SINGAPORE - Four hundred families are expected to turn out on Saturday (June 25) to celebrate fathers at a Families for Life picnic at East Coast Park.

The picnic is the first outside the Central Business District organised this year by the Families for Life Council, a people-sector led group that aims to connect with Singaporean families and strengthen communities.

This free event is held to honour fathers, and to encourage the public to spend more time with their families.

Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development will be joining families at the picnic. He will also be participating in a five-a-side football game. Also participating in this game are former premier league soccer players Kelvin Nonis and R. Sasikumar.

Other highlights include a "Decorate a T-Shirt for Father" booth, an outdoor movie screening, a family treasure hunt, and a mobile cafe.

Mr Jeff Cheong, council member of Families for Life and president of advertising agency Tribal Worldwide Asia, said these picnics are often something to look forward to for families.

He said: "What we have done is providing a space for the activities that families can enjoy. We've taken a simple idea and made it meaningful."

"The definition of a family per se might have changed, but we're looking at how we can create spaces to bring families together."

The picnic is happening at Casuarina Grove, East Coast Park (Car Park F2), from 5.30pm to 7pm on Saturday.