March is packed with fun for families! Here’s where you'll find all the action...
School holidays start this month! How to keep the kiddos entertained (and find a few fun things to do yourself)? From markets with a very good cause, to fun-packed festivals at Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay, theatre for kids and Singapore’s best shopping fair, we’ve got you covered. Start filling your diaries!
PS Want to find out all the Easter fun happening over March and April? Hop on over to our guide to what’s on for Easter 2016 for kids in Singapore.
And check out our guide to holiday camps over the March and Easter school holidays for even more cool ways to keep the kids busy!
i light Marina Bay Festival: 4-27 March
See the city’s icons transformed with beautiful light displays at Asia’s leading sustainable light art festival! There’s loads going on at the waterfront, from food, art and flea markets, star gazing, LED kite-flying, ping pong games and much, much more. Our top picks for kids? Head to the the Uncle Ringo carnival at the Float @ Marina Bay Bayfront Event space for some good old fashioned fun: we spotted a traditional carousel amongst the games and rides. And don’t miss the annual Kids’ Fiesta, where the little guys can meet their fave cartoon characters, hit the rides and bouncy castle and try Singapore’s first outdoor ice skating rink! Check out the full festival lineup at www.ilightmarinabay.sg.
Admission to the i light Marina By festival is free! Costs may apply to individual events and activities.
i light Marina Bay, 7.30-11pm (until 12pm on Fridays and Saturdays) Marina Bay Waterfront
Uncle Ringo Carnival: 6-10pm weekdays; 5-11pm weekends
Kids’ Fiesta:12-13 March; 4pm-10.30pm; $30 per Fun Pass.
National Design Week’s Design and Make Fair: 8-20 March
The local craft and design scene is thriving, and if you love unique and handmade fashion, accessories, homewares and beautiful things, don’t this the inaugural Design and Make Fair at the National Design Centre. You’ll find over 30 Singapore local artisans under one roof , including the likes of SuperMama, Gallery & Co. and Chubby Chubby (you might recognise this lovely local label from our pick of the best CNY outfits for kids!). Want to get creative yourself? Register in one of the workshops to try your hand at ceramic doll-making, fabric craft, cement casting, jewellery making and terrarium making – and loads more.
11am-8pm, National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd, 188969: www.designsingapore.org
Workshop: The Art of Organisation with The Change School: 10 March
Do you have a method to your madness? Would you like to live a life that’s clutter-free, well-planned and productive? The perfectly organised life is a rare and beautiful thing. You may have tried to achieve it many times, but just wound up frustrated and possibly even more disorganised. This workshop is all about discovering how you can take control of your clutter and change the relationship you have with your stuff so you can get on with the important things in life. You’ll learn how to identify the ‘hidden’ clutter in your life, how to take charge and get started, and most importantly, how to maintain a system that works for you. Tickets are $75 and include a coffee, tea and a light meal.
9.30am, Tanderra, 73 Loewen Road, #01-21, 248843; www.peatix.com
Bunny Finds the Right Stuff: Now until March 13
Bring your little ones to Bunny Finds the Right Stuff, a magical theatre experience for toddlers at Esplanade Theatre Studio. Designed for children aged two to four years old, it’s a huge hit with families thanks to its lovely music, interactive fun (there will be bubbles!) and the playful, charming story of Floppy the Rabbit adapted from the book by award-winning author, Emily Lim. Poor Floppy is a toy rabbit who tries with all his might to find a stuffing that’ll fill him up. Sadly, he just can’t seem to get it right. His friends join in helping him find the right stuff, but the question remains: What is the right stuff? Check out our review of Bunny Finds the Right Stuff!
Various timings at Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981; Tickets are $18 via www.sistic.com.sg
Ocean Eggsploration at S.E.A Aquarium: 7 March-17 April
S.E.A. Aquarium is celebrating Easter with a eggs hidden in the underwater habitats, an Eggtopus Easter trail for kids to follow and a SEAcret Garden with special displays and an Eggtivity Area. Make sure you keep an eye out for the underwater Easter bunny – who knew he could swim? He’ll be at the Open Ocean Habitat at 11am and 2pm, and Shipwreck at 4pm. For an immersive marine experience (Easter style), pack a bag and hang out at the aquarium for the Ocean Dreams Sleepover Programme. The overnight adventure includes Easter-themed activities, complete with an egg hunt, as well as a 90-minute aquarium tour.
SEA Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269; www.rwsentosa.com
Francophonie Festival: 10-29 March
Calling all Francophiles! If your child is learning French, or you simply love the culture, don’t miss this lovely festival celebrating diversity and the French spirit, organised by Alliance Francaise. There will be concerts, film screenings and exhibitions, plus a special festive marketplace on 19 March at Alliance Francaise. One of the festival highlights is the world premiere of Le Fantôme de Canterville (The Canterville Ghost) on Tuesday, 10 March at 8 pm. The film’s director, Yann Samuell will be there! Le Fantôme de Canterville tells the tale of ghost Aliénor of Canterville, who has been successfully haunting her castle for hundreds of years, until the Otis family from Paris move in and aren’t the least bit frightened! This one is PG rated, and sure to give the kiddos a thrill!
