora of dazzling and brightly-hued LED lantern displays, guaranteed to leave visitors in wide-eyed wonder.

Street Light-Up
23 Sep - 19 Oct 2017 | 7pm – 12mn (Sunday – Thursday) & 7pm – 2am (Friday & Saturday) | Along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and South Bridge Road

Soak in the festivities and celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown, where traditional Chinese culture comes alive. Be enchanted by the flower-themed decorations of Chinatown as New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, South Bridge Road and the inner streets of Chinatown are adorned with colourful lanterns of varying shapes and sizes.

Photo courtesy of Belinda Tan

Festive Trade Fair and Street Stalls
Carnival: 20 September to 9 October 2017 | 11am – 10.30pm | Open Space In Front of People’s Park Complex
Street Stall: 20 September to 4 October 2017 | 10.30am – 10.30pm | Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Smith Street

The full moon represents an auspicious symbol of abundance, harmony and prosperity. Chinese communities all over the world celebrate its appearance on this important occasion. During the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival, visitors can bask in the festivities, walk along the bustling festive street stalls and shop for festive goodies. Be spoilt for choice as over 300 festival stalls will offer a dazzling variety of festive treats like moon cakes, pomelos, lanterns, handicrafts, tea and more.

Photo courtesy of Belinda Tan

Nightly Stage Shows
23 Sep - 4 Oct 2017 | 8.00pm – 10.30pm | Kreta Ayer Square

Gather around for the nightly performances at Kreta Ayer Square during the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. Even today, the Square remains a popular gathering point for local Chinese communities. Catch and be entertained by the animated and dynamic Chinese cultural acts, folk songs, and music and dance numbers by local entertainers and troupes from China.

Mass Lantern Walk
1 October 2017 | 7pm – 10pm | Starting Point: Kreta Ayer Square; Ending Point: Along New Bridge Road (Main Stage in front of Lucky Chinatown)

Enjoy a fun night out with family and friends with your creative lanterns – or dress up as one! – as you join in the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2017 Mass Lantern Walk that is open to the public. Immerse yourself in the festive spirit as you soak in the leisurely-paced lantern parade procession under the full moon and the dazzling displays around Chinatown. Don’t forget the impressive acts of the dragon dance troupes, energetic cheerleaders and the percussion band along the way! The lantern walk will conclude with stage performances and pyrotechnics display in the heart of Chinatown.

#3 If you wish to expose the little ones to Chinese traditional art forms:


Moonfest – A Mid-Autumn Celebration is an annual Chinese traditional arts festival held in celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival. Now in its 13th edition, Moonfest showcases the intrinsic beauty of traditional arts so that all may cherish our shared heritage in this increasingly tech-savvy world. The festival is also a great opportunity for parents and their children to get in touch with our roots and keep traditions alive. FREE activities include:

Meet the Mascots
29 Sep – 1 Oct 2017 | Various timings & locations around Esplanade

Chang E, Hou Yi and Mr Mooncake's appearance
29 Sep, Fri: 8.15pm (Waterfront) & 9.30pm (Concourse)
30 Sep, Sat: 5.30pm (Concourse), 7.15pm (Forecourt Garden) & 8.30pm (Concourse)
1 Oct, Sun: 5.30pm (Concourse), 6.45pm (Waterfront) & 8pm (Waterfront)

PIP’s appearance
30 Sep, Sat: 4.25pm (Concourse), 5.30pm (Concourse), 6.30pm (Outside Theatre Studio) & 7.15pm (Forecourt Garden)

Chang E, Hou Yi and Mr Mooncake are here at Esplanade to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with everybody! Our ever-lovable PIP will also make a special appearance on 30 Sep (Sat) too, and join in the fun at our lantern walkabout that evening.

Lantern Walkabout
30 Sep 2017 | 7.30pm | Esplanade Waterfront
Gather at the Forecourt Garden by 7.15pm


Enjoy a lovely stroll along the Esplanade Waterfront with your family and friends, joined by sprightly LED phoenixes and a dragon! Bring your favourite lantern or grab a free lantern sponsored by Moonfest Arts Partner Gold Roast Instant Beverages.

Craft Workshop: Pompom Jade Rabbit
30 Sep & 1 Oct 2017 | 2pm – 6pm | Esplanade Concourse


In the cold Moon Palace where Chang E resides, there is a little Jade Rabbit that accompanies her. Using yarn and simple materials, make your own little pompom Jade Rabbit to keep you company this Mid-Autumn!

Storytelling: Grandmother’s Tales
30 Sep – 1 Oct 2017 | Sat & Sun12.45pm, 3.15pm & 4.45pm | PIP's PLAYbox
12.45pm: Stories in English by Jasmine Xie
3.15pm & 4.45pm: Stories in Mandarin by Chang Tingwei

Wa si dio jiu nang. Hi, I am a Teochew, what about you? Come join Jasmine and Tingwei on a journey to find out more about Chinese dialect groups through a series of fun and engaging stories that were passed down from our grandmothers.

For a detailed listing of both free and ticketed activities, visit HERE.

#4 If you wish for the kids to learn more about the history and cultural significance of Mid-Autumn Festival all under one roof:



Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2017 presents an exciting weekend of festive offerings suitable for the young and young at heart, including heritage trails, guided tours, lantern walkabouts, craft workshops, and evening music performances ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. Join in the fun at Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2017 to learn more about the history and cultural significance of this much-loved Chinese festival!

Situated along Tampines Ave 8 and just a stone's throw away from the new cluster of flats at Tampines Green Forest (Blocks 878A & 879A), this playground area consists of a three-storey tower structure and a sand playground for younger kids.


For older kids though, the highlight here has got to be the tower structure which comprises of three towers, a climbing cargo net, a long slide and a circular rope ladder. This is similar to the one found at Woodlands Waterfront, which the boys absolutely adored by the way.



Kids (or even adults) can scurry their way up the cargo netting to reach the first tower. From there, they will cross a series of cargo net bridges and be rewarded witha fast ride down the tall slide! However, the slide is still closed at the time of writing.


But something tells me the tall tower structures will be enough to keep the kids happy and well-exercised!


For younger kids who are not adept at climbing up tall structures yet, there is a multi-sensory playground structure located beside it. I have got to day this is one of the more comprehensive children's playground I have come across - ladders, climbing poles, ramps, bridges, interactive panels, a play-board with movable letters, as well as boards which allow kids to make sounds and music!


For even younger kids, there is a miniature playground located at Block 879B.


Shipwreck Playground at Compassvale Crescent

Have kids who love all things marine? Then the new Shipwreck playground at Sengkang's Compassvale Crescent (Blocks 286 & 289) will thrill them!


Paying homage to Sengkang Town's past history as a fishing village, the 'Ship Discovery' playground comes in the form of a great old ship which has gone down in a storm close to the shore. With its broken mast, ropes and wreckage lying around, everything is up to the kids' imagination.


Or should there be pirates, they can make a quick escape via the slide too!


 Need a quiet break? The hull of the ship is also home to a secret compartment for kids to head inside.



Personally, I find this playground to break the usual mould of how a children's playground should be and look like. It allows kids to be able to formulate their own stories while playing there so it's extremely refreshing indeed!


For younger kids, there is a smaller boat which comprises of the usual play structures located just opposite of the Shipwreck playground.




Kampung Admiralty

Kampung Admiralty in Woodlands is the first 'modern kampung' to integrate facilities where the old and young can play and exercise together. So expect to find residential units, medical services, childcare, eldercare, and shops all under one roof... including this climbing net playground!


Located on Level 6 of Kampung Admiralty (Block 676, Woodlands Drive 71), the play structure consists of a huge climbing net, a low-level rock climbing slope as well as a slide.




Nothing too fanciful, but it is worth a visit if you are heading to the newly-opened hawker centre at Level 2. A unique feature is each of the hawker stalls will offer at least one meal priced at $2.80! See the photos for some of the dishes. Definitely more affordable if you have kids with a big appetite... like mine. LOL.


If you know of any new and free playgrounds that have opened recently, do let me know too!


Useful Information

Tampines Green Forest Park
Blocks 878A & 879A, Tampines Ave 8, Singapore 521879

Shipwreck Playground @ Compassvale Crescent
Blocks 286 & 289, Compassvale Crescent, Singapore 541289

Kampung Admiralty
Block 676, Woodlands Drive 71, Singapore 730676
(Beside Admiralty MRT)

I am not going to get started on the need for PSLE because, you know, the system is there but it is up to us parents on how to approach it with our kids in the least stressful way possible. And if you have been following me on either Facebook or Instagram in the past 2 weeks leading up to PSLE, you would have read some of my tongue-in-cheek #cheekiemonkiePSLE quotes.


All done in good fun, because there is nothing like injecting a little humour to relieve some stress, no? Especially since there is so much revision to complete with Ash over the past few weeks.


And if you read my previous post on Ash's journey with The Learning Lab, you would also have known that both the wifey and I are utterly clueless when it comes to coaching him on essay writing. There is no doubt that English has always been Ash's weaker subject so The Learning Lab's 10-week P6 English Composition Excellence Workshop helped him tremendously. Which is a good thing, since that means no more puking sessions for me!


But jokes aside, I feel English as a subject is so difficult to teach. So for the teaching to be effective, a well-planned curriculum with skilled guidance is a must as this allows kids feel more confident in their abilities, and helps them make the most of what they are already learning at school.

And if your kid is short on time for revision, The Learning Lab's Intensive Revision Series is great for equipping the child with the best PSLE ammunition in the shortest possible time. Ash attended the P6 English Intensive Revision Series during the September School Holidays and at the end of the 2 days, he remarked that he had learnt new techniques when it comes to answering questions in the English Paper 2!


Subject mastery is important in building a strong foundation for academic success. Hence, the programme is made up of a series of workshops based on key examinable components such as composition writing and comprehension. In addition, extra emphasis is placed on other exam components such as grammar as well as synthesis and transformation - areas which Ash is particularly weak in!


Through all of this, Ash learnt more about question-answering techniques, how to identify and manage question types and learnt how to avoid making common mistakes.

Another aspect of The Learning Lab that I found to be particularly helpful was the updates I had from Ash's teacher. I received a phone call from the teacher, who provided useful updates about Ash. She pointed out his areas of weakness, and suggested ways we could reinforce certain teaching concepts at home.


In any case, I am so glad it is all over... for this year at least. Until the same 'here-we-go-again' thing repeats next year for Ayd. And if there is one important thing that I learnt as a PSLE parent this year, it is the importance of having a good revision plan for your child and starting revision early.

Because a lot of it boils down to time – which when well-planned, will help you to make the most of the months leading up to the big exam. so if you have a child who will be taking the PSLE next year, I have a few tips on how to work out your own PSLE action plan:

Discuss priorities and targets

Before all the revision, schedules and tuition come in, have a good chat with your child first. Hear out his/her thoughts about the exam, and discuss on the targets and whether they are realistic. Take the chance to find out any fears and doubts that the child may have and let him/her know that the PSLE is a team effort, and that the family will be there for him/her, showing support every step of the way.

Identify areas of weaknesses and source for solutions

Solutions can come in many forms, and do not necessarily solely refer to extra tuition. It can be setting aside 30 minutes for solid revision work every weekday night or joining study groups. But if your child does receive tuition, it is important to zoom in on the specific areas of weakness so that the solution is targeted and more effective. In the case of Ash, his main weakness in English is in essay writing so that made The Learning Lab's P6 English Composition Excellence workshop a perfect fit.

Draw up a study schedule

This is a year of discipline so coming up with a study schedule is key because it keeps the child focused and maps out the revision plan in a clear manner. This will also allow you to allocate more hours to your child’s weaker areas where necessary.

Make time for leisure as family

Some may advocate a complete ban on playing computer games and going on family holidays during PSLE year but as with everything, moderation is key. Don't further stress the child by imposing on additional constraints - Ash still played on the iPad during the school holidays and we went for a Campervan holiday in Perth in June. But at the end of the day, you need to know what works best for your child so do factor in his/her feelings when cutting back on leisure time.


Do you have other pointers to share with parents of Primary 6 children? I would love to hear them!



Registration for Term 1 – 2018, which commences on Wednesday, 6 December is now open. Find out more about The Learning Lab programmes at www.thelearninglab.com.sg.

What is one of the worst nightmares that any parent can have during the PSLE period?

No, it's not having not enough time to finish revision. Neither is it your kid continually making careless mistakes in the mock papers.

It is FALLING SICK during this crucial exam period... or more specifically, taking ill just one day prior to a PSLE paper.

And that was just what happened to Ash over the weekend.


Ash woke up with a slightly sore throat and drippy nose on Saturday morning and by the next day, a low-grade fever had decided to gatecrash the party as well.

Sigh.

Immediately, many thoughts ran through my mind. Will he still be able to sit for the exam on Monday? What if he is unwell but still wishes to sit for the paper? Or what will happen if he misses the exam altogether?

Fortunately, there are a few options available:

1. Able to sit for exams

This is of course, the most ideal scenario. If the child recovers in time and feels relatively well, then it will be business as usual during exam day.

2. Unwell but still wishes to take the exam

You should inform your child's school or teacher immediately, who should be able to advise you on the next course of action.

As a rule of thumb, you should obtain 2 things from the doctor: a Medical Certificate (MC) and an accompanying note stating the diagnosis as well as certifying the child medically fit to sit for the examination. The final portion is extremely important because without the certification, the school will not take the risk of something happening to the child in the midst of the exam.

If possible, contact your child's teacher the day prior to the exam so that the Chief Presiding Examiner at the school will be informed and necessary arrangements can be made.

During the morning of exam day, pass the MC and note to the teacher who will then bring the child to the isolation room where he will sit for the exam. Do note that once the MC has been declared, the child will not be able to take the exam together with other students as the school cannot risk other students falling sick as well.

If the child is hospitalised, the school will make arrangements for him/her to sit the examination in the hospital. For students who suffering from infectious disease (e.g. chicken pox or hand, foot and mouth disease), arrangements will be made for the child to sit the examinations at a designated examination centre.

Should the need arises, you may appeal for a review of results through the school immediately after obtaining the national examination results.  The appeal must be submitted to Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) through the school by the closing date. There will be an appeal fee for each subject.

3. Unable to sit for the exam

This is the trickiest part of the lot. For students who are not feeling well and not able to sit the examination, the first thing you have to do is to inform the school. Whatever course of action that comes next will come at the discretion of SEAB.




So which option did we pick? Option 2, since Ash felt well enough to go for the exam the next day.

At the end of the day, prevention is still better than cure. So keep the kids both physically and mentally healthy during this trying period. And fingers crossed!




NOTE: All of the information above have been obtained from SEAB's website and the online PSLE Instruction Booklet 2017.

If you require more information on other aspects of PSLE, you can visit HERE.

This year's Children's Day is a tad bittersweet for me... because Ash will be celebrating his final Children's Day. Come next year this time, he will be a full-fledged teenager. *GASP*

Time truly flies so my advice to all parents with young kids is to cherish every single moment every day. And there's no better way to bond with them than to bring them out for a day of fun this 6-8 October weekend! Good news is, I have done the homework for you. Here are 26 options - with more than half being FREE! - to take your pick from!




