Singapore Entertainment

Singapore - Entertainment

There's a lively bar and club scene. Areas that come to life after dark are Tanjong Pagar, Mohammed Sultan Road, Boat Quay, Orchard Road, and Pasir Panjang village. Drinks are fairly expensive but most bars have happy hours. Clubs are plentiful but can be subdued compared to those in other major cities.

The Singapore Street Festival takes place around Orchard Road in the first two weeks of June. There are displays from stunt bikers, in-line skaters, skateboarders, fashion parades and mural painting competitions.

Albert Mall hosts a two week Dumpling Festival at the start of June. Thousands of dumplings - packets of rice wrapped in bamboo leaves - get eaten.

There's an International Guitar Festival in September which provides five days of concerts, masterclasses and seminars.

WOMAD at the end of August is a festival of music and dance from around the world and brings in performers from Cuba, Algeria, France, South Africa, South Pacific, India, the UK, Italy and Madagascar.

Singapore's National Day on August 9th is celebrated with fireworks, military parades and displays.

The Singapore Arts Festival lasts throughout June and has a bit of everything from Asian and Western dance, theatre and music.

The Singapore Food Festival is a month long celebration of eating in March when there are masses of food themed events and lots of sampling to be done.

Thaipusam in February is a Hindu demonstration of mind over matter. Penitents attach large metal frames called kavadis to their bodies with hooks and spikes and take part in a processions from Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple to Sri Thandayuthapani Temple.

The Great Singapore Duck Race in November sees thousands of plastic ducks battling it out on the Singapore River. To enter you need to adopt a duck for S$10, the prize for the winner is S$10,000.

The Singapore River Buskers' Festival is in November and a feast of juggling, miming, acrobatics and music.

Deepavali the Indian festival of lights, takes place from October to November and is celebrated in Little India.

Gay and Lesbian
Homosexual activity is illegal in Singapore. Although prosecutions are rare and there is growing tolerance of gays and lesbians, discretion is essential. Gay bars and clubs do exist and the scene has expanded greatly over the past few years. Vincent's lounge on Orchard Road is the oldest gay bar and known for attracting a mature, international and well behaved crowd.