Immerse yourself in the rich and vibrant Peranakan culture at the first-ever Peranakan Festival coming to us this May and June.
The month-long festival will take place at Claymore Connect and The Peranakan Restaurant at 442 Orchard Road. Between 27 May to 17 June, visitors can expect dance performances, cooking classes, arts, culture exhibitions and workshops accompanied with a social-giving element for the less privileged.
It will run over four weekends (27-28 May, 3-4 June, 10-11 June, 17 June) from 11am to 6pm, intriguing visitors with an enriching immersion experience of the Straits Chinese community. Here’s a glimpse of what you can do at this cultural festival as you gain a deeper insight into the unique Baba Nyonya culture.
Savour Authentic Peranakan Flavours
A showcase of traditional desserts and cookies plus sireh or betel nut, will be accompanied by free tastings while a cooking workshop at $50 comes with a personalised certificate and a recipe card.
Cooking classes reveal the secrets behind the hard-to-find Nasi Ulam, a delectable rice salad of raw herbs and vegetables, fried and salted fish, that have to be finely julienned and minced and takes hours to prepare.
A likely sell-out event is the weekend Peranakan Joget Joget High Tea at The Peranakan Restaurant, where favourites like Mee Siam, Kueh Pi Tee and Nasi Ulam accompanied by Malacca Kopi-o and Malacca Milk Tea will be served.
Catch Traditional Peranakan Performances
Enjoy Dondang Sayang, a love ballad performance, a traditional form of entertainment during which Baba and Nonya singers engage in a witty, humorous exchange of Malay pantun (poetry). Joget Joget weekends highlight the Peranakan love for dancing.
Let Your Kids Frolick and Learn About the Peranakan Culture At the Same Time
Kids can get into the Peranakan art and craft workshops like stamp carving, silk screen printing and book cover art, where they will be guided to create a Peranakan-inspired composition.
There will also be a demonstration on making Bunga Rampai, a potpourri of fresh pandan leaves and flowers, traditionally used on special occasions.
Visit Exhibitions on Peranakan Culture and Art
You can also visit the exhibitions on Peranakan culture and art that highlight the community’s heritage while showcasing the game of cherki, which is played by Nonyas in the past. Did you know that this popular card game – originating from Malacca – was usually accompanied by gossip around the table, swapping recipes and chewing betel nut.
Show reels of Peranakans of yesteryear also form a visual backdrop to the event. You can have fun dressing up in Nonya or Baba traditional outfits and taking photographs in front of different photo walls around the mall.
Don Traditional Peranakan Costumes
There are traditional kebayas available for visitors to dress up for the photo opportunity at a rental fee of just $30. Apart from that, a set of spectacular traditional Peranakan wedding garments is up for rental too.
For those who would like to own a piece of the intricate Peranakan costume, specially designed kebayas, sarongs, kerosang (brooches) and kasut manek (beaded slippers) can be purchased during the festival.
Last but not least, you can also bring home some Peranakan flavour by picking up Nonya Kueh Chang, traditional cookies, furniture, porcelain and batik tablecloths. Besides that, there are crystal glassware, sarong kebayas and antique furniture originally used in Peranakan households in the 1920s available for sale.
On Saturday 3 June, the second weekend of the festival, 100 elderly folk and 35 children from Redhill neighbourhood Lengkong Bahru will be invited to visit the festival and enjoy high tea at The Peranakan Restaurant. This effort is in conjunction with volunteer group ‘saturdays@lengkongbahru’ as a way to contribute back to the society.
As for the following day, Sunday, 4 June, 100 beneficiaries from Prison Fellowship Singapore will also be hosted for high tea. The festival’s organisers strongly believe in providing a platform for the less privileged to connect with society.
For more details, please refer to the following festival programme.
Daily from 27 May to 17 June
From 11am to 6pm
Claymore Connect, 442 Orchard Road, Singapore 238879
Free admission
Workshops, high tea and Peranakan costume rental are chargeable.
Tickets for workshops can be purchased from Peatix
Website: www.theperanakanfestival.com
Facebook:The Peranakan Festival
Tel: +65 6262 4728
The Peranakan Festival is organised by Solutions 17 Pte Ltd and supported by The Peranakan Restaurant, The Peranakan Museum, Singapore Tourism Board, DBS, Singapore Airlines, Singtel, Claymore Connect, CDL Hospitality Trusts, Generasia Limited, Gunong Sayang Association, and Kim Choo Kueh Chang Pte Ltd.
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