The annual Octoburst! – A Children’s Festival is back! This year, Octoburst! invites the young to connect with Mother Nature and the environment through the arts. Through hands-on activities and performances, we hope children will explore the wonders of nature and cultivate an appreciation and curiosity for the world they live in. Here are some of the top picks:

FREE Activities:

Boats
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | 10.30am, 4pm & 5.30pm | Esplanade Courtyard Green
All aboard! Set sail on colourful vessels in an adventurous play space. Depart from Esplanade Courtyard Green and navigate through urban seascapes in search of safe harbour. Join the Boats crew on their Asian premiere this Octoburst!

Nature’s Creatures
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | 11am – 6pm | Esplanade Concourse
Designed by Three Pumpkins in collaboration with Isabelle Desjeux, Nature's Creatures invites children to depict the world of Mother Nature and her wondrous creatures through observational drawing, print rubbing, sculpting, and loose-part playing.

A Pipe-ful Play Garden
6 - 8 Oct 2017| 11am - 7pm | Esplanade Courtyard Green
This is the perfect place to have some fun in the sun! Back again this year, this activity is about constructing an ever-growing pipe-maze that everyone can participate and play in. Don't miss this interactive community artwork that encourages teamwork, learning and family bonding through play!

Let’s Get Grooving!
6 & 7 Oct 2017 | 3pm | Esplanade Concourse
Get up and boogie down with Sinclair Ang, an established and sought-after jazz specialist! On Friday, learn the basics of Charleston, the original “shuffling”, and on Saturday, try your feet at Authentic Solo Jazz which includes moves such as the Fishtails, the Fall off the Logs and Boogie Walks.

Billie & the Big Book
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | 7.45pm | Esplanade Outdoor Theatre
Billie Butterfinger loves to play video games. Her friend, Norman Sulaiman loves to read books instead. Billie thinks that books are boring. However, after noticing that Norman seems to enjoy books so much, she decides to give it a try and read a big book she got for her birthday. The book transports the two friends into Paper Town, a wonderful world full of paper people. However, their adventure leads them in an encounter with Julius Scissors and his pet monster that have been terrorising the paper people. Can Billie and Norman save the people of Paper Town?

Grow a Garden
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | Fri: 3pm – 6pm; Sat & Sun: 2pm – 6pm | Esplanade Mall Level 2 (Beside Old School Delights)
Being a young gardener can be fun and simple! We often take for granted the kinds of waste we generate in our everyday lives and how we can take small steps to protect Mother Nature. With a little guidance from artist, Mrydette, kids will learn how to repurpose recycled bottles and grow a mini garden. See how waste can transform into something beautiful and meaningful in this hands-on activity.

In Search of the Rain
6 – 8 Oct 2017 | 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm | library@esplanade
In Search of the Rain is an interactive performance that takes audiences into a smoggy city where pollution has caused everyone to fall ill. Journey together with a little girl and her grandpa as they look for clean water to save the city and discover how the actions of the people they meet have consequences to the sea creatures. Can the little girl collect enough clean water in time to save their home in time?

*Limited capacity of 20 pax per session. Admission stickers will be issued by our ushers 30 minutes before each session, on a first-come, first-served basis. For ages 3 & up.

Meera’s Nature Adventures
6 – 8 Oct 2017 | 5pm | Open Stage, library@esplanade
Meera returns for more fun this Octoburst!. This time, her nature adventure takes her deep into the ocean, amongst the clouds and through a forest. Come join Meera as she meets different animals who are struggling to survive with the many problems our environment is facing.  Learn how you can help them keep our world healthy and safe for our animal friends.

Fold, Crinkle, Roll
7 & 8 Oct 2017 | 4.30pm | Esplanade Concourse
Unable to sleep at night, two characters crack open a book and magical stories start to unfold. Through the power of curiosity, each page transports them to a different world where they notice its sights and sounds. By working together, they overcome obstacles, discover new creatures and find new chapters.Join them on this exciting adventure – underwater, over ground, and through the clouds. We can’t wait to see where you end up!

A multi-sensory dance experience created especially for children aged 3-8, Fold, Crinkle, Roll captures the challenges and possibilities in working with paper to engage the imagination.

PIP's Meet & Greet
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | Various timings & locations
11.30am: Concourse
1.30pm: Concourse
3pm: Theatre Studio
3.50pm: Courtyard Green
4.45pm: Theatre Studio
5.45pm: Concourse
6.50pm: Courtyard Green

Ticketed Programmes:

Cloud Man
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | 6 Oct 2017: 2pm; 7 Oct 2017: 2pm & 5pm; 8 Oct 2017: 11am & 2pm | Esplanade Theatre Studio | $25
Cloudia has always believed in the existence of Cloud Man - extremely rare creatures who live a quiet life high up in the sky. She has dreamt all her life to see one of them. Follow Cloudia on her journey to the very top of Cloud Mountain, a place where the views always bring surprises – and if you’re lucky, you might see something very special.

When All Was Green
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | 6 Oct 2017: 5pm; 7 Oct 2017: 11am; 8 Oct 2017: 5pm | Esplanade Theatre Studio | $25
Inspired by Shel Silverstein’s picture book “The Giving Tree”, When All Was Green is an award-winning puppetry play without words about mankind, nature and greed. Taking place on a set made of old books and recycled bindings, the story tells of the changing relationship between a boy and a tree as he grows up.

Afternoon of a Foehn Version 1
6 - 8 Oct 2017 | 1pm, 3pm & 5.30pm | Esplanade Annexe Studio | $10
Ever wondered what the life of a discarded plastic bag is like? Afternoon of a Foehn is a visual theatre piece that takes audiences on a dreamy flight of wonderment. Long forgotten plastic bags come to life as graceful ballerinas dancing to the tune of Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun with a little help from a “foehn” or warm, dry wind.

Dance Appreciation Series: Introduction to The Nutcracker
7 Oct 2017 | 1pm & 4pm | Esplanade Concert Hall | $14
It’s Christmas and Clara Nightingale receives a beautifully-crafted nutcracker from Dr Drosselmeyer, a guest at her parent’s annual Christmas party. That night, she lies in bed with her new doll by her side. Suddenly, magic unfolds and her house is invaded by an army of mice. The nutcracker springs to life to defend the house and a fierce battle ensues. In this hour-long special for young audiences, find out what happens next and discover the world of ballet. Come dressed in your favourite costumes and meet the cast after the performance for a photo-taking session.

Parent-Child Workshop: The Imaginative World of Paper and Moving Paper Puppets
7 & 8 Oct 2017 | 2pm | Esplanade Rehearsal Studio | $28 per parent-child pair
How can a plain piece of paper show emotions? How does an object become a puppet – is it only about movement? Explore the imaginative world of paper and learn the basics of puppet manipulation in this workshop. Using only paper, participants will create their own paper characters with moving joints, build its identity, story, and also create other objects to complement the story.

For a detailed listing of all free & ticketed activities AND to purchase tickets, visit HERE.



Fun for the whole family beckons at Waterway Point’s Children’s Weekend Wonderland! Participate in stage games, a colouring contest among others. Plus, win attractive prizes and walk away with goodie bags. For a detailed schedule, visit HERE.




Science Centre Singapore is proud to present the latest edition of Young Learners’ Festival! Expect a series of fun and educational activities at the Science Centre. This year’s theme is “I Like to… Move It!” and kids will be given the opportunity to participate in exciting hands-on activities, bring back their own hand made souvenirs and be treated to a fascinating Science show. For more details, visit HERE.

Changi Loves Kids invites children to come and play at the Changi Loves Kids Carnival this Children’s Day weekend! There will be rides, games and prizes to be won!

Kamishibai
Date: 6 to 8 October 2017
Location: Event Area, Terminal 3, Basement 2, Public Area (opposite Kopitiam) 

Welcome to the fantastic world of Kamishibai (Paper-Plays)! Come join the storytelling sessions by the National Library Board to experience a slice of classic Japanese storytelling on 6 to 8 Oct, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm (each session is approximately 30 mins).

Kamishibai is a form of storytelling street art which is said to have started in Japan in the late 1920s. The typical “Kamishibai Man” was a candy seller and storyteller that sold candies or treats to crowds of children on busy urban street corners in Japan until the 1950s. Illustrated giant picture cards were inserted into a small wooden stage for children to see while the script or suggestions for the story was written on the other side for the storyteller. Some artists who made their living with Kamishibai eventually turned to the creation of manga (Japanese comic books) and Kamishibai is in fact often viewed as the precursor of modern manga! Besides Kamishibai, the storytelling sessions also includes fun stories where the children can get to interact with the storytellers.

FREE Carnival Rides
Date: 6 October 2017
Location: Terminal 3, Departure Check-in Hall Level 2 (Near Row 11), Public Area

Enjoy free carnival rides on 6 Oct. No minimum spend required!

Terms and Conditions: No spending is required for children below 12 years old for access to any of the three (3) rides namely, Heli Jet Ride, Carousel Ride and Western Train Ride. Only one (1) adult is allowed to accompany his/her child for both Carousel and Western Train Rides. Usual Carnival Passes are required for access to the games namely, Ring Toss, Feed The Lion and Claw Machine.



This new production about appreciating the differences amongst people invites audiences to experience how creatures in a completely white world live their lives. Children are born without prejudice yet are taught to see differences, and that one colour is better than others. This performance tells the story of a little girl named Malini, and an old man named Siwa. They live in a world where everything is white, flat and cold. However, one day, Malini discovers that her chick has been born a different colour. Once the adults find out that other colours have appeared, they will take action. This is an experimental non-verbal performance for children and adults. Suitable for kids aged 4 and up. For tickets, visit HERE.



Meet The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he chomps away on his journey to metamorphosis! Starting out as a baby caterpillar eating anything and everything along the way, he changes into a beautiful butterfly at the end. Then, join bored Little Cloud who decides to stray away from his fellow mates to go on a thrilling adventure transforming himself into an airplane, a sheep, a clown with a funny hat and even a shark! And lastly, follow The Mixed Up Chameleon who doesn’t think he’s special changing colours everyday. He finally embraces his uniqueness only after an identity calamity happens when he decides to emulate the different animals he meets at the zoo. For tickets, visit HERE.



Spook-tacular chills and thrills await the bravest of the brave who attend LEGOLAND Malaysia's Halloween Brick-or-Treat. This year promises more spine-tingling fun and super-rific fun: Be greeted in the morning by Halloween characters and Ghostbusters during the Halloween Power Dance Tutorial (Weekdays) or Ghost-Busters Dance (Weekends) at LEGOLAND Theme Park; Build Halloween characters with LEGO bricks and receive a limited-edition Halloween Duplo Brick at Halloween Building Activity; Dress your kids in their most creative Halloween themed costumes and stand a chance to win some prizes at Spook-Tacular Costume Contest; Test your lung power at our Scream-oo-Meter, train under the very best witches at Learn-A-Spell and many more in our Spooky Trail! End the night and celebrate Halloween with LEGO Halloween characters at Brick-A-Boo Parade! For more details, visit HERE.

*For kids who dress up in Halloween costume during the Halloween Brick-or-Treat Party Nights, they will enjoy FREE admission to the Theme Park!



Go on a journey to explore, discover, and create every first Saturday of the month at the Asian Civilisations Museum! Be captivated by fascinating performances, journey across Asia with incredible storytellers, or make your own masterpiece.

Bring your entire family including your aunties, uncles and cousins, and spend family time at the Families for Life picnic at East Coast Park! In celebration of Children’s Day, come on down to Angsana Green and enjoy loads of fun and memorable activities and games! Highlights include:

Scavenger Hunt
Have fun testing your knowledge of East Coast Park and complete the scavenger hunt together with your family!

It’s MAGIC! 
Children, be entertained by a special magic performance on stage!

Bubbles! Bubbles!
Catch them if you can! The bubbles will “appear” every 30 minutes between 5pm to 7pm to entertain the children and adults too! The Bubbles session lasts only 10 minutes each time, so catch them while you can!

Family Fun Activities
There will be lots of fun family-friendly activities such as bouncy castles, art & craft work using buttons and scratch art.

Evening Picnic and Movie Screening
Wind down your weekend with a chill and relaxing picnic. Pack your family favourite food and enjoy the evening picnic and the movie screening of Finding Dory.



Get ready for a day of fun with the family. Spend some time to bond with your child through family games like Fruit Bingo, Sensory play and more!



Celebrate Children’s Day with plus-sized fun games and experience a plus-sized day out for the little ones to play and learn! Receive an exclusive McDonald’s Happy Pack* upon completion of all 3 game stations: Giant darts, Giant Jenga and Giant soccer pool.

Get ‘crafty’ and bring home your personalised Perler Beads too! On top of that, enjoy free flow of crunchy popcorn and fluffy candy floss for everyone, while stocks last! In addition, be the first 40 pax each day to redeem a free vanilla cone from Mcdonald’s over the weekend from 6 to 8 Oct 17.

*Mcdonald’s Happy Pack is redeemable for SAFRA members only. Guests of SAFRA will receive a mystery gift from SAFRA.


Celebrate World Mental Health Day this October! Attend a concert in the park featuring a special guest appearance by Mandopop queen Stefanie Sun and a stellar line-up of local artistes including Marc X Hashy, Chloe Seah and Amanda Lee. Relax your mind on a Saturday afternoon and participate in a mindfulness session before the concert. Arrive early to collect a set of limited-edition tote bag and picnic mat. Limited-edition tote bags and picnic mats will be given out at the event venue from 4.30pm onwards while stocks last, on a first-come, first-served basis.



The 2-Day Family Carnival provides engaging activities for families to experience together! Bond with the family over fun activities such as pony rides, the Longest Indoor Inflatable Obstacle Course for Parent and Child and a family golf challenge. For more details and tickets, visit HERE.



Westgate Wonderland Halloween Party is back! Join the kids for a thrilling adventure with Interactive Game Stations, GIF Photo Booth Printout, Halloween Felt Bag Workshop and Trick or Treat at Participating Stores. Little ones can come dressed in their best Halloween outfit and stand to win fabulous prizes at the Best Dressed Contest, happening every Sat and Sun night at 8pm. *Simply spend a minimum of $120 at Westgate to redeem one entry ticket to Westgate Wonderland Halloween Party.



Soak in the morning sun with a family yoga session in the park! Take the opportunity to enjoy the vast open lawns, lush banks of wildflowers and unique waterways. For the young ones that enjoy a splash, bring a change of clothes and head over to the ever popular Water Playground!


A much-anticipated event in the Gardens' calendar, Mid-Autumn @ Gardens by the Bay draws visitors with its large-scale lantern displays and myriad festivities amidst a lush garden setting.
This year, the Gardens celebrates autumn abundance with lantern sets symbolic of bountiful harvests and good fortune, nightly cultural performances, a food street featuring Asian delights, and craft booths offering activities like lantern decorating, umbrella painting and Chinese knotting.

