He and the event's arts programme director Jennifer Jennings, who is also his wife, have organised other festivals around the world, including Electric Picnic in Ireland and Australia's Harvest Festival.
Taking place at six stages in Fort Canning Park, the two-day festival brings together a massive line-up of 39 international and local musicians, and 140 other performers including artists, poets, dancers, comedians and drag queens.
Two stages will be devoted to music acts, including disco legends Chic featuring Nile Rodgers and British shoegaze pioneers Ride; the remaining four each has a distinct arts programme - alternative entertainment, literary arts, visual and performing arts, or street culture.
The Irish couple, who declined to reveal how much it cost to organise the event, say they picked Singapore to stage Neon Lights after noticing a growing appetite for events here.
Mr Forde, 39, says: "Singaporeans have very diverse tastes, a sense of style and aesthetics.