Last year, the inaugural event was launched as part of the buzz of activities for the first Singapore Formula One night race.

But from this year, it will be held during the June school holidays to reach out to Singaporean families and to coincide with the peak tourist month.

This year, there will be more free events to make the nine-day festival more appealing to different segments of visitors.

There will be a nightly bumboat parade where five traditional bumboats, which used to ply the river, will feature the trades and people who used to make their living off the river. Well-known local bands from the 70s, 80s and 90s will als strut their stuff at a riverside bar.

The Asian Civilisation Museum is also offering free entry from 5pm to midnight on June 19 and 25. Acrobats will be performing aerial stunts suspended more than 10-m in the air at Read Bridge during the festival too.

Singapore Tourism Board's director of entertainment sports and arts said, unveiling the raft of events, said on Monday: 'Last year, more than 180,000 people visited the Singapore River during the festival.

'This year, we have ensured that events and activities are mostly free and hope that both locals and visitors will join us to make this an even bigger and more memorable celebration of the River.'

For more information on events lined up, please refer to www.singaporeriverfestival.com.