LANTERN DISPLAY
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | 7pm - 11pm
Outdoor: Golden Garden, Canopy, Floral Clock, Supertree Grove, Dragonfly Lake, Dragonfly Bridge & Bayfront Plaza | Indoor: Flower Dome*
*Admission charge to the conservatories applies.


Take a stroll through the outdoor gardens where sprawling lantern sets bring to life scenes of bountiful harvests and abundance. Don't miss "Waters of Prosperity", the largest lantern display created by the Gardens to date. Spanning an area of 1,250 square metres over water, this lantern set portrays a fishing village teeming with 70 carp-shaped lanterns.

Other highlights include "Grains of Gold", a paddy field illuminated with 4,000 glowing rice stalks; "Splendour of Blooms" featuring some 250 waterlily-shaped lanterns floating on the lake; and "Flight of the Dragonflies" with more than 100 dragonfly-shaped lanterns adorning the Supertrees. The lanterns dotting the outdoor gardens continue inside Flower Dome as part of the "Autumn Harvest" floral display; look out for a plethora of fruit and vegetable-shaped lanterns including a giant pumpkin-shaped one!


FUN ZONE
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | 6pm - 9.30pm | Supertree Grove

Try your hand at arts and crafts like lantern decorating, umbrella painting and Chinese knotting at the interactive craft booths. Booths include: Lantern decorating, Umbrella Painting, Chinese knots, Glowsticks and Balloons.

BLOSSOMING HARVEST (TRADITIONAL ARTS SHOWCASE)
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | Mon - Thur: 8pm to 8.45pm; Fri - Sun: 7pm - 7.45pm, 8pm - 8.45pm | Supertree Grove
*Special performance on a 40-foot trailer on 29 Sep & 4 Oct, 9pm

Presented in partnership with the National Arts Council, "Blossoming Harvest" is a series of free cultural performances held nightly at the Supertree Grove. A display of local traditional arts groups, be prepared to be enthralled by elegant traditional music and dance performances. Our young talents will also be presenting contemporary interpretations of traditional forms.

ILLUMINATIONS OF JOY
22 Sep - 18 Oct | 7pm - 11pm | Silver Garden

The Silver Garden comes aglow with some 1,000 light installations created by beneficiaries from 30 social service organisations in Singapore. Illuminations of Joy celebrates a bicultural festival of lights with a display that will run from Mid-Autumn to Deepavali in the Gardens.

GARDEN RHAPSODY: TALES OF THE MOON
22 Sep - 31 Oct 2017 | 7.45pm and 8.45pm | Supertree Grove

For this special Mid-Autumn edition, the light and sound show will showcase spectacular lights like none before, and feature a medley of popular tunes that revolve around the moon, such as the jazz favourite 'Fly Me to the Moon' and the Chinese classic 'The Moon Represents my Heart' (月亮代表我的心). Immerse yourself in a breathtaking concoction of dancing lights from the Supertrees and evocative soundtracks beneath the gentle glow of the moon.

FOOD STREET
22 Sep - 8 Oct 2017 | 6pm - 9.30pm | Colonnade (Supertree Grove)

Indulge in a spread of Asian delights at Colonnade at Supertree Grove!



A lavish flower field saturated in rich hues of orange, red, gold and green welcomes visitors this
September, as autumn comes to Flower Dome in the “Autumn Harvest” floral display. Savour how the traditional season of crop gathering is interpreted in creative ways – a bounteous land is inhabited by a fruit and vegetable giant; a lush farm plot overflows with abundant produce and blooms like heleniums, callunas, phloxes and chrysanthemums; and Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage sits pretty amidst pumpkin trees.

Pumpkins take on yet another twist in the mini Halloween exhibit, where myriad carved and decorated versions celebrate the most anticipated festival of fall. There are more than 10 varieties of special pumpkins to see, such as the pristine white “Polar Bear”, the pretty striped “Pump-Ke-Mon” and the bizarre-looking “Red Warty Thing”.




The Sea Witch Truly Awakens this Halloween! From the depths of the ocean, the Sea Witch has risen to the surface with some untruths to dispel urgently. She needs the help of the Underwater Ocean Protectors and here's where the kids come into the picture. Join Captain Spooks and his team as an Underwater Ocean Protector to unravel these mysteries now. Also, while you're at it, don't miss out on exciting game stations, gorgeous underwater shows and more! For all detailed activities, visit HERE.


Watch the majestic Sentosa Merlion come to life in a spectacular display of lights and sounds! Featuring neon glows and dazzling sparkles, this is one instagram-worthy spectacle you do not want to miss!



Join in this October at River Safari, Singapore Zoo and Jurong Bird Park to learn how easy it is to start making small adjustments to our daily actions and make our environment a better place for wildlife and us. Visit HERE for a detailed list of activities.



Wander into a fantasy land of light installations and magnificent 3D lanterns in all shapes and forms, from fantastical creatures of Chinese myths to abstract motifs that captivate and dazzle the eyes. Other than photo-ops, you'll get to enjoy Chinese snacks, shop for exclusive merchandise and catch live performances, taking your Mid-Autumn celebrations to colourful new heights!








75 years after the fall of Singapore, rediscover this watershed event through a special international exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore. Hear first-hand accounts from witnesses to war: ordinary men and women whose lives were upheaved by the outbreak of hostilities in Singapore in 1942. The exhibition presents the complexities of the events that led to the fall of Singapore, paying homage to the extraordinary tenacity with which these men and women bore their circumstances.

Featuring artefacts from 10 overseas museums and institutions, Witness to War will also explore how Singapore’s fall was part of a wider campaign waged by the Japanese Empire across the Pacific.

It's FREE admission to ALL galleries from 12 to 15 October and there will be plenty to give both kids and adults entertained.

History buffs can discover the National Museum’s fascinating history, the building, its galleries and people behind it though art installations and guided tours led by the museum's curators and docents. Families can enjoy live music performances, shop at a retro market, while kids can indulge in craft activities and cupcake decoration.


Here are some of the activities happening over the four days of celebration:

1. An Art Trail

Embark on a special journey through a suite of art installations sited in and around the museum. Relook the various sites and spaces of the museum, reacquaint yourselves with the museum as a building and social space, and re-examine the stories told in its galleries.

La Bétonnière Boule à Facettes
12 – 22 Oct | 6.30pm – 11pm | Front of Museum

A post shared by Kelvin Ang (@cheekiemonkies) on Oct 11, 2017 at 2:10am PDT

Constellation of One
12 Oct – 31 Dec | Rotunda, Level 1


SONICconversation
12 – 22 Oct | Grand Staircase, Level 1


Pondok Irama
12 – 22 Oct | Glass Atrium, Level 2


Basha
12 Oct – 31 Dec | Stamford Green, access from Level 2 Coach Bay



2. Cedele Playdough Activity
Sat & Sun, 14 & 15 Oct | 2pm – 4pm | Glass Atrium, level 2

Construct your own little museum using 100% natural food-derived moulding clay to celebrate the museum’s 130th birthday. 

*On-site registration on a first come, first served basis required until all 50 moulding clay kits each day have been issued.
3. Light-up Birthday Card
Sat & Sun, 14 & 15 Oct | 10.30am – 1.30pm | Glass Atrium, level 2

Work with your child to create a special birthday card that lights up for the museum’s 130th birthday!

*45 mins each session. Limited to the first 20 children (with accompanying adults) each session. Please register on-site in advance.

4. Cedele Cupcake Decoration
Sat, 14 Oct | 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
Sun, 15 Oct | 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
Activity Space, Level 3

Decorate an exclusive cupcake with a variety of naturally dyed cake icing and sprinkles for the museum’s birthday!

*Register here for the 14 Oct session, and here for the 15 Oct session. 45 mins each session. $25 per pair (child accompanied by an adult, or two adults), pre-registration required. Limited to the first 25 pairs each session.

5. Immersive Scent-sations at the Glass Rotunda

As part of the museum’s 130th anniversary celebrations, three special scents have been introduced to Story of the Forest, an interactive art installation by teamLab that is housed within the museum’s unique Glass Rotunda.


The first scent, Welcome Flowers, greets visitors as they enter the upper rotunda, bringing to life the constellation of flowers that cascade from the top of the dome structure. As visitors make their way through the passage, they will encounter the second scent, Story of the Forest, as they interact with the flora and fauna within the virtual forest. The digital landscape comes to life at the base of the Glass Rotunda, where visitors will experience the third scent Relaxing Forest, as they witness trees flourishing before their eyes, as well as playful animals coming out of their hiding places amid the foliage.
Sat, 14 Oct | 2pm – 10pm
Sun, 15 Oct | 10am – 6pm
The Concourse, Level 1 & Glass Atrium & Coach Bay, Level 2

Indulge in some retail therapy at this specially curated flea market. Bring home one-of-a-kind handicraft, creative knick-knacks and locally-made produce. Find brand new and pre-loved items at a car boot sale or take a break at a pop-up cafe.

7. National Museum Historic Tours for Families
Sat & Sun, 14 & 15 Oct | 11am & 3.30pm (45 min each)

Let the museum's experienced docents take you on special journeys around the museum and discover more about this 130-year-old institution.

*Limited to the first 15 adult-child pairs. On-site registration at the museum’s Visitor Services counter is required and will commence 30 minutes before the start of each tour.

8. FREE Birthday Cupcake Giveaway!
Sat & Sun, 14 & 15 Oct | 4pm | Gallery Theatre Foyer, Basement


Enjoy a Cedele cupcake when you visit the museum during the birthday weekend! Here’s how:

1) Follow the National Museum of Singapore on Facebook or Instagram
2) Snap and post a photo of yourself in the museum with your birthday wishes and #happy130nms
3) Show the post at the giveaway booth to get your cupcake, while stocks last.


And remember, it is FREE ADMISSION to ALL GALLERIES so take the chance to explore the National Museum of Singapore too!


Useful Information

National Museum of Singapore 130th Anniversary Celebrations
Thu, 12 Oct | 10am – 7pm (last admission 6:30pm)
Fri – Sun, 13 – 15 Oct | 10am – 10pm (last admission 9pm)
FREE Admission
Website

Here's a fact: Men are more likely to lose their hair than women, mostly due to male pattern baldness. But thinning hair and hair loss are also common in women, and no less demoralizing. Reasons can range from the simple and temporary - a vitamin deficiency - to the more complex, like an underlying health condition. Or even having kids.

Just as how having hair problems isn’t an overnight affair, different people require different solutions when it comes to hair and scalp care treatments. Because let's face it, not all hair care products suits everyone's hair conditions.

Which is why the leading Trichological centre in Singapore, TrichoKare prides itself in providing customised treatments using premium European herbs which are free of harsh chemicals, validated by certified trichologists. TrichoKare offers holistic hair and scalp care solutions for ALL hair and scalp conditions.


I went for my regular hair and scalp treatment at TrichoKare. I first had to undergo a consultation with a Trichologist (hair and scalp specialist) who then proceeded to give an analysis of my scalp.



So how healthy was my scalp? Not exactly that healthy, as I found out. See the pink spots and sebum-build-up on my scalp? According to my Trichologist, Pooja, these are signs of mild irritation of the scalp and if left unchecked, it can cause me potential hair thinning and eventually hair loss problems in future!


Pooja then recommended a suitable Intensive Hair Regeneration Treatment programme tailored to my scalp needs: a detox session involving a masque, deep cleansing wash, TrichoKare's newest technology – Oxyspray and infrared therapy.

TrichoKare only uses premium European herbs in the masque so as to deliver a natural solution for its customers. So what goes into the masque is the healing herbal essences of Lavender and Melaleuca extracts, which is ideal for unclogging hair follicles by removing excess sebum and debris such as dandruff and other impurities from the scalp.


Oh, and I have to give a special mention to Alice, the hair expert who attended to me. In all my visits to TrichoKare, this visit stood out the most thanks to her soothing massage she administered on my scalp during the wash. I was on the verge of falling asleep.... but thankfully, I did not. Else, I would have disturbed other customers with my snoring! LOL.


After the wash came the star of the treatment process - Oxyspray.


Using pulse oxygen, jet sprays are used to infuse 98% oxygen filled with nutrition and HairGRO ampoule penetrate deeply into the scalp. These help to boost collagen production to accelerate cell growth which helps to stimulate hair growth and control hair fall.

The beauty of this technology is it provides a cooling sensation without subjecting it to aggressive extraction which can be detrimental for someone who has sensitive scalp and may cause redness.


Oxyspray, on the other hand is gentle, effective and safe. Personally, I actually enjoy the cooling sensation of the spray on my skin. It felt rather therapeutic!


Together with the Infrared Therapy, which served to encourage cell renewal to promote hair growth, improve the blood circulation beneath the scalp, as well as to ensure that the ampoule was further penetrated deep down to my hair roots, my treatment was done. All under 2 hours.


Then came the big reveal.




As you can see, the redness of my scalp is completely gone! All just after ONE session. If that is not amazing, I don't know what is. It made such a big difference to someone like me who constantly struggle with itchy scalp problems.

In the Before scan, you can see I have greasy scalp and sebum build-up. This was completely removed and the follicles are visibly clean, clear and looked healthier in the After scans. I’m always impressed by the results from TrichoKare customised hair treatment. It has continued to show great results for my scalp and hair! Guess I can try to look as young as possible with a head full of hair!


A clean scalp and healthy hair follicles - the 2 ingredients that are paramount to healthy hair growth. And this is exactly what the Intensive Hair Regeneration Treatment from TrichoKare seeks to achieve in 3 stages:

1. Regulate– scalp detox, remove impurities and excess sebum.

2. Strengthen – nourish the hair follicles and strengthen the cohesion of keratin fibres to improve the hair density.

3. Densifying– infuse hair with proteins to increase hair growth, control hair fall and promote cell growth which helps stimulate new hair growth.

GREAT NEWS! TrichoKare is offering my readers the chance to experience the Award-winning Intensive Hair Regeneration Treatment for only $42 NETT! Not only that, you will receive a FREE HairGRO Ampoule + Hair Care Kit worth a total of $758 too!

But you have to hurry because the special price is only for the first 10 persons who sign up via HERE.

Plus, did I mention you stand to WIN 2D1N Marina Bay Sands Hotel Staycation worth $680 too???

Hurray for the mid-week Deepavali public holiday break! But it's even better to be a primary school kid... because they get a full SEVEN days worth of holidays! Thanks to PSLE Marking Exercise days (19 to 24 October, Thursday to Tuesday), your primary school-going kids will be giving a school a miss.

Granted it may be the exam period for most primary school students as well, but it doesn't hurt to bring them out for a breather. So just how can you keep your kids occupied for one entire week? Check out these 25 kid-friendly activities to enjoy together as a family!







Marvel at the spectacular display of the radiant street light-up along Serangoon Road and Race Course Road as Little India transforms into a grand royal kingdom.









