Your ultimate SG50 weekend guide: Marina Bay Area

Head to the Marina Barrage for a mass picnic (left) on the roof and drop by Clifford Square for a food heritage exhibition, SG50: Deliciously Singaporean (above). Celebrate Singapore's jubilee in the city - at the Esplanade (left), which will host fr
Celebrate Singapore's jubilee in the city - at The Fullerton Hotel, which is projecting a video on its facade. PHOTO: THE FULLERTON HOTEL

GARDENS BY THE BAY

What: Singapore being a Garden City, it is only right that its fanciest garden joins in the jubilee celebrations. From Aug 7 to 10, tickets to Flower Dome and Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay will be sold at half price and opening hours will be extended till 10pm on Aug 9.

There will also be a special exhibition, From Tales To Legends: Discover Singapore Stories, in the Flower Dome. Using more than 8,000 orchids and other flowers, award-winning landscape architect Damian Tang has created beautiful displays that tell stories about Singapore. A stand-out work is a red-and-white creation showing the Merlion as a warrior battling a 10m-high tornado to save Singapore.

In the evenings, enjoy a light-and-sound show, Garden Rhapsody, at the Supertrees. It will include laser imagery just for the jubilee weekend and is set to the tune of Singapore Town and other nostalgic songs covered by home-grown singers such as Benjamin Kheng of local band The Sam Willows.

Where: Flower Dome, Cloud Forest and Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay

When: Aug 6 to 10; Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, 9am to 9pm on Aug 7, 8 and 10, till 10pm on Aug 9; Garden Rhapsody, 7.45, 8.30, 9.15 and 10pm from Aug 6 to 10, 7.45 and 8.45pm from Aug 11; From Tales To Legends: Discover Singapore Stories display and trail (Flower Dome), July 31 to Sept 13

Admission: 50 per cent discount on admission tickets for Singapore residents to the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest during the jubilee weekend. Usual price is $12 for adults for one conservatory and $20 for two. Free for Singaporeans aged 60 and above till Aug 31

Info: www.gardensbythebay.com.sg



ESPLANADE - THEATRES ON THE BAY

What: The iconic arts centre has planned an extensive National Day bash that will appeal to arts lovers and families. Firstly, the Esplanade Concert Hall, where luminaries such as Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and jazz musician Herbie Hancock have performed, is holding a rare open house.

Attend free one-hour demonstrations and music performances where Esplanade's technical crew will showcase different acoustic settings of the hall, which can be adjusted to suit performances that range from a cappella to pipe organ solos.

There are also art installations and more than 15 music, dance and art performances and demonstrations happening across the Esplanade during the long weekend, including a sand art performance depicting Singapore's history by artist Lawrence Koh accompanied by local trio Nen, which play traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu and guzheng.

Or shop at Pasar at the Esplanade lower concourse, with vendors such as indie bookstore BooksActually and popsicle retailer Popaganda setting up booths. At the newly renovated forecourt, play a friendly game of Ping-Pong Go Round at Singapore artist Lee Wen's circular ping pong table.

Where: Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive

When: Aug 6 to 10; Esplanade Concert Hall Open House, Aug 8, 1 to 2pm, 3 to 4pm, 6.15 to 7.15pm and 8.15 to 9.15pm; Pasar at the Esplanade lower concourse, Aug 8, 2 to 9pm and Aug 10, 3 to 8pm; performances take place at various times and locations on all days

Admission: Free

Info: For details, go to www.esplanade.com/nationalday


MARINA BARRAGE

What: Take the family to a mass picnic at Marina Barrage, which will have carnival stalls, roving magicians and caricaturists, and music performances by Singapore artists such as Daphne Khoo.

There will also be a mobile cafe selling snacks and drinks, and picnic baskets for sale, with proceeds going to charity.

The picnics are organised by Families For Life and the Public Utilities Board.

There will also be live screenings of the National Day Parade on Aug 9.

Where: Marina Barrage, 8 Marina Gardens Drive

When: Aug 7 and 8, 8am to 12.30pm

Admission: Free

Info: Register for the picnics at www.sg50picnics.sg before Sunday


MARINA BAY SANDS

What: Do your part for charity with the Community Chest Heartstrings Walk, a 4km walk that starts at the Marina Bay Sands event plaza and goes around Marina Bay.

The super-fit can also register for the vertical marathon at 57-storey Marina Bay Sands .

Over at the Waterfront Promenade open space, look out for a food carnival organised by #SgEatWithUs, a home-grown group that champions home- cooked food. Sample dishes such as braised duck buns and ondeh- ondeh ice cream. The cooks will be onsite to share stories behind their creations.

Where: Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue; Waterfront Promenade is next to MBS Convention Centre

When: Community Chest Heartstrings Walk, Aug 7, 7.30 to 11am; #SgEatWithUs Celebrates by the Bay, Aug 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, noon to 10pm

Admission: $10 for walk (for individuals), $2,000 for vertical marathon (for team of four). Free admission to ArtScience Museum from Aug 7 to 9. Coupons for #SgEatWithUs cost from $12.

Info: To register for the walk, go to www.comchestheartstrings.sg. Go to www.sgeatwithus.sg


THE FULLERTON HOTEL

What: The 128-year-old Fullerton Hotel will come alive for a week next month with a video projected on its facade at night.

The eight-minute video pays tribute to the building's history as well as to the heritage of the area. Expect to see 3-D animated stamps, a nod to the building's past as the General Post Office from 1928 to 1996, as well as scenes from election campaign rallies that took place at Fullerton Square.

On Aug 7 and 8, the hotel will be giving out free kacang puteh and potong ice cream at One Fullerton.

Where: The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square. The best vantage points for the projection are at One Fullerton and Merlion Park.

When: A Celebration Of Our Heritage, Aug 1 to 9, various timings; free kacang puteh and potong ice cream, Aug 7 and 8, from 7.30pm

Admission: Free

Info: www.facebook.com/TheFullertonHotel


CLIFFORD SQUARE

What: Take a walk down memory lane with five exhibitions on Singapore history called Tracing Transformations: Memories Of Our Nation.

These include a photography exhibition, On The Road, by Singapore photographer Sean Lee, which looks at how the Singapore landscape has changed from the perspective of taxi drivers, and SG50: Deliciously Singaporean, an exhibition tracing the evolution of local street food put together by the National Heritage Board.

Where: The NDP Heritage Zone at Clifford Square, 1 Fullerton Road

When: Aug 4 to 10, 10am to 10pm

Admission: Free

Nabilah Said

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