PLAY ON Under The Stars At The Singapore Night Festival 2024
PUBLISHED August 21st, 2024 01:00 pm | UPDATED September 2nd, 2024 12:20 pm
Singapore’s largest nocturnal event, Singapore Night Festival 2024, lights up the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct to the theme of “Art of Play” from 23 August 23 to 7 September 2024. A nostalgic nod to the precinct’s rich history as the birthplace of some of the earliest schools, this year’s event sees dazzling projection mappings, whimsical light installations, interactive exhibits, and immersive performances that bring back childhood memories of play. Follow the self-guided trails or just go where your heart leads you to. Celebrate art and culture, and play with a vibrant mix of fun, food, and festival villages. Come and explore the magic of the night at Singapore Night Festival 2024!
Highlight Act
Not to be missed is this year’s festival highlight, Wonder World – The Machine of Nostalgia, which transports you to retro amusement parks of the 1950s. The creator, Sam Lo, also known as SKL0, blends nostalgia with modern interpretations of play in this fun and immersive experience. Besides larger-than-life murals that reimagine the 1950s in an alternate inspired by Samsung’s Galaxy AI, hop onto nostalgic amusement park rides, try your luck at the game stalls, and or catch a different type of wrestling performance, wrestling with poetry, at the wrestling ring. Shop at The Bizarre Bazaar, where trades of the past are reimagined.
Find Wonder World at Cathay Green, tickets run S$25 per person. Samsung Galaxy owners enjoy a 20% discount when they use the Samsung wallet to pay.
Festival Villages
Get your food and fun all at once at each of the four Festival Villages. This year, Twilight Playground @ GR.iD debuts as the late-night Festival Village, transforming itself into an interactive playground with an escape room, a beer garden, and more. The festival village at SMU Campus Green sees a blend of nostalgia and cross-disciplinary collaborations, in conjunction with Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Arts Fest, at the SMU Arts Fest 2024: PLAY. For those seeking a little respite, Festival Village @ CHIJMES offers a tranquil retreat in a historic setting, surrounded by restaurants. At Armenian Street, PIXEL PARADISE is set to light up the night with playful art, music, and games. Embark on a museum quest with Playstation; be among the first to play their latest blockbuster game and stand a chance to bring home a Playstation for yourself. Or kick back with live music and learn about the Peranakan customs and traditions.
Projection Mapping
One of the best-loved highlights at the festival is projection mapping, turning historical buildings into blank canvases for lighted artistic expression. For the first time, the Peranakan Museum will be illuminated with an interactive artwork titled Between Threads, inspired by the museum’s collection, of Peranakan textiles and artefacts.
CHIJMES will showcase four dynamic works from the SNF Projection Masterclass, each creatively expressing the Art of Play. Escape into an imaginative world with PINBOLA, a playful, multi-level pinball machine filled with childhood toys that explores social themes in Singapore. Go Play Downstairs and relive the childhood play of turning the mundane into magic. Embark on an adventure to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary with Whimsical Odyssey and let A Prototype of Play remind us that we can find joy and play, regardless of age.
Night Light Installations
Take a night stroll around the BBB precinct and dazzle yourself with the ten site-specific night light installations. Bugis Street Art Lane hosts its first Night Light artwork with Delulu High by Pop Glitterfreak Collective, reimagining tough school memories into a vibrant and reflective space. Make sure to check out the Disco Bus and Affirmation Steps too!
Immerse in neon nostalgia at Stamford Arts Centre with The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Rizman Putra and race against time at the gameplay installation Fortune Beads by KIMBAB: at Funan Mall. Take an aromatic journey with Aesop’s eleven Eau de Parfum as you venture through a mythical forest at Scents of Being at the National Design Centre. Over at Armenian Street, First Flight by Aaron Lim and Quek Jia Qi honours BBB’s history with a larger-than-life illuminated paper plane – an interactive installation that inspires contemplation and imagination.
Performances and Experiential Programs
A vibrant lineup of performances awaits you across the three festival weekends. Sing your hearts out to homegrown Singaporean music with Xinyao Singalong at Bras Basah Complex and catch an interactive Wayang Kulit performance of Ramayana & Superheroes at the National Archives Building. Experience the Bunker by Night at the Battlebox, where multidisciplinary artists take over Singapore’s only operational WWII-era bunker with a series of experimental performances. #WaterlooStKakis returns with Waterloo Street Stories 2024: Interplay, featuring movement performances, getai shows, an outdoor photography exhibition, and interactive activities such as culinary pop-ups and tarot readings.
Play On at the ‘Moondeck’ Board Games Bar at the National Museum of Singapore, where you’ll get to play your pick of board games from Mind Cafe under the stars. Or head to the basement and challenge yourself with retro games at the Retro Arcade Zone. Play and relive childhood games like pick-up sticks, five stones, and more at Re:Play at SG- Childhood Games at the National Archives Building.
The Singapore Night Festival 2024 runs from 23 August 23 to 7 September 2024 at the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct, with free and paid programming. Please refer to the website for details.
All images courtesy of Singapore Night Festival