Malay CultureFest is an annual festival celebrating the traditions and culture of the wider Malay Nusantara, drawing the connections of our shared culture through a series of performances, talks, workshops, trails and movie screenings. Themed on ‘Adat (Traditions & Customs)’ with a special focus on the Bugis community, the festival will explore the manifestations of adat not only in the customary practices and traditions, but also how it is being made sense of in today’s contemporary context. For more information, visit www.malayheritage.org.sg.



Children go free! Every Friday, up to four children under 12 years old enter for free with every adult ticket purchased. Interact, learn and play as a family with a series of child-friendly activities and programmes:

FUTURE WORLD: WHERE ART MEETS SCIENCE
20 & 27 Oct | 3:00pm – 4:00pm | Various Zones

Boundaries between art and technology are becoming increasingly blurred as new grounds are broken in digital artistic expression. Discover the ideas and themes in our permanent exhibition through this series of lively spotlight talks. Join us for interactive play happening at various exhibition zones.

FUTURE WORLD: LIGHT & COLOUR WORKSHOP
20 & 27 Oct | 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Rainbow Room, Basement 2

Experience light and colour through various hands-on experiments such as using a spectrophotometer to discover different spectrums. Walk into a dark room and witness the impact of colour through observations. $5 per participant. Up to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis.





What’s Your Move is back for another season! Start your weekend morning right with a healthy dose of dance fitness by the bay, or bask in the moonlight as you pick up some nifty moves from our professional instructors on stage and catch dance studios present their own takes on classic styles.

If you love street dance, don’t miss this sizzling edition of Sixteen da:ns Challenge, a massive dance showcase on 21 Oct, where aspiring dancers team up with acclaimed international choreographers to perform heart-pounding routines!

20 Oct; 7.45pm: Salsa
20 Oct; 9.30pm: Zouk
21 Oct; 9am(Morning session): Get Up and Move! KPOP-X
21 Oct; 7.45pm: Hip Hop
21 Oct; 9.30pm: K-pop
21 Oct; 10.45pm: Sixteen da:ns Challenge
22 Oct; 7pm: Lindy Hop
22 Oct; 8.45pm: Street Dance



Ever wanted your own private dance party? Grab a couple of friends and make your way to the Festival Corner! Inspired by the bright colours and MTV aesthetic from the 1990s, we’ve created everybody da:ns now – the most instagrammable da:ns space of the festival, where installation art meets dance party! Step in, wait for the music to start, and let the beat take over. And for a few precious minutes, let your hair down, go crazy, and dance like there’s no tomorrow. Everybody, da:ns now – boom!





Your very own 5-minute dance lesson! Get into the spirit of the festival and pick up some nifty dance moves from our roving team of professional dancers from Jazz Inc. Just choose from a selection of dance genres, and you’ll be on your way to a fun and simple dance lesson. Once you start, you won’t want to stop!



How can you make things move - levers, cams, electronics, hydraulics and more ways in which you can create things that move. Maker ​workshops ​are ​great ​avenues ​where ​kids ​(and ​parents) ​can ​learn ​more ​about ​the ​power ​to ​Science, ​Technology, ​Engineering, ​Art ​and ​Maths ​(STEAM) ​and ​how ​STEAM ​gives ​our ​children ​the ​Power ​to ​Create. ​Learn ​about ​electronics, ​Engineering, ​Biology ​and ​much ​more ​through ​hands ​on, ​open ​ended ​exploration ​facilitated ​by ​passionate ​and ​enthusiastic ​mentors! Suitable for families with children 6 and up. Register via HERE.



Don't miss out on this special Halloween-themed storytelling and craft session! This session is for children aged 4 to 6 years old. Free Admission.



Do you know where 398.2 is in the library? If not, join us for a celebration of folklore and fairy tales with Roger Jenkins and his tellers to find out more! Expect a performative and exciting storytelling session with engaging tellers and characters. Admission is free!



让孩童通过生动的讲故事节目，享受学华语的乐趣、激发想象力、培养良好价值观，度过一个充实的周末！趣味故事，精彩童年，这是该欢笑，该想象的年龄。节目欢迎家长陪同。

Join storytellers from Chou Sing Chu Foundation in a series of fun-filled, interactive Chinese storytelling sessions. Stories told are suitable for children aged 4 to 10 and fun activities are included in every session. Parents are welcome to join in.





2017 marks the 30th anniversary of FINAL FANTASY and its music. Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY symphony concert world tour has announced its latest stop in Singapore for a new series of orchestral concerts: FINAL FANTASY 30th Anniversary - JIRITSU. Nobuo Uematsu, composer of the famous video game series FINAL FANTASY, will make a guest appearance at the Singapore concert, which is presented by Avex Asia. For aged 5 and up.



The long-tailed macaques are the most conspicuous animals at Lower Peirce Reservoir Park. Although commonly seen, they are very misunderstood. Few seeing them realise anything about the social world these monkeys live in. They have kin networks, power struggles, friends, foes, and an otherwise complex social network.

Join in the walk led by experts from the Jane Goodall Institute Singapore to learn more  about the interesting world of the macaques at Lower Peirce. Register at sg.monkey.walk@gmail.com, at least 3 days in advance. Do provide the date, name, contact number, and number of adult and children participants (maximum 5 participants per registration). If successful, a confirmation email will be sent to you.



It's Mdm Halimah's first Istana Open House! There will be a variety of performances on the grounds during the Open House. For an entrance fee of $2, visitors could tour selected function rooms in the Istana building and view a special display of gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister. There are also guided tours of the Istana building, conducted by the Preservation of Sites and Monuments (PSM) volunteers. Istana souvenirs are also sold at the Open House. All proceeds from the sale of the souvenirs and the entrance fees collected are donated to charity.

Located at Jalan Tampoi in Bandar Baru Uda, Kilang Bateri is just slightly over a 30-minute drive from either Woodlands or Tuas Checkpoint and is known for its retro-feel and hipster cafes. And judging from first impressions, I can understand why it is so popular with the younger crowd.


Most of the cafes are housed in containers and basked under waves of fairy lights. There is a very grungy feel to it, and it doesn't exactly feel like I'm in Johor Bahru.



I believe most of the eateries open from the late afternoon onwards so it will be better to head there for dinner. Even then, we were at Kilang Bateri on a Friday evening and it was not packed at all.



Either it is still a hidden gem, or the people in JB really hang out at a much later time. Not that I am complaining, because I really hate crowds.



As you can see from the photos, there is really no shortage of restaurants at Kilang Bateri. In fact, there is even a huge food court housed in the main container unit, which looks like a super hipster food joint.



I tell you, even if I have 4 stomachs like a cow, I cannot possibly try ALL of the food there!

In the same container also lies a shopping section which is essentially a rojak mix of shops. Nothing spectacular, so my advice is don't need to waste your time here.



Apparently, Ayd still digs it? LOL.

There are arcade machines, kiddie rides and even a small bouncing castle.



Formerly known as i-Shell Out, it is now re-branded to Shalloo but its menu remains the same. It is basically similar to the Louisiana Seafood concept - much like the Crab in Da Bag and Dancing Crab restaurants here - where seafood is poured directly on the table and you eat directly off it... using your bare hands.


Yes, that last bit thrilled the monkies to bits for some reason. I don't think they had ever used their hands for a proper full meal (other than when they were toddlers) so they were relishing the meal with their hands. Maybe it does taste better this way?

But even for the sambal flavour, the monkies found that the sambal was actually more sweet and tangy than spicy. So it was not overpoweringly spicy - which probably explained why the sambal lala (clams) were wiped out in record time.


Besides the lala, we also had a serving each of fish fillet (not too bad), chicken (good), squid (average), bamboo clam (not good), vegetables and corn.


If we were to eat all of these in Singapore, I think the bill will be at least $60 to $80. At Shalloo? Everything came up to RM112. That's about 36 Singapore dollars!!!!!

Oh-em-gee.

No wonder the monkies have been nagging me to bring them to Shalloo again ever since.


For once, I have to agree with them.



Useful Information

Kilang Bateri
Address: No 83, Jalan Tampoi, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim
Opening hours: 12pm - 12am daily
GPS COORDINATE: Latitude : 1.50434  Longitude: 103.71396

Shallo Restaurant (Opening hours - 5pm - 12am)

Is this in Singapore? Yup! Well, technically it is not on the main Singapore island but on another island 30 minutes away by boat.


When was the last time you set foot on St. John's Island? For us, it was more than 3 years ago when we visited Lazarus Island so when I heard about the newly-launched curated trail at St John's Island, I knew I had to bring the monkies there!


St. John's Island can only be reached via Singapore Island Cruise which is the one and only company in Singapore that provides daily ferry transport services to Kusu Island as well as St John’s Island. Board the ferry from Marina South Pier, where you can purchase the tickets before departure. A two-way ticket costs $18 for adults and $12 for children aged between 1 and 12 years old. (The ferry schedule can be found at HERE.)

The journey from Marina South Pier to St John's island took about 30 minutes and once we set foot on the island, we were all ready to begin our nature trail.


Did you know that St John’s Island was known to navigators even before modern Singapore was founded in 1819? Erédia, a Portuguese-Eurasian explorer, marked ‘Pulo Siquijan’ on a map he made in 1604. This was probably a misspelling of the island’s Malay name, Pulau Sekijang, which means ‘Barking Deer Island’. European sailors later corrupted ‘Sekijang’ into ‘Sijang’ and finally, ‘St John’s’.


The island has served as a quarantine station for infectious diseases such as cholera and leprosy in the late 19th century, as well as housing Prisoners of War (POWs) during the Japanese Occupation, with gruesome tales of a human chessboard where prisoners were used in place of chess pawns. It then became a penal settlement housing political prisoners and ring leaders of secret societies, before turning into a rehabilitation centre for many of the nation’s opium addicts.


In 1976, the island was converted into a holiday resort with swimming lagoons and campsites. Today, the island serves as a base for marine research with the establishment of the St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory.

Definitely one chequered history for a small island.


Okay, enough of history. Time to put our legs to good use!


The trail is a relatively easy walk, and takes between 1 and 1.5 hours. The total distance covers 2.8km and is suitable even for young kids.


As you can see from the map, most of the checkpoints are along the coast of the island. Comprising of 15 stations, the trail will take visitors through various eco-systems on the island, including mangroves, coastal forests and intertidal zones.


If I may offer a tip, go during low tide if you can so that you are able to walk along the intertidal flat at the lagoon. I was told that sea stars, sea cucumbers, crabs and marine snails will be out in full force then.

Unfortunately for us, the tide was not in our favour.


But that was not not to say we did not have our fair share of nature.


Somehow, the grasshoppers on St. John's Island seemed to be a little friendlier? LOL.

If you are looking for a quiet spot, head to the lagoon area on the east side of the island. Here, the water is calm and there are plenty of marine life waiting to be discovered.


Like this marine snail. In fact, they were everywhere on the rocks!


We also spotted lots of fishes swimming in the clear water.


Oh, and one unexpected visitor too!


But whatever you do, do NOT miss paying the Marine Park Public Gallery a visit if you are on St John's Island.


Opened in July 2015, the Marine Park Public Gallery features the rich marine biodiversity in Singapore's waters and allows visitors to learn more about marine biodiversity and conservation in Singapore.

And yes, entry is FREE for EVERYONE!

The public gallery is a short 10-minute walk from the jetty but the terrain is slightly upslope along the way - but at least that means it will be down slope on your way back to the jetty!

And it will be well worth the slight trek uphill because since its opening, new exhibits have been added to gallery which includes immersive 3D dive experiences, a mangrove mesocosm, a viewing pool, and aquariums.





There are some hands-on interactive activities to keep kids busy but I think the viewing pool at the back of gallery will be the greatest attraction for them.


There is no need to get one's feet wet here. Kids (and adults) will be able to see some of the common local marine life in the viewing pool, like damselfish, feather stars, sea cucumbers, cleaner wrasse, hermit crabs, and anemones.


And when there is anemone, there will be this cute little fella.


Do note that the marine life in the viewing pools is not meant to be touched. Only viewing of the organisms is allowed.


Then, it was time to head back to the beach.


There are no food or drinks sold on the island so if you are going to spend more than half a day there, please remember to pack some munchies and water.


Not that the monkies were too keen on eating anyway. They were looking forward to playing on the beach more actually!


If you have more time, you may wish to walk over to Lazarus Island where the beach is more pristine and secluded. Read more about our previous experience HERE.


Since the ferry service goes on a loop trip between Marina South Pier, St. John's Island and Kusu Island, we were able to extend our offshore island excursion a little while longer with a short stop at Kusu Island.


Also known as Peak Island or “Tortoise Island” in Chinese, Kusu Island becomes packed with thousands of people during the ninth lunar month as they visit the island to pray for peace, good luck, health, happiness and prosperity. The famous Chinese temple Da Bo Gong is located here while on its hill top also stands three shrines to Malay sites, where people climb up 152 steps just to pray.


Kusu Island is also a visitors’ favourite thanks to its picturesque lagoons, clean beaches and varied animal life. There are scores of tortoises to spot as well!


And while we were there, I also spotted this.


A hawker centre on Kusu Island??? Perhaps it will only be open during the busy Kusu Pilgrimage season.


For a day's worth of a different kind of fun, head to St. John's Island and explore its rich biodiversity and history. The monkies definitely enjoyed themselves, especially the Marine Park Public Gallery!



Useful Information

St John's Island Trail

DIY Trail: Download the DIY trail e-guide HERE before you go.
Free Guided Tour: A free 90-minute guided tour (capped at 45 participants) will be held on the first Sunday of every month. NParks volunteers will introduce you to the key features along the St John’s Island Trail. This land-based trail covers a distance of 1.6km. You can purchase your own ferry ticket at Marina South Pier and take the 9am ferry to St John’s Island. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Register HERE.

Marine Park Public Gallery

The Sisters’ Islands Marine Park Public Gallery at the Marine Park Outreach and Education Centre is open daily: 10am to 2.30pm on weekdays; 10am to 3.30pm on Saturdays; and 10am to 5.30pm on Sundays and Public Holidays.

How to get to St. John's Island by Ferry
Singapore Island Cruise operates ferries from Marina South Pier to St John's and Kusu islands. Visit www.islandcruise.com.sg/ferry-schedule.html for the detailed ferry schedule. Prices for a two way trip are fixed at $18 for adults and $12 for children aged 1 to 12 years old. No advanced or prior bookings needed.

The ferry will head to St John's island first before going to Kusu Island. Journey from Marina South Pier to St John's island takes 30 minutes and 15 minutes from St John's to Kusu.

Singapore Island Cruise 
#01-04 Marina South Pier
31 Marina Coastal Drive
Opening Hours: 8am - 4.45pm (Ticketing booth closes at 3pm daily)
Tel: 6534 9339
Website: www.islandcruise.com.sg

Personally, I like the idea of POSB Smart Buddy as it helps to engage a new generation of digitally-savvy kids, encouraging them to cultivate a sensible savings habit in an interactive manner.  But the watch does more than just digital payments as it also allows parents to remotely preset their child’s daily allowance, send them emergency money, and monitor their kids’ spending, savings, eating habits and activity levels – all with an accompanying app!

And getting started is ridiculously easy.