Various locations; check the full program at www.alliancefrancaise.org.sg
Boutiques Fairs spring edition: 11-12 March
Boutiques at the Pit Building is back early this year with a special spring 2016 edition! This is Singapore’s biggest and best shopping fest of independent brands offering fashion, homewares, accessories, jewellery, toys and baby and kids wear – if you’re looking for beautiful, unique buys, this is it, people. Clear your diaries for Friday March 11, 9am to 8pm and Saturday March 12, 9am to 6pm. And don’t miss our full guide to Boutiques Spring 2016, with our top picks and 10 Golden Rules for shopping the event like a pro.
#02-01 to #02-03, F1 Pit Building, No. 1 Republic Boulevard, Singapore 038975; www.facebook.com/BoutiquesSingapore
Open House – A Local Makers’ Event in Support of Foster Care: 12 March
Head to this makers event offering handmade goodies specially curated to reflect the themes of home and family (think air plants, decor and quirky cards) plus desserts and coffee from local food vendors. We’re looking forward to the fun workshops covering terrarium-making to making rubber stamps and hand-lettering techniques ($20 per person or $35 for two)! It’s all in support of foster care in Singapore: the Coming Home SG team, social workers from Boys’ Town and Foster Connections @MCYC, plus foster parents will be there to discuss what we can do to support the fostering community in Singapore. Danyya Ateera, author of Even in Silence, will be sharing her experience as a foster child and how it changed her life.
10am-8pm, (Danyya will be speaking at 2.30-3.15pm, and 3.30-4.15pm) *SCAPE Hubquarters, Level 4, 2 Orchard Link #04-01, 237978. Register for the workshops at www.cominghomesg.org.
Adventure with Dad Urban Camp: 12-13 March
Adventure with Dad is an urban father-son camp that challenges ordinary fathers on their extraordinary role of raising sons of honour. Specially designed for fathers and sons (aged 12-15 years), this unique experience provides opportunities for them to collaborate in outdoor games and activities, and engage in meaningful conversations. The programme is carefully thought through to help fathers celebrate their son’s coming of age, and mark his development into a young man of honour through a significant milestone event. $350 per father-son pair.
Saturday 12 March, 9:00am – Sunday 13 March, 12:00pm, The Float @ Marina Bay; www.family.org.sg/awd
Family Weekend at the National Art Gallery 12-13 March
Family Weekends is packed with parent-child activities designed to introduce little ones to art. use the Gallery’s collection as a springboard to introduce little ones to art. Bring the kiddos along for some interactive and hands-on fun that’s sure to fire up their imagination! Highlights include Art Explorers, which encourages kids to see art from different perspectives, drawing and art making sessions and storytelling. Admission to Family Weekend programmes is free, but admission fees to exhibitions may apply. Registration for individual programs is required.
1 St Andrew’s Road #01–01, Singapore 178957; www.nationalgallery.sg
Sentosa Kidz Flea: 12-19 March
Watch your kids be mini bosses for a week! This school holiday event is a perfect opportunity to introduce your child to entrepreneurship and help them develop some life skills. The award-winning programme is designed for kids age seven to 12 years old and will take place at the Merlion Plaza, Sentosa. Young participants – also known as ‘PLAY-trepreneurs’ – will get to attend a half-day training workshop where they’ll learn all about creating products for sale, pricing, product display, finance and customer engagement so they can manage their own business. Kids are encouraged to donate part or all of their earnings to Autism Association (Singapore). Register for a booth, or just drop by to help support a great cause!
3-8pm, Merlion Plaza, Sentosa; www.sentosa.com.sg
Children’s Festival at Gardens by the Bay: 12-20 March
With its amazing playgrounds and arguably Singapore’s best free water play park, we’re already hooked, but there’s even more to enjoy with the arrival of the Children’s Festival at Gardens by the Bay! The programme includes a water play performance, ‘Rainbows in the Water, a story about friendship and love; Clumsy Claws and Friends – a fun performance based on Ruth Galloway’s book Clumsy Crab; interactive storytelling with the fairies in the Flower Dome, plus craft, games and a bouncy castle! Stick around until 7pm on Saturdays to catch the Supertrees transform into a fairytale galaxy, complete with kid-friendly circus acts, theatre, music and LED lighting. Check the full schedule for all the fun in store and specific timings.
2pm-6.30pm weekdays, 10am-7.45pm weekends; www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
Learn the art of flirting (it isn’t just for singles!): 14 March
Rediscover the art of flirting and learn how it can make a difference in your personal, social and professional lives! Social anthropologist and ‘Flirtologist’ Jean Smith is visiting Singapore to reveal all. Read our interview with Jean for some golden advice on why flirting with your husband is crucial, and join her workshop Flirtology: Finding Your IT Factor, hosted by The WEDGE. Tickets are $50 and include dinner by Elements & Co.
6:30pm – 8:30pm at JustCo, 120 Robinson Rd, Level 15; www.flirtology.peatix.com
PaperPlay Family Craft Buffet: 15, 16, 18 & 19 March
Kids are going to love this one: spray, ink, glitter, hammer and embellish objects at this ‘craft buffet’ by PaperMarket! Running every hour in groups of 10, this workshop allows kids to choose objects to decorate with materials from the ‘buffet’. Sounds crazy fun. Tickets are $15.
15 March, 10am-1pm; 16 March, 10am-1pm; 18 March, 12pm-6pm; 19 March, 12pm-6pm. B1-27 Raffles City; www.papermarket.com.sg