Singapore National Day (9 August) is approaching again. Happily, with most restrictions now lifted, we’re spoilt for choice with the variety of things to do this time around! In other good news, this year’s fireworks will light up the sky in five heartland locations – so we don’t have to all congregate in Marina Bay for the view!
From the best locations to catch fireworks for free, to special cuisine offerings and National Day-themed leisure activities, we’ve got you covered.
#1 Enjoy activities with kids
Looking for kid-friendly activities to engage your kids’ curiosity? At Superpark, the all-in-one indoor park with three themed areas and over 20 energising activities, you can enjoy these exclusive deals over the National Day period:
- SuperPark – Bundle of two @$57 from 1 to 14 August, applicable for the play session from 9 am to 11 am and 7 pm to 9 pm. More information can be found here: SuperPark National Day Promo
- At Tayo Station, count down to the much-anticipated annual celebration on 9 August with a colouring activity from 1 to 14 August. Kids get to colour the National Day print-out provided by the park team, strike a pose for a photo with their artworks and pass the artworks to the crew for a public showcase in the park. Cost: $5.70 off child admission on 1, 5 and 8 August, applicable for all sessions, and for the 6pm to 8pm sessions on 6, 7 and 9 August.
#2 Take the National Day Quiz
In celebration of Singapore’s 57th anniversary, Singapore Discovery Centre (SDC) is offering the chance to win free tickets to the National Day Parade (NDP)!
For your chance to win, simply like/follow SDC on social media, answer the Quiz questions and tag a friend in the comment section. Quiz 1 entitles the winner to get four pairs of National Day Parade Preview Show 2 tickets, while Quiz 2 entitles the winner to the same number of tickets for 9 August. If you’re the winner, you can go with the whole family!
Feel like taking up the challenge? Head over to SDC official website for details.
#3 Try National Day food specials
Take advantage of some enticing food deals on your day off! Kinki Restaurant + Bar has a strategic location for watching National Day activities and a festive menu for the big day too. Ramp things up for a memorable night at the Rooftop Bar with the National Day Rooftop Package (from $588 per table for up to six people) including alcohol of your choice, mixers, signature Kinki wings and much more. With the NDP parade nearby, you’ll be able to enjoy up-close views of the fireworks.
Another option is sky-high dining at Artemis Grill. The restaurant’s limited edition three-course meal starts from $98. It includes appetisers such as creamy burrata served with pesto and peaches; a signature main of black cod served with clams; and, for vegans, spicy lentil fritters with red cabbage and tahini. Optional sharing platters are also available. Dessert lovers won’t be left disappointed with three indulgent selections. Check out the full menu here.
#4 View the Marina Bay fireworks for free
This year’s fireworks display will take place on 9 August, between 8.15pm and 8.25pm.
Looking to watch the Marina Bay fireworks without splurging at a restaurant? Here are some options. Given their proximity to the show, the Helix Bridge, Benjamin Sheares Bridge, the Esplanade, the Marina Bay Sands boardwalk and the Merlion Park are hotspots for free viewing. Another prime location is One Fullerton as it faces the NDP show directly, giving you a close-to “front row” experience. The flip side is that these spots tend to get really crowded – so it pays to be an early bird!
Another recommended location to catch the fireworks is the Marina Bay Promontory. It’s a place where you can enjoy a picnic while enjoying views of MBS, the fireworks display and the whole CBD area in all its glory. Marina Barrage is also a good picnic spot, with the rooftop garden an excellent place from which to admire the skyline and the fireworks.
If you don’t mind being a bit further away to avoid the crowd, Faber Peak is a great vantage point for enjoying the show while leaving the hordes behind. The Bay East Garden at Gardens by the Bay doesn’t have the best accessibility but once you’re there and set up, you can sit back in the natural surroundings and wait for the show to begin.
#5 Watch National Day fireworks in the heartlands
Prefer to watch fireworks in the cosiness of your home or neighbourhood? You’ll be able to admire the displays at these places:
- Central Singapore: Open field beside Ang Mo Kio Library
- South West: Jurong West Stadium
- South East: Bedok Stadium
- North West: Woodlands Stadium
- North East: Former Tampines Junior College
The fireworks will shoot off at the same time as the Marina Bay displays, so make sure to head out on time for the show!