Ale received her Smart Buddy Welcome Pack which included the Smart Buddy Watch and Payment Chip. Do note that parents need to have a new/existing POSB Savings or DBS Savings/Current Account, which will be tagged to the child’s watch. I then downloaded the Smart Buddy Mobile App on my phone, entered Ale's details, synced the watch to my phone and it was all done!


Can you tell the excitement on Ale's face? LOL.

And why shouldn't she be? Especially since I told her that the watch allows her to pay for her meals during recess in school and also at selected merchants like POPULAR, KFC, Pizza Hut, Sheng Siong. All with a tap on the terminal at the shop. And I get to monitor all via the comfort of the app on my phone.


So in case you are afraid that your child may go all ballistic and go on a tappy spending spree with the Smart Buddy Watch, rest assured that parents are able to check on their child's spending and even instantly allocate allowances remotely through the app.

Ale has to stay back for school at the last minute and she does not have enough money for lunch? All I have to do is to increase her allowance via the app and voila, no more fretting about her having to go hungry!


The amount used is debited from the parent's bank account, with a daily allowance limit of up to $100. And no, there's no overdraft. What you limit is what your child gets to spend daily. Any unspent allowance will be reflected as "Allowance Savings" under the "Savings" section on the mobile app... which doubles up as a Saving Goal for kids who are looking to save up to buy something they want. Like Ale.


Daily transactions are tracked on the mobile app, with a three-month transaction history provided so both parents and kids can monitor their savings and spending patterns over time.



But that's not all. The POSB Smart Buddy watch also doubles as a fitness tracker and can track students’ daily steps, distance travelled, and calories burnt.


And parents can in turn check in their child’s fitness using the app. How convenient is that?


I also heard that the programme may soon feature an in-school locator, which allows parents to track their child’s location within the school compound (canteen, library, classroom, etc.), and a school bus locator where parents can track the real-time location of the bus and be notified when their child boards or alights from the school bus. Plans are also underway to introduce a biometric payment solution, to provide an even simpler payment journey.

For now though, Ale is thoroughly enjoying her new Buddy!


An important thing to note about this programme is it works on an opt-in basis. There's no obligation or pressure to participate at all. For now, the Smart Buddy Watch is only open to participating schools. If your child's school is not one of the participating schools, you may send an email to the school to give them a gentle nudge. There is even an email template that you can use at the POSB website!

Personally, I love how the Smart Buddy Watch teaches kids how to save and manage expenses, and the greater convenience it brings to parents. Yes, I have heard comments about how this new form of technology may impede kids' ability to count real money but the way I see it, both virtual and physical aspects of money can complement each other.

With the rapid rise of technology in our society, embracing it and making it work to our advantage is the way to go. At the same time, the onus is on us parents - and not just the teachers in schools - to expose them to the counting of physical cash in other situations. More Monopoly playing, I guess? Heh.



Want to find out more? DBS had invited other parent bloggers to learn about the POSB Smart Buddy programme too and one of the posts was featured on DBSinnovates.com, a site on innovations from DBS. Read more as to how the POSB Smart Buddy programme helped Claudia's two daughters learn the value of money, cashless.

For more information on POSB Smart Buddy programme, visit HERE.

One of my favourite arts festivals - Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) - is back! One thing I absolutely love about AYN is it brings enriching arts experiences right to our doorstep, into everyone's neighbourhood.


Yes, arts need not be confined to theatres or concert halls. Think quirky venues when it comes to AYN performances - last year, we attended a children's play at West Coast Park and this year, we went on a musical trail around Yishun and caught a musical performance by The TENG Ensemble beside a Sheng Siong Supermarket!

Melodic 城里的月光. I first caught The TENG Ensemble's live performance at an event, got their CD and love their sound ever since. In fact, I've been playing their music so often in the car that the monkies already know them very well! So when I knew @thetengensemble was going to perform at Tanglin Halt for @artsforallsg, I had to bring them down. I love how they blend both Western and Eastern instruments to play familiar Chinese classics, nursery songs and even very Singaporean songs! #supportlocal #thetengensemble #artsforallsg #Queenstown #tanglinhalt

A post shared by Kelvin Ang (@cheekiemonkies) on Feb 25, 2017 at 4:43am PST

Taking place twice yearly in March and November, AYN is back this month from 9 to 26 November 2017... just in time for the year end school holidays!

An initiative of National Arts Council (NAC), AYN is a platform to expose audiences to various art forms and grow their interest for the arts. And because the line-up is packed with entertaining, fun and interactive performances and activities, it a great way for everyone to experience the arts in your very own neighbourhood, whether you are catching an arts performance for the first time or a seasoned arts-goer. Simply put, there is something for everyone. Oh, have I already mentioned that all programmes are free of charge? Some may require pre-registration but they remain free to everyone.
And this November, the focus is on the neighbourhood of Jurong, with the bulk of activities happening across the west of Singapore. Besides Jurong, other activities will be happening at various locations in Singapore.

With a line-up of over 40 arts and cultural activities, ranging from dance, music and theatrical performances, to interactive visual art installations and hands-on activities, happening over three weekends, there is something for everyone and all ages... but you know I love all of my readers so I have done the homework for you and picked out the 10 most happening art events:

NOTE: The first seven are new works, six of which that have been specially commissioned for this AYN edition.

1. Catch a dance inside a giant bubble!


Interweaving dance, music and visual arts, Urban Distortions is a cross disciplinary installation-performance where dance, song and territories meet, performed by t.r.a.n.s.i.t.s.c.a.p.e., a Brussels-based dance company co-founded by French artists. For the first time in Singapore, get up close and personal with the performers as they present a contemporary dance inside giant life-sized plastic bubbles with live music accompaniment.

Urban Distortions by t.r.a.n.s.i.t.s.c.a.p.e
Date: 9 November 2017
Time: 12:15pm
Venue: Ocean Financial Centre (Covered Plaza)

Date: 10 November 2017
Time: 6pm
Venue: Woodlands Civic Centre

Date: 11 November 2017
Time: 6pm
Venue: Westgate (L1 Courtyard)

Date: 12 November 2017
Time:  6pm *Fringe Activities from 2pm to 5pm
Venue: Bedok Town Square

2. Let the kids laugh themselves silly at a Puppet Show!


Be immersed in this colourful theatrical experience with puppets accompanied by lively music! Follow the journey of a young girl Sam and her adopted cat Maxx as they encounter different creatures in an exciting series of adventures and misfortunes. Constantly getting on each other’s nerves, will Sam and Maxx finally earn each other’s trust and loyalty? Find out in this story of love, inclusivity and courage where they learn to accept each other’s differences.
Maxx The Cat by The Finger Players
Date: 11 November 2017
Time: 2pm and 5pm *Fringe Activities from 11am to 2pm
Venue: Bedok Town Square

Date: 18 November 2017
Time: 2pm and 5pm
Venue: Ang Mo Kio Central Stage

3. Enjoy a musical storytelling session with bamboo-made instruments!


Experience a musical showcase of Asian cultures through the beautiful sounds of bamboo-made instruments such as the Indonesian angklung, Chinese dizi and sheng. Featuring a repertoire of traditional folk songs by Ding Yi Music Company and an angklung-kulintang ensemble led by Alicia Joyce De Silva, go on a musical storytelling journey across Asia. Sing along to heartfelt renditions of familiar pieces such as Dayung Sampan, Chan Mali Chan and Tinikling and learn more about these beautiful bamboo-made instruments and their origins.

Audience members can also look forward to specially created visual backdrops and a hands-on interaction session with the musicians and the angklung instruments.
Play With Bamboo by Liong Kit Yeng
Date: 25 November 2017
Time: 2pm  *Fringe Activities from 3 to 6pm
Venue: Our Tampines Hub (Festive Plaza)

Date: 26 November 2017
Time: 5pm * Fringe Activities at the Festive Plaza from 3 to 6pm
Venue: Our Tampines Hub (Festive Arts Theatre, Level 2, next to lobby H)
*Entry to the theatre show on 26 Nov is FREE but ticketed. Reserve your tickets at http://aynnov2017playwithbamboo.peatix.com
4. Go on a Walking Trail through Jurong!


Unravel the myths and urban legends of Jurong though a visual arts discovery trail. The trail encourages participants to see Jurong through new lenses - literally through a “viewing and recording” device (designed by artist Samantha Tio a.k.a mintio). Participants will get to experience how reality and perception are interwoven at each stop of the trail. Participants will also be invited to create and record their own narratives of the neighbourhood and add on to the Jurong story as part of an exhibition.

#seeyoursgby Shophouse & Co

Walking Trail:
Date: 25 November 2017
Time: 10am to 11am and 4pm to 5pm
Venue: Jurong Regional Library
*The 1-hour trail will start every 15 minutes. You are advised to dress in comfortable clothes and walking shoes and bring along a water bottle and an umbrella for the trail. Recommended age: 12 years old and above
Exhibition:
Date: 9 - 30 November 2017
Time: 10am - 9pm
Venue: Jurong Regional Library

5. See art works related to the unspoken histories of Jurong!


Larger than Life is a public art showcase of five site-specific works, curated by art collective, Vertical Submarine. Through the activation of public spaces in the heart of Jurong, these works hope to share fond memories, characteristics and the forgotten history of the neighbourhood with the community.
Larger Than Life: The Unspoken Histories of Jurong Neighbourhoodby Vertical Submarine
Date: 9 November 2017 - 28 January 2018
Venue: Canopy @ J Link (Adjacent Field)
*To register for the Larger Than Life series of talks and workshops, visit www.verticalsubmarine.org/largerthanlife

6. Scrutinise 2 quirky text-based visual installations!


Conceived and devised by critically acclaimed writers Pooja Nansi and Daryl Qilin Yam, .txt comprises two text-based visual arts installations inspired by Jurong and its surroundings, drawing materials from existing texts, interviews and original writings. Located at Jurong East, the installations explore the interaction between language and its specific localities, bringing to attention the peculiar aspects of the Jurong neighbourhood.

.txtby Pooja Nansi & Daryl Qilin Yam
Date: 9 – 26 November 2017
Time: 10am – 10pm
Venue: Westgate (L1 Fashion High Street) and Canopy @ J Link

7. Take an Instagram-worthy shot at a street art installation!


Conceptualised by street artist Slacsatu, this batik-inspired street art installation explores the beautiful memories, childhood dreams, colourful experiences and cultural roots of Jurong that have helped to shape the community. This artwork is dedicated to the Jurong community, a place that has impacted Slacsatu's practice, in hope that such stories will be passed on from generation to generation.

The Story-tellerby Slacsatu
Date: 9 November - 31 December 2017
Venue: Taman Jurong Community Club (Wall next to Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre)

8. Get ready for a fiery acrobatic performance!


Inspired by the transformation of Jurong from a swampland to the industrialised engine of modern Singapore that it is known for, BOOM! promises to keep audiences enthralled with a dazzling fire performance. This flaming extravaganza will combine acrobatics and fire-dancing to tell the story of Jurong’s industrial boom.


BOOM!by Starlight Alchemy
Date: 11 November 2017
Time: 8pm
Venue: Boon Lay Shopping Centre

Date: 19 November 2017
Time: 8pm
Venue: Ang Mo Kio Central Stage

9. Immerse in a musical which re-invents classic children’s nursery rhymes!


Bringing together short stories written by Mandopop lyricist, Xiaohan, with music arrangements by local leading musician, Julian Wong, this mini-musical will enchant you with captivating stories and memorable tunes such as The Little White Boat, The More We Get Together and many others. Look forward to this fun and engaging re-invention of classic children’s nursery rhymes! *Programme is in Mandarin.

The Nursery Rhymes Project: Imagine Our Songsby The Theatre Practice
Date: 12 November 2017
Time: 5pm
Venue: Chong Pang Amphitheatre

Date: 18 November 2017
Time: 2pm
Venue: Bedok Town Square

Date: 19 November 2017
Time: 6pm *Fringe Activities from 2pm to 5pm
Venue: Toa Payoh HDB Hub Atrium

10. Grab your family & friends for a Day Out of FUN in Jurong!

Mark this date in your calendar: 11 November 2017.


On this Family & Friends Day Out in Jurong, you can experience the joys of Jurong’s countless attractions. Just follow this specially curated itinerary:



Morning

Start your day with a warm bowl of congee for breakfast at Yuhua Market and Hawker Centre.

For tons of active fun, make your way to the unique playground at Block 221A Jurong East Street 21 – both kids and parents can climb the rock structures and bounce on the trampolines to your heart’s content.

Make your way to the field next to Canopy @ J Link and have fun creating insta-worthy moments at Larger Than Life: The Unspoken Histories of Jurong Neighbourhood, developed by the Public Art Trust. This is a collection of six artists’ works curated by visual arts collective, Vertical Submarine. Each of the artworks on display explores a particular theme, characteristic or forgotten history related to the heritage and stories of Jurong.

You can also learn more about Jurong’s fascinating history and heritage by checking out the many shelters along J-Link!

Afternoon

For lunch, fluffy prata along Jurong East Street 32 will be a great option!

Make your way to JEM for some educational fun at the rooftop playground, Elements @ Play, developed by Singapore Science Centre. Filled with interactive and science-inspired contraptions, you can learn all about the wonders of light, sound, and kinetic energy.

After the physical exertion of the last few hours, it’s time to embark on an afternoon of visual treats!

Head down to the Westgate Atrium to see .txt, a series of text-based visual arts installations inspired by Jurong. Conceived by critically acclaimed writers Pooja Nansi and Daryl Yam, the installations are inspired by materials from existing texts, interviews conducted and original poems. They explore the interaction between language and its specific localities, bringing to attention the unknown stories and cultures of Singapore.

Evening

Grab an early dinner among the many eateries at Westgate.

Head down to the courtyard, and catch a visually stunning performance piece called Urban Distortions by foreign artists t.r.a.n.s.i.t.s.c.a.p.e. (6pm – 6:45pm). Interweaving dance, music and visual arts, Urban Distortions is a cross-disciplinary installation-performance to give a poetic vision of the concept of territory. Get up close and personal with the performers as they present a contemporary dance inside giant life-size plastic bubbles, with live music accompaniment.

Travel to Boon Lay Shopping Centre, which retains its old school charm. Here you can watch dance performance Legacy by Azpirasi (7pm – 7:45pm). Celebrating the rich cultures of Singapore, Azpirasi presents a selection of traditional Malay dances inspired by everyday kampung activities such as childhood games, harvesting crops, courtship, and even weddings. Be enthralled by intricate choreography and beautiful music that celebrates harmony, love and the kampung spirit.

Stick around in Boon Lay Shopping Centre for fiery performance BOOM! by Starlight Alchemy (8pm – 8:25pm). Inspired by the transformation of Jurong from a swampland to the industrial engine of modern Singapore, BOOM! promises to keep audiences captivated with flaming visuals and luminous dancing lights. Originally presented at the Singapore Night Festival 2015, this fire extravaganza will combine acrobatics and fire-breathing to tell the story of Jurong’s industrial boom.



Oh, if you are posting your experience on social media, don’t forget to share your art appreciation with the hashtag #ArtsInYourNeighbourhood!


Useful Details

Arts in Your Neighbourhood 2017
Dates: 9 - 26 Nov 2017

For full programme listings and to download programme brochure, visit: http://artsforall.sg/AYN

And should you enjoy the various programmes, do check out the various arts groups’ pages for other performances outside of AYN too!

Better yet, follow Arts For All's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/artsforall.sg and instagram account (@artsforallsg) to stay updated on the latest happenings of upcoming events and shows!

What do you know - the year-end November/December school holidays are here but what I really want to know is how on earth did 2017 pass by so quickly??? And because it is that time of year again where parents start looking for activities to keep their kids occupied, don't worry... I got you covered.

There are so much to do that I have decided to spread the activities into two listings once again - one for activities taking place in the month of November and the other for December. And judging from the amount of activities for this month alone (50!!!), it is going to be a fun-filled holiday period!


Oh, and in case you are wondering about the Christmas shows at the shopping malls as well as the Meet & Greet compilation, that list is coming later this week so stay tuned! For now, take your pick from this buffet of activities:



The Arts in Your Neighbourhood (AYN) programme is back again this November bringing you enriching arts experiences at your doorsteps. Packed with more than 40 entertaining, fun and interactive performances and activities over 3 weeks in November, AYN is a great way for everyone to experience the arts in your very own neighbourhood, whether you are catching an arts performance for the first time or a seasoned arts-goer. For more details on the various shows, visit HERE or check out my Top 10 Picks HERE.



Celebrate our amazing world of plants at the Singapore Botanic Gardens Children’s Festival! Learn about farms, composting and propagation techniques. Participate in daily hands-on activities and demonstrations. Be amazed by the numerous uses of plants! The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden invites children of all ages to get in touch with nature through play, craft, storytelling, investigations and walks.

On weekends, enjoy the festival activities and performances, and movie screenings at the Eco-Garden. Not to be missed are the specially created insta-worthy horticultural displays! There will be activity booths for three fun-filled weekends where various games will be available and children can win prizes! At the same time, savour food from your childhood, and dishes tailored specially for your young ones.

Carnival @ Eco-Garden
18 and 25 Nov (Sat): 2pm to 8.30pm
19 and 26 Nov (Sun): 2pm to 7.30pm

Click on the individual weeks to explore what is in store for everyone:
13 November (Monday) to 17 November (Friday)
18 November (Saturday) to 19 November (Sunday) 
20 November (Monday) to 24 November (Friday)
25 November (Saturday) to 26 November (Sunday)



The world's best-loved musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, comes to the Mastercard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands! The original 1959 Broadway production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was Rodgers and Hammerstein's biggest success. THE SOUND OF MUSIC brims over with some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical theatre stage, including My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Edelweiss, The Lonely Goatherd, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and of course the glorious title song The Sound of Music. For tickets, visit HERE.



Join Chicken Little on her quest to save her fellow farmyard animals on a journey where she’ll meet a whole host of quirky, vibrant much-loved characters, including Cocky Locky, Ducky Daddles and the brave Turkey Lurkey. But with the fearsome Foxy Loxy on the loose, can they make it to the King alive? An infectious new musical adventure with toe-tapping songs from the writers of SRT’s Red Riding Hood and Treasure Island. For tickets, visit HERE.



Celebrate a Christmas of Endless Wonder on Orchard Road! Saunter down Singapore’s favourite shopping street where malls and metros meet magic and mystery. Immerse yourself in an enthralling world of lights and be spellbound as you stroll down the Great Street. Visit the pop-up stores for a shopping experience like no other, and the Christmas Village with its abundance of amazing food, amusement rides and stand-out performances.

Endless Wonder Christmas Village
25 Nov - 25 Dec 2017
Sun - Thurs: 11am - 10m | Fri & Sat: 11am - 11pm | Christmas Week: 11am - 11pm daily
Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza
Take a stroll around our European-inspired Christmas Village, ride on the Great Carousel, feast on tasty treats and Yuletide delights, and shop for handmade crafts and unique gifts!

Snowfall at orchardgetway
Half-hour intervals from 7.30pm to 9pm, until 26 Dec 2016
orchardgetway, L1 Plaza
Enjoy a daily shower of snow amidst a galactic backdrop that will transport you into a picture-perfect extracelestial universe.



Experience a Nordic Noel this festive season, as Flower Dome is transformed into a wintry wonderland. An oversized lavvu – a tent-like dwelling used by the indigenous Sami people from Sápmi – takes centrestage, ensconcing visitors within its cosy interior. On selected days in December, visitors can look forward to meeting Santa Claus, who has travelled to the tropics all the way from Lapland. For an extra special experience, visit after dusk to see the floral display aglow with pretty lights, as a projection of Northern Lights (7pm onwards) weaves its spellbinding magic. For more details, visit HERE.



The Addams Family musical comedy features an original story, and every father’s nightmare! Wednesday Addams, the princess of darkness, has grown up and kept a shocking secret that only Gomez knows; she’s fallen in love with a sweet smart young man from a normal respectable family! And if that weren’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keeping this secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s ‘normal’ boyfriend and his parents. Two different worlds are about to collide. Will love triumph, or will everyone go home vaguely depressed? For tickets, visit HERE.



"Let's Go Jalan Jalan" is a food and music festival featuring unique, familiar home taste and live entertainment! Nestled in a nostalgic setting, The Three Peacocks @ Labrador Park, the festival is a fantastic, three-day event that features more than 100 varieties of food and merchandise stalls that you will be spoilt for choice! Delectable dishes include popular local food such as Ice Blended Rainbow Dash, Rickshaw Noodles, traditional “You Tiao” with soya bean drink, “Archar”, Malay traditional kuehs, Pizza, the old school ice cream uncle and much more! More information HERE.



Watch Little & Big Nutbrown Hare settle down after a bedtime story and re-awaken to discover the delights and colours of each season as they complete to measure their love for each other in this timeless loveable story. Explore this playful story of love and nature as it unfolds on stage through puppets, live music and interactive play for children 3 years and up. This family favourite is brought to life by Selladoor Family, the Producers behind James and the Giant Peach, Seussical and The Quite Remarkable Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat for our family adventures. For tickets, visit HERE.



The Affordable Art Fair, the leading showcase for affordable contemporary art, returns from 17 – 19 November 2017. All set to turn the city pink for its eighth Autumn Edition, the fair will be offering a fresh plethora of local, regional and international talents featuring over 65 galleries. Offering hands on advice, and educational guidance to all newbie art lovers as well as established art collectors; the Affordable Art Fair is defined by making art accessible and as welcoming as possible, throwing art elitism out of the window, and ensuring that everyone can fall in love with art. For tickets, visit HERE.


ChariTrees @ Marina Bay 2017 celebrates the true meaning of this season of giving and bringing joy to lives of the disadvantaged. This 7th edition of a unique fundraising initiative will see the scenic Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade dotted with very uniquely-designed trees, to show our support in caring for the less fortunate.



This year-end, get your glow on in Singapore’s wildest night destination. Night Safari’s Twilight Encounters returns with a fresh coat of luminous paint. Be mesmerized by glow-in-the-dark walking trails, vibrant geometric animal sculptures, special black light photobooth and many more!  For more information on all activities, visit HERE.



Get on the Christmas Comet and prepare to take flight, as City Square Mall transforms into a starry universe, with Singapore-firsts that are truly out of this world! Space explorers young and old will be transported to Cybertron to witness Transformers come to ‘LIVE’ on stage for a show just under 20-minutes. This is your chance to come up close and personal with fan favourites Optimus Prime and Bumblebee. Meet the Autobots pass holders will also be entitled to mask-making workshops to turn the children into their favourite Autobots.

At City Green Park, galactic carnival games at the Cyber Galaxy allows shoppers to reach for the stars, under the watch of life-sized Transformers character statues brought in exclusively from overseas. Explore this new galaxy through a tunnel of stars and the first-ever action-packed laser light and music display, amidst a wintry backdrop of falling snow.

Cyber Galaxy
Date: 17 November - 31 December 2017
Time: 1pm - 10pm
Venue: Level 1 City Green Park
Gather your friends and family and come down for an exhilarating Christmas carnival! With carnival classics like bumper cars, inflatable slides, and obstacle courses to choose from, it will be tons of fun for all! Redeem a Cyber Galaxy activity pass at the Level 2 Customer Service Counter with a minimum spend of $40 at the mall to enjoy all the fun and games.

Stellar Light Show
Date: 17 November - 31 December 2017
Time: Every 30 minutes, 7pm - 10pm
Venue: Level 1 City Green Park
City Square Mall transports you into a starry universe this festive season, a very first in Singapore. Explore a tunnel of stars and gather under the action-packed visual display of lights and music with your loved ones and witness the stunning 10 minute light show of your dreams!

Snowy Playtime
Date: 17 November - 31 December 2017
Time: 8.10pm
Venue: Level 1 City Green Park
Feel the magic of Christmas and when you head down to City Square Mall to have a blast in falling snow with the kiddos. Be transported into a new universe both familiar and new, as you take in the sights and sounds of the season.

Transformers on Stage
Date: 2 - 17 December 2017, daily except Monday
Time: Tuesday - Friday: 2pm & 7pm | Saturday and Sunday: 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm 
Venue: Level 1 Stage
Join the Transformers in their bid to save humanity in the first ever Transformers come to ‘LIVE’ on show in Singapore! Featuring fan-favourites Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and introducing delightful new characters, this will be a show just under 20 minutes you would not want to miss!

Meet the Autobots and Mask Making Workshop
Date: 2 - 17 December 2017, daily except Monday
Time: After every Transformers on Stage show
Venue: Level 1 Stage (Meet The Autobots) & Basement 2, beside the travellator (Mask Making Workshop)
Experience the ultimate Transformers Meet and Greet at City Square Mall this December! Spend a minimum of $50 to redeem a Meet The Autobots pass 1 hour prior to each show, and get up close and personal with your favourite Transformers action heroes after every ‘LIVE’ show on stage in their first public outing. Limited to 50 passes per show.

Transform into your favourite Cybertronian heroes by decorating your own Transformers mask! Don’t miss out on a photo opportunity in Optimus Prime and Bumblebee children’s costumes with a Transformers photo station framing the shot!



Journey through Changi's Mystical Garden for fun-filled activities and Sanrio plush toys! Be enthralled by the dance of the fireflies at 7.30pm and 9pm in the daily drone show, and meet your favourite Sanrio characters during the Meet & Greet sessions on weekends! More details to come.



BREVE – THE CONCERT is the grand finale of a 12-day journey where International and Local musicians share their respective culture through a series of community engagement activities. Each musician will curate their own segment based on their cultures and infuse it with the rest of the international and local musicians in BREVE – THE CONCERT. This is not going to be your usual concert, so be prepared to be ‘activated’ to perform alongside the musicians.



Bring your picnic mats and baskets to the Eco Garden and experience the magic of Canadian winter fun through the award-winning Canadian film SnowTime! The whole family will enjoy this movie, an animated remake of the French Canadian film “La guerre des tuques” which has been beloved by Canadians for decades. In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday in Singapore, join in the fun to experience this classic piece of Canadian culture!



Hear from renowned overseas parenting expert and best-selling author, Dr Michele Borba at Singapore Parenting Congress 2017 to learn how to raise successful, self-reliant and less-stressed children in this digital world! Also, find out how you can tune into the heart and mind of your child by getting to know them better through interactive parent-child coding and video making workshops! For more information and tickets, visit HERE.



Come and see Sentosa Cove precinct transformed into a glistening Christmas wonderland!

Sentosa Cove Holiday Market
Date: 18 & 19 November 2017, Sat & Sun
Time: 3pm - 9pm
Enjoy the festivities at the Sentosa Cove Holiday Market, a yuletide fair, featuring over 20 stalls selling holiday treats and gifts as well as carnival game stalls. With entertainers dressed as Santa Claus, Santa’s Elves and Christmas Nutcrackers, guests can expect euphoric enchantment as the entertainers perform their respective sets of repertoire.

Kids’ Activities
Date: 18 & 19 November 2017, Sat & Sun
Time: 3pm - 9pm
Make the season magical for your little ones with the line-up of kids’ activities at the event. From falling snow avalanche, to Christmas carols, let the whole family soak in the happiness of Christmas.

Christmas Tree Light Up
Date: 19 November 2017, Sun
Time: 7pm
The Christmas Tree Light Up is also an event not to be missed! To bring cheer to the less fortunate during the festive season, ONE˚15 Marina Sentosa Cove will be working with an adopted charity again this year. Find out more at the Christmas tree!

ONE15 Christmas Boat Light Parade
Date: 18 & 19 November 2017, Sat & Sun
Time: 7.30pm pnwards
Watch as boats in all sizes illuminate the night with creative installations of Christmas lights and decorations. On 18 November, a lighted parade of boats will be on static display at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove from 7pm – 10pm. On 19 November, boats competing for the top honor of “Best of Show” will parade from ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, past iconic landmarks in Sentosa including Siloso Beach, Fort Siloso and Resorts World Sentosa, before arriving at the Sentosa Boardwalk, in front of VivoCity, between 8pm and 9pm.



An initiative by Club Rainbow (Singapore), the second edition of Dreamseeds Arts Fest will be held from 18 to 25 November at SCAPE. Themed ‘Finding Futurenova’, this multi-experiential festival is also the highlight of the organisation’s 25th anniversary calendar. Championing the freedom of creation and expression, Dreamseeds Arts Fest 2017 is a showcase featuring beneficiaries who have undergone a curated year-long immersion programme comprising discovery and training workshops, as well as dedicated mentorship with professionals ranging from musicians to artists. Besides a visual arts exhibition and performing arts concert headlined by beneficiaries, the public can also look forward to a film screening, a range of open creative workshops and talks, and even an arts market! For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/dreamseedsfest/.



Join Grace Kalaiselvi as she tells stories of love and light with the friendliest and most cheerful Meera, her handy-dandy puppet.



Set off on an adventure into the Land of Giants, and get to know the amazing abilities of insects at
Singapore Zoo and majestic river giants at River Safari, every weekend from 18 November to 31
December, and on Christmas. For more information on all activities taking place, visit HERE.

Click to enlarge

Join the kids' philharmonic@sg Orchestra as it celebrates its 5th anniversary! This concert will feature hardworking young talents from all three orchestras under its wing, the Seed, junior and Senior Orchestra. Be enchanted by the little ones as they perform The Little Nutcracker Suite, Dance of the Hours, and round off the concert with the exciting performance of the Scheherazade by the Senior Orchestra. The repertoire is sure to appeal to audiences of all ages, so come celebrate our young talents with us! For tickets, visit HERE.


Orient Express is a high-energy, eight-piece Show Band that performs rock, pop, ska, soul, rhythm & blues, and many more audience-favourite styles. Their powerful, polished sound has been bringing enjoyment to the Asia-Pacific region for years! Come on down and join U.S. 7th Fleet Band- Orient Express for a great evening!