#6 Watch some local shows
A day off on National Day is great for binge-watching your favourite shows. Here are some top ones recommended by our readers and staff! Or, to fit the theme of the day, it’s also a good time to view some Singaporean series and films on Netflix; we recommend classics such as I Not Stupid, Ah Boys To Men and Growing Up.
ArtScience Cinema’s latest film programme, Imaging Paradise, also offers a rich tapestry of local stories. Happening over August, this specially curated line-up explores the past, present and future of what a modern utopia means to local film-makers such as Tan Pin Pin and Royston Tan.
#7 Have a good National Day workout
Exercise junkies can spend National Day engaging in their favourite fitness activities.
Here’s one way: you can join 5,700 others to get into the Singapore Book of Records and make a mark on Singapore’s 57th National Day, with the “Be Stronger, Workout Together” event. This mass workout takes place at the National Stadium on 7 August from 5 to 6.30pm (doors open at 4pm).
Bring along your family and friends to participate in this fun-filled 90-minute fitness workout with GetActive. Workout routine includes: Dance of the Nation, Zumba, Piloxing, Fight Do, and KpopX Fitness.
#8 Witness the National Day light-up
The façade of the National Museum will light up in celebration of Singapore’s 57th birthday, with the theme Stronger Together, Majulah! Catch the display until 10 August. You can get a sneak peek here.
On 9 August itself, there’s also a free live telecast of the National Day Parade under the museum’s iconic Banyan tree, with images of past parades projected on the museum building. Enjoy some nostalgia with friends and family!
#9 Take part in National Day carnivals
Why keep the fun to just National Day? Carnivals are happening all over the island on the weekend right before the parade. Expect themed performances, activities and exhibitions that celebrate the Singapore spirit.
The carnivals will be held from 4pm to 9pm at these five heartland locations:
- Central Singapore: Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Ficus Green – 6 August
- North East: Punggol Open Field beside Waterway Point – 6 August
- North West: Open Space next to Sembawang MRT Station – 6 August
- South West: Open Field next to Buona Vista MRT Station – 6 August
- South East: Wisma Geylang Serai – 7 August
Interested? Find ticketing information here.
#10 Catch the Red Lions
Another highly anticipated event is the Red Lions free-fall jumps. On 7 August, they’ll be parachuting beside Bishan MRT from 8.40am to 9.30am, and opposite Ghim Moh Market from 9.10am to 10am. Make sure to cheer them on as they float down with the Singapore flag!
#11 Have a sing-along session
The 16th edition National Day sing-along returns for its first offline session in two years. Mark your calendars for the 7 August event taking place at Toa Payoh HDB Hub Mall Square.
Sing your hearts out as the choir from The A Cappella Society’s Children’s Pop Choir & Youth Voices perform a repertoire of National Day songs in different languages. Look forward to local classics and all-time favourite tunes led by homegrown singers Zuo En, Yutaki Ong, Irwin and Idah.
If you can’t make it to the physical event, you can still join the event online! For more information, visit sfcca.sg/en.
#12 Watch this year’s parade!
The 2022 parade will witness the return of the Total Defence Display (TDD) at 6.14pm, involving two parts: ‘Defending our Country’ and ‘Securing Singapore Together’. Organised by the SAF and Home Team, the first part features technologically advanced assets, while the second displays the nation’s response to peace-time contingency scenarios.
Another highlight this year is the Parade & Ceremony. Singapore celebrates the 55th anniversary of National Service this year and will pay a special tribute to all National Servicemen. A noteworthy addition is the Military Tattoo, with a performance by the SAF Precision Drill Squad, SAF and SPF Combined Band, Combined School Bands and the Virtual Choir.
The State-Flag Fly-Past and Salute to the Nation also return. Keep an eye out at approximately 6.46pm for the Fly-Past, flown by an RSAF Chinook helicopter, escorted by RSAF Apache Helicopters, and the Salute to the Nation bomb burst flown by F-16C/D aircraft.
The show segment of NDP 2022 tells ‘The Story of Us’ – the collective journey of people in Singapore overcoming the pandemic. More than 2,000 performers will be at The Float@Marina Bay, celebrating resilience and adaptability through a live performance.
Finally, the heartwarming ‘Majulah!’ segment will see student performers heralding a better future, led by singer Taufik Batisah. With the pledge, the national anthem and the last round of fireworks, the NDP will conclude at around 8.20pm.
Check out more things to do in Singapore.
Where to go for a local breakfast
Wet markets in Singapore