Let JOE (Just One Earth) and nature teach your child life skills and team work to make a better tomorrow for Earth and us. Let the environment be their teacher and shape your child’s learning. Through 5 days with us, your child will go on a sensorial adventure, create something for themselves, and discover what they’re interested in. They learn to disconnect from electronics, to better connect and understand about themselves and working with friends around them. On different trails, explorers get to try different skills set to broaden their knowledge and ability to problem solve, and not just be given a solution to challenges. For more information and to register, visit HERE.

CAMP UNPLUGGED is a digital detox camp; an experiential Journey with opportunities for children to unplug and connect with Nature, with others and the wider community.  Through Ground Up Initiative's ‘Living & Being’ model of a holistic experiential camp, we draw inspiration from the children to empower them to tap into their inner strengths and resources to support their aptitude for coping with life long challenges with compassion, empathy, resilience.

CAMP UNPLUGGED IS
• Inspired by both Nature and Waldorf pedagogy that is seeded deeply in an holistic approach in nurturing young active bodies, hearts and minds.
• Conceptualized by educators, creative art therapist and parents.
• Motivated by groundbreaking research on children development, neuroscience and the impact of the use of technology & futurology.
• Rooted on an amazing rustic space and community at the one and only Kampung Kampus.

For more information and to register, visit HERE.



ChildAid 2017 takes us on a journey to discover the sights and sounds across major Asian cities through music and dance. Join our young characters in a musical adventure, featuring songs by renown singer-songwriter, Dick Lee. As they foster friendships and overcome obstacles to retrieve their stolen dreams.  The concert is in support of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. For tickets, visit HERE.


Brighten up your nights at Sentosa, at Imbiah Lookout area from 24 November 2017 - 1 January 2018!  Immerse yourself in an "Instagrammable" ambience and celebrate the festivities with your loved ones. For more details, visit HERE.


In celebration of Grandparents’ Day, let’s thank our grandparents for all they have done for the family. Bring your entire family including your grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins to spend family time and celebrate Grandparents’ Day with Families for Life at the National Museum! There are loads of memorable activities and games, and enjoy a free and easy picnic on the Museum's front lawn too! For the full schedule of activities, visit HERE.


The Learning Forest features a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways that allow visitors to explore habitats ranging from a freshwater forest wetland to a lowland rainforest. Visitors can learn about freshwater forest wetland ecosystems at the Keppel Discovery Wetlands and walk amongst a collection of some of the tallest tree species in Southeast Asia at the SPH Walk of Giants.


This session introduces the research facilities at the Singapore Botanic Gardens such as the Library of Botany & Horticulture, Orchid & Micro-propagation laboratory and the Herbarium. Highlights of  this 45-minute tour includes a visit to the Herbarium which stores physical records of reference plant materials, some dating as far back as 1790.  In addition, learn about the hybridization programme for orchids, a process introduced back in 1930’s by the then Director, R.E Holttum. Slots are limited to 25 people, for ages 9 and above.


This family tour introduces Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and its biodiversity through the use of interactive exploration themes and activities. Have fun working together to answer worksheets, conduct surveys and photo hunts, among other activities. To register, visit HERE.


Did you know that Coney Island Park has a very interesting history? Follow NParks' volunteer guide to find out more and learn about the interesting flora and fauna found on the island. To register, visit HERE.



SAFRA Punggol is turning ONE and it will be celebrating its anniversary with eco-friendly activities and more! Join in for a series of upcycling workshops and activities. From making paper sock hangers using recycled materials, to interesting crafts such as recycled candle making, Potpurri/Terrarium workshop and recycled instrument making workshop! There will also be a movie screening that inculcates the importance of eco-friendly and nature preservation. Visit HERE for a detailed schedule.


Planning for a picnic at Singapore Botanic Gardens this end-Nov? Here's one more reason why you should! Come enjoy the fantastic evening with Sembawang Wind Orchestra and Yio Chu Kang Secondary School Symphonic Band at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage as they bring a wide range of repertoire to you. The 2 groups will also come together and present a 70-member strong band as part of the concert!



Sit back, relax and unwind with a movie under the stars! Join us for a movie screening amidst the lush greenery of the Eco Garden and be sure to leave the movie with much laughter and fun for the whole family!



See the world's rarest blue macaws at Jurong Bird Park and enjoy Blue-zilian carnival fun for the whole family from 25 Nov to 31 Dec 2017! For more details on all activities taking place, visit HERE.



Have you ever seen a kid conduct the SSO? Bring your little ones to the ever-popular SSO Babies’ Proms, a unique concert experience where you are not expected to sit still nor sit quietly in the concert hall! A perfect way to introduce children – including the kid in you - to the world of classical music concerts! *Pre-concert activities will be held at half an hour before each of the respective shows. For tickets, visit HERE.



Witness the Sentosa Merlion come to life with groovy themed projections set against the 37-metre-tall mythical creature complete with stunning animations. It’s a spectacle you wouldn’t want to miss.


Enjoy free admission to National Orchid Garden for students, Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, Work Permit Holders and visitors with local residential address.

The school holidays are here again! Join us yet again to keep active, be happy and be sporty! Definitely a fun way to relax before school bell starts ringing again. Check out the list of sporting activities HERE.


PHEW, I think these are more than enough to keep the rest of your November busy! But wait, there is still the entire month of DECEMBER to come... so more to come in the Part 2 of my list! :)

The festive season is upon us - Cue cartoon character shows and Meet & Greets happening in shopping malls around Singapore!

And this year marks the 10th year that I have been compiling the list of Christmas shows and Meet & Greets whenever the year-end festive season rolls by. What started out as a personal quest to compile all the Christmas shows happening in Singapore for my then 2-year-old Ash has turned into a tradition of sorts on my blog.

As a parent who has been-there-done-that, I can say that braving the queues can be worth it if your kids are fans of the cartoon characters... especially since they will outgrow the fandom pretty quickly!


So if you have found the compilation to be useful all these years, do share this post with your family and friends. Thank you! :)

*For other kid-friendly activities happening this school holidays, check out my other listing: www.cheekiemonkie.net/2017/11/november-school-holidays-activities-for-kids-2017.html




Step into the DC Super Hero Universe this holiday season and be amongst the first in the world to see the Knightcrawler scale model, only at VivoCity! To gain exclusive access and bragging rights for your perfect shot with the Knightcrawler, simply present a same-day receipt with any purchase made at JUSTICE LEAGUE atrium roadshow or with min. $30 spend at any outlet in VivoCity.


What’s more, be thrilled by other fantastic photo opportunities with life-sized JUSTICE LEAGUE character figurines, an interactive photo booth and discover a wide range of exclusive movie merchandise when you visit.

A Christmas Medley
17 Nov - 25 Dec 2017
7.30pm, 8.30pm & 9.30pm daily
Sky Park, L3

Be transported to the enchanted forest at VivoCity's iconic 107ft tall Christmas tree which will come alive with a 3-minute music and light show every evening. Enjoy the musical brilliance and bask in the splendour of this season with your entire family!



Come and be enthralled by Tanglin Mall's iconic 10-meter Christmas tree complete with rainbow baubles, colourful presents, working elves and snowflake shaped cogwheels that generate snow! In celebration of the festive season, Tanglin Mall has also lined up exclusive shopping privileges and entertainment for its shoppers. Highlights of the event include the yearly spectacular Snow Time, Santa Workshops as well as other fringe activities like Christmas Market. Bring your family down for a day of fun and shopping!


Step into Velocity's festive world and be enchanted by the beauty of its wintery wonderland. Revel in the beauty of our delightful life-sized Christmas carousel, snow globe and horse carriage that will delight the kids, and are perfect for photo memories! *Spend $25 to redeem one entry ticket.



A warm and fuzzy Christmas at Suntec City is coming to you with three of our favourite bear characters!! Care Bears, Forever Friends and Paddington are joining us this holiday season with a multitude of beary entertaining and fun activities!

Care Bears start the tale train with a story on sharing; telling how Grumpy Bear looks forward more to the “presents” from the other Care Bears than their “presence” at his Christmas party. Forever Friends, Ginger and Honey, continues the tale of friendship, showing fans what being friends forever mean through their song and dance. Paddington, our favourite anthropomorphised spectacled, marmalade loving bear, brings us on yet another adventure of his through his stage performance at Suntec City.

Refer to the show schedule below:


SHOWS

Learn to Dance with Care Bears
Date & Timing: 17 -19 Nov (Fri-Sun): 4pm

Care Bears Show
Date & Timing: 21 -26 Nov (Tue-Sun): 2pm & 7pm (No show on Sun at 2pm)

Forever Friends Show
Date & Timing: 28 Nov- 3 Dec (Tue-Sun): 2pm & 7pm (No show on Sun at 2pm)

Paddington Show
Date & Timing: 5-10 Dec (Tue-Sun): 2pm & 7pm (No show on Sun at 2pm)

MEET & GREET Sessions
No minimum spending required

Care Bears Meet & Greet
Date & Timing: 12-16 Dec (Tue-Sat): 2pm

Forever Friends Meet & Greet
Date & Timing: 16-17 Dec (Sat-Sat): 4pm

Paddington Meet & Greet
Date & Timing: 12-17 Dec (Tue-Sun): 7pm



During this festive season, shoppers at any of Frasers Centrepoint Malls embark on a journey through the STAR WARSTM themed Christmas decorations. Christmas trees, garlands, and wreaths at 11 malls feature BB-8 and Stormtrooper baubles. The monumental 7.5 metre Christmas trees that stand tall with infinity mirrors in Causeway Point, Changi City Point, and Waterway Point and TIE fighters fly overhead in Eastpoint Mall.

Experience The Galactic Arena at Selected Frasers Centrepoint Malls

Step inside the Galactic Arena with no spending tagged and embark on an adventure in a galaxy far, far away.  Affirm your light side or dark side allegiance and dress the part in a STAR WARSTM Family Makeover, immerse yourself in a VR experience, learn to fly a Millennium Falcon drone, find the right path for BB-8 in a maze, and finish off your adventure with some retail therapy.

The Centrepoint
17 to 26 November 2017 | 12pm to 8pm | Level 1 Atrium
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• Flight Academy
• Droid Maze
• NERF Gun
• Laser Room
• Merchandise Fair

Changi City Point
21 to 26 November 2017 | Basement 1 Atrium
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• Droid Doc
• NERF Gun
• PS4 Mission
• Merchandise Fair

Eastpoint Mall
28 November to 3 December 2017 | Level 1 Atrium
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• Flight Academy
• Droid Maze
• Droid Doc
• NERF Gun
• Merchandise Fair

YewTee Point
28 November to 3 December 2017 | Level 1 Atrium
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• NERF Gun
• PS4 Mission
• Merchandise Fair

Causeway Point
5 to 10 December 2017 | Level 1 Atrium
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• Flight Academy
• Droid Maze
• Droid Doc
• NERF Gun
• Merchandise Fair

Anchorpoint
5 to 10 December 2017 | Basement 1 Atrium
• Droid Maze
• NERF Gun
• PS4 Mission
• Merchandise Fair

Waterway Point
12 to 17 December 2017 | 11am to 9pm | Level 1, West Wing, Village Square
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• Flight Academy
• Droid Maze
• Droid Doc
• NERF Gun
• PS4 Mission
• Laser Room
• Merchandise Fair

Bedok Point
12 to 17 December 2017 | Level 1 Atrium
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• Droid Maze
• NERF Gun
• PS4 Mission

Northpoint City
19 to 24 December 2017 | Level 1 Atrium, North Wing
• STAR WARSTM Family Makeover
• Flight Academy
• Droid Maze
• Droid Doc
• NERF Gun
• PS4 Mission
• Laser Room
• Merchandise Fair




The highlight this year at Westgate, is its first state-of-the-art Christmas animation show projected on a Christmas tree, complete with light, sound and snow effects, located at The Courtyard on Level 1.


Experience Christmas in the heartlands like never before, right here at AMK Hub! On top of the Yuletide spirit, soak in the festive sights and sounds of a carnival! From 17 November 2017 to 1 January 2018, watch the mall transform into the biggest Christmas carnival party in the heartlands with unique decorations of circus animals and more.

Jolly Jamboree Carnival
17 Nov 2017 – 1 Jan 2018
Mon - Thur: 4pm - 10pm Fri - Sun & PH: 12pm - 10pm

Step into a Christmas Wonderland at AMK Hub’s Jolly Jamboree! Located at the Level 1 Main Entrance, be treated to the sights of a circus display of life-size balancing elephant, an interactive candy cane cluster and more. In addition, be awed by the impressive line-up of theme park rides suitable for the kids, which include a Balloon Wheel, Viking Ship, Helicopter Ride, Trackless Train and a Royal Carousel at $5 per ride.

At the Level 4 event area, children above 3 years old can have a bouncin’ good time in the Christmas Bouncy Castle (at $5 per entry), or take an exciting spin on the Robotic Ride (at $10 per ride).

Snow and Bubbles Wonderland
24 Nov 2017 – 1 Jan 2018
Mon - Thur: 8pm | Fri - Sun & PH: 6pm & 8pm

Who says we can’t have a wintery Christmas on our sunny island? Tick it off your wish list when you enter AMK Hub’s spectacular winter wonderland showcase at the Level 1 Main Entrance! Experience fun-filled snow and bubble shows happening on Monday to Thursday at 8pm, and Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays at 6pm and 8pm.

Santa Claus and Friends Meet and Greet
24 Nov 2017 – 1 Jan 2018
Sat & Sun: 2pm & 7.30pm

Keep the magic of Christmas alive with a meet and greet with Santa Claus and his friends! Every Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and 7.30pm, look out for the Christmas troop as they take a trip around the mall to say hello to shoppers.





Meet the Zoo's Dung Beetle (watch out for his ball of poop!) and Lime Butterfly mascots for a photo opportunity.




It’s the final curtain call! Come and join in the fun with the children's favourites; Barney, Baby Bop, BJ, Thomas the Tank, Mike The Knight, Angelina Ballerina & Alice for an unforgettable adventure at The Little Big Club’s Christmas Carnival ‘Live’ Show! Sing and dance along with them for the last time as they sing all your favourite songs. For the very first time this season, you can have a photo taken with ALL the 7 superstars together right after each ‘live’ show! *Spend $50 in a single retail receipt to redeem a Meet & Greet photo queue number. Limited to first 50 families per session.

The show brings everybody’s favourite PAW Patrol characters – Ryder, Chase, Marshall and Skye to the mall for an action-packed, high-energy and musical adventure. Don’t miss this because it’s Skye’s first mall show in Asia! *Spend $50 in a single retail receipt to redeem a Meet & Greet photo queue number. Limited to first 50 families per session.



Get set for a colourful adventure with Tayo The Little Bus & Friends! The first 60 families with a minimum $30 worth of shopping receipts in the queue will meet and greet Tayo, Lani, Rogi & Gani on stage! Limited seating capacity, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Meet & Greet passes will be distributed at the entrance 20 minutes prior to each session.



For Christmas this year at Plaza Singapura, gear up for Happy Poli-days with Poli, Roy, Amber and Helly from the popular South Korean animated cartoon, Robocar Poli! This is the first time the Robocar Poli show, featuring fun and adventure around the world with lots of singing and dancing, is held for a duration of 2.5 weeks and the first time thematic workshops and a meet-and-greet tea party is held for families in conjunction with the show.


313 X LINE - #313POTD
27 Nov – 10 Dec ’17 | L1 Atrium
Strike a pose with LINE Friends and enter the thematic magical rooms for a POTD! Follow us on Instagram5 @313somerset and upload your photo with hashtag #313POTD. Be one of 5 lucky winners to walk away with $100 313 vouchers each!


Join in the festive spirit of Christmas at Great World City, with a wide array of activities for families – there is something for everyone to enjoy! Highlights of the event includes the Shopkins Shoppies 'Live' Shows and Meet & Greet, Tea-Party, Sand Art Workshops, Swap-kins Market as well as other fringe activities like Christmas Market. *Spend $30 for a photo pass. Limited to first 50 families per session.




Modelled after a steampunk Christmas concept, taking centerstage is the Orchestra Conductor, the Nutcracker Drummers and Trumpets Players that stand ready to delight shopper.  The animated Nutcrackers will come to life at 12pm, 1.30pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm and 9.30pm from 17 Nov to 31 Dec with their cheerful rendition of Christmas sounds and lighting effects.


Move to the Beat of Christmas
1 - 23 Dec 2017 | The Star Vista
Usher in Christmas with a mix of melodious performances at B1 Star Plaza:




Join the Transformers in their bid to save humanity in the first ever Transformers come to ‘LIVE’ on show in Singapore! Featuring fan-favourites Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, and introducing delightful new characters, this will be a show just under 20 minutes you would not want to miss!

Meet the Autobots and Mask Making Workshop
Date: 2 - 17 December 2017, daily except Monday
Time: After every Transformers on Stage show
Venue: Level 1 Stage (Meet The Autobots) & Basement 2, beside the travellator (Mask Making Workshop)

Experience the ultimate Transformers Meet and Greet at City Square Mall this December! Spend a minimum of $50 to redeem a Meet The Autobots pass 1 hour prior to each show, and get up close and personal with your favourite Transformers action heroes after every ‘LIVE’ show on stage in their first public outing. Limited to 50 passes per show.

Transform into your favourite Cybertronian heroes by decorating your own Transformers mask! Don’t miss out on a photo opportunity in Optimus Prime and Bumblebee children’s costumes with a Transformers photo station framing the shot!







Celebrate Christmas in the North at Santa's Snowy Mountain! Spend $50 to take a dive down our mountainous slide into a ball pit of goodies! Complete the Santa's Snowy Mountain Passport to qualify. What's more, experience the magic of Santa's Snowy Mountains at our VR corner! Go on a thrilling roller coaster ride in the VR cinema, or why not challenge yourself to a ski ride on the new twin VR simulator?

What better way to celebrate friendship this festive season than an amazing adventure with Dora the Explorer! Help Dora, Boots, Diego and Santa find the way to this one of a kind celebration! End off with a photo moment with them. *Spend $30 to redeem a pass. Limited to the first 50 per photo session.


Get ready for Christmas with Pororo, Petty, Eddy and Poby! The first 60 families with minimum $30 shopping receipts in the queue can take a photo with the characters on stage and receive a $5 Pororo Park voucher. Limited seating capacity, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. Meet & Greet passes will be distributed at the entrance 20 minutes prior to each session.



Catch ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks Live on stage as they take on the radio waves for the first time in Asia. The musical trio will present their chart-topping songs in a show presented by DJ Dan and DJ Dee.


Our favourite little piggie, Peppa Pig is back with a brand new musical show – Peppa’s Christmas Wish in time for the holidays, with all the fun that goes with it! This charming ‘Live’ show is filled with new songs, piggie style dance moves, Christmas magic, snorts of laughter and you will get to meet Suzy Sheep for the first time! Join Peppa, George, Mummy and Daddy Pig in this Peppa’s Christmas Wish. *Spend $50 to redeem a Meet & Greet photo queue number. Limited to first 50 families per session.


Join in for a night of intergalactic fun at Waterway Point with fab activities, exciting competitions and much more! Each night will conclude with an outdoor screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Simply spend $200* to attend with your family or friends. *Maximum 3 combined same-day receipts. Limited to the first 50 redemptions per session, 1 redemption per Frasers Rewards member per day. Each slot is limited to a maximum of 4 persons regardless of age. Redemption starts from 4 December 2017.


I'll add to the list as soon as other shows are made known. So do bookmark this post for future updates.

HAVE FUN! :)

So... will you be at Changi Airport this school holidays? :)

Changi's Mystical Garden with Sanrio Characters
17 Nov 2017 - 5 Jan 2018
Changi Aiport, T3 Departure Hall, Level 2
Website

But more on that later, I promise. Because the playground is only a part of the entire rejuvenation of the Children's Garden... which coincidentally, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Wow, time truly flies huh? I remember bringing the boys to its water playground when they were toddlers. And our last visit was actually five years ago when Ale was just a toddler as well.


And now with the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens having doubled in size to four hectares - following a two hectare extension - it is now Asia’s largest children’s garden.


The new extension is situated on the left side of the garden as you enter through the main entrance. And speaking of entry, did you know adults are only permitted entry only if accompanying a child? Kids are definitely kings and queens here!

If you have been to the pre-expanded Children's Garden, you will be glad to know that all of its original attractions and play areas remain intact which have been given new section names:

PLAY


This is where kids can play to their hearts' content, with the Water Play area, Sand Playground and Maze providing free fun!



GROW


The Sensory and Potting Gardens can be found here, with kids having the opportunity to see, smell and touch various plants.

EXPLORE


I guess this Tree House Playground needs no further introduction.

LEARN



One of the monkies' fave, The Magic of Photosynthesis, is still here. It is an interactive exhibit where children discover photosynthesis and why this magical process is fundamental to all life on earth. A new addition though, is the Nature Play Pavilion, which can be reached via an elevated boardwalk.


And so we come to the four new zones, where the children can immerse themselves in different experiential learning.

FARM


Here, kids get to experience first-hand the growth cycle of economic plants and the joy of growing their own fruits and vegetables by taking charge of plots, sowing seeds in a nursery, re-potting them and harvesting the crops. There are periodic workshops conducted so do check out NParks' website for more information.


This attraction aims to inculcate in the young an appreciation of the effort that goes into the cultivation of food] crops.



Also, kids can get a first hand look at how compost is made too.


STREAM


The Stream zone is where kids can learn about the water habitat and spot the animals and plants that live there.


ORCHARD


Besides keeping a lookout for cocoa, tea and coffee plants, families can find out how some fo your favourite beverages and desserts are prepared and processed... thanks to the many colourful and informative panels.

FOREST


And so we come to the new zone which appealed to the monkies most - a forest playground where they explored a tree top canopy and finished it off with the flying-fox!



Compared to the older Tree House playground in the old portion of the garden, this new playground occupies a larger area and consists of various obstacles to test kids' balance and agility.



After clearing the log obstacles, children could then get close to nature by exploring a network of canopy tree huts and rope bridges nestled in the tree tops.







Other play areas include a trampoline, seats which double up as percussion instruments and a swing.




Prior to the extension, the garden catered to children up to 12 years old. Now, the garden has included activities for older children. So children who are aged 10-14 can explore the trails and habitats of the new extension, and they can also learn more about plants and how these plants employ different strategies to adapt to their environments.

And if Ash and Ayd did not complain about feeling bored, then I think it is testament to that!

Oh and if everyone in the family is feeling hungry after a day out at the Children's Garden, there is a new cafe located just near the entrance of the garden.


HAVE FUN!


Useful Information

Jacob Balls Children's Garden
Address: 481, Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259769
Opening Hours: 8.00am to 7.00pm (last admission at 6.30pm). Closed on Mondays (except when Monday falls on a designated public holiday)
Admission: Free admission. Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden is designed for children aged 14 and below. Children aged 12 and below must be accompanied by an adult. To promote a safe environment for children, adults are permitted entry only if accompanying a child. Adult visitors without children must consult the Service Desk for entry.
Accessibility: Wheelchair and stroller accessible
Getting there:
By Train:
10-min walk from Botanic Gardens MRT Station (Circle/Downtown Line)
By Bus:
Alight at “NUS Bukit Timah Campus” bus stop along Bukit Timah Road or “after Kheam Hock Road” bus stop along Dunearn Road. It is a 5-min walk from the respective bus stops.
Bus services along Dunearn Road and Bukit Timah Road: 48, 66, 67, 151, 153, 154, 156, 170, 171, 186
By Car/Taxi:
From Dunearn Road - At the Dunearn-Kheam Hock Road junction, turn right to enter NUS Bukit Timah Campus. Turn right into Jacob Ballas Children's Garden after car park gantry.
From Bukit Timah Road - At the Bukit Timah-Kheam Hock Road junction, turn left to enter NUS Bukit Timah Campus. Turn right into Jacob Ballas Children's Garden after car park gantry.
*Limited parking lots are available at Jacob Ballas Children's Garden and NUS Bukit Timah Campus.
Website

So... will you be at Changi Airport this school holidays? :)

Changi's Mystical Garden with Sanrio Characters
17 Nov 2017 - 5 Jan 2018
Changi Aiport, T3 Departure Hall, Level 2
Website

Located at new FairPrice Hub and next to Joo Koon MRT Station, Warehouse Club is a membership-based warehouse retail format of NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd – a retail destination where families can join as members and enjoy big (and exclusive) savings on bulk buys, value packs and multi-packs.


To say that the selection offered by Warehouse Club is mind-boggling is an understatement. And at first sight, the entire place might seem a little confusing with aisles and aisles of products spread over one floor.


But there is a method to the madness.

The best buys are ALWAYS located at the front of the store so my tip is to keep a watchful lookout for all the Super Deals items that are displayed prominently from the second you step into the store.


Better yet, gun for the Clearance Sale items for some deals that not even Ale can resist.


How to resist when faced with a pack of 680g marshmallows for $3.95???

And since Christmas is round the corner, the Clearance section filled with toys may just be the place to stock up on all those gifts!


As for me, I was more than happy with my prized find.


Truth is, the Warehouse Club is essentially a big warehouse mart where you can find a variety of products where you can find in your typical hypermarket - groceries, household items, toiletries, food products and more.

But more than that, it prides itself on selling items in bulk packs, value packs and multi-packs at great prices. And how does it offer value to the shopper? By going BIG.


And when I say big, I mean REALLY REALLY big!


At least I was the one who first spotted the jumbo Kirkland Signature Paper Kitchen Towel ($34.50 for 12!). LOL.


Oh, and I called first dibs on this gargantuan sack of rice as well. And at $56 for a 25kg-pack,  the Warehouse Club  is truly THE place to go to stock up for your next party.


Speaking of parties, the massive chilled and frozen food section deserves a visit if you are planning one.


Besides finding many seafood and meat cuts that are not readily available at the supermarket I usually frequent, many of the frozen products are jumbo sized.... which you should know by now, translates to cheaper prizes. Like this bag of Frozen Canadian Scallops that Ale refused to let go.


It costs $55.55 for a 2kg pack, in case you are wondering.

Oh, and I know for sure I will be back once again just before the Chinese New Year. Because of this.


All of these in one handy pack for $99.85. It takes the headache out of shopping for my steamboat reunion dinner!


And what's a party without dessert? A pack of 15 Haagen-Dazs ice cream bars for only $29.90 - that is less than $2 per stick!


Okay, so the monkies found all of the above pretty novel and fun BUT nothing can be compared to the moment when they stumbled onto the CHILLER!


As its name implies, the Chiller is one cold room which are filled with vegetable and fruit produce.


And when I say cold, I do mean really really cold. But it was something that the monkies thoroughly enjoyed... as it made them feel that they were teleported to a cold country!

For me, my focus was on sussing out the best deals to go into my shopping trolley.


Oyster mushrooms going for $2.25 for 2 packs and huge bags of carrots and Japanese cucumbers for $2.80 and $2 respectively?


These went into my trolley immediately. No questions asked.


For the record, the Japanese cucumbers were crunchy and so fresh - definitely one of my best buys at Warehouse Club.

If you are planning a visit this festive season, Warehouse Club has your Christmas goodies and decorations covered as well.


From decor like light-up Christmas figurines ($18 to $48 each) to festive snacks like Panettone - an Italian type of sweet bread loaf - ($8.90 for 2), there are plenty to choose from for your Christmas shopping!



I think Santa Claus concurs as well. Heh.


Browse through the entire Christmas e-catalogue HERE.

And what's a festive gathering without a little booze, no?


A pretty good selection of wines but the bargain hunter in me gravitated towards this Moscato from The Naked Grape. $35.95 for 3 bottles - where else to find?


Ash, on the other hand, was happy to find out that Warehouse House also had a section devoted to products that are all priced at $2. Glad that the (bargain hunting) force is strong in him too.


In general, the prices at Warehouse Club are generally affordable, more so if you buy in bulk. If you have a habit of stocking up and/or planning for a gathering or party, it makes perfect sense to shop at Warehouse Club for the greater savings in return for bigger quantities. Interesting brands like Kirkland and other products that are not sold at the usual supermarkets serve as an added bonus as well.


Remember I mentioned earlier in the article that you have to be a member to shop at Warehouse Club? A 2-year membership costs $30 for NTUC Members/FairPrice Members & Shareholders and $50 for the Public.

But wait, if you sign up before 28 February 2018, it only costs $10 for NTUC Members/FairPrice Members & Shareholders and $20 for the Public for a 1-year membership!


Unsure of whether to sign up? My tip is to just head down to the Warehouse Club to take a look.

You do NOT have to be a member to enter. Should you find that the products and savings make financial sense to you, then just sign up on the spot and you can start shopping immediately!

Personally, this has to be one of the rare occasions that I have seen the monkies enjoy their shopping experience at a supermarket. The huge amount of space and wide aisles certainly helped. Ditto for the 'cold-country- Chiller room too.

But the clincher according to the monkies? The advantage of being able to stock up on daily essentials and items for the monkies' birthday parties, our family gatherings, and parties with friends.


Now that is something I cannot disagree with.


Useful Information

Warehouse Club
Address: 1 Joo Koon Circle, Level 3, Singapore 629117
Tel: 6710 4584
Opening Hours: 10.00 AM - 9.00 PM (Mon - Fri) | 09.00 AM - 9.30 PM (Sat & Sun)
Website:www.warehouseclub.com.sg

PROMOTIONS!
- Enjoy complimentary parking of 2.5 hours with a minimum spending of $80 from now until 31 December 2017.
- Mastercard Cardholder's exclusive – enjoy $6 off with min spend of $100 in one receipt, from now till 26 Dec 2017.
- Receive a Free $5 Voucher with mind spend of $200 in one receipt, from now till 26 Dec 2017



*All prices shown above are correct at time of writing.