Due to the extended Circuit Breaker and enhanced safe distancing measures implemented in view of the COVID-19 situation, several of the events organised by the National Heritage Board (NHB) will no longer be able to take place physically as planned. However, members of the public can look forward to enjoying digital editions of upcoming festivals and programmes from the comfort of their homes.

Here are all the digital festivals and programmes to look out for:

Countdown to Hari Raya with NHB and the Malay Heritage Centre

Starting today till 22 June 2020, NHB and the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC) have lined up various digital offerings on MHC’s Facebook page and NHB’s Ramadan Together Facebook events page, so that Singaporeans can soak in the festive spirit as a community, and learn more about Ramadan and Hari Raya, including the intangible cultural heritage traditions, customs and practices associated with these festivals.

MHC is presenting a two-month-long #OnxOnRayaFest featuring a diverse line-up of online programmes that will showcase the food, fashion, culture and performing arts of the Malay/Muslim community.

1. Hari Raya Selera Warisan Series
   1. 29 April: Learn to make Chicken Curry with Marina Yusoff
   1. 9 May: Learn to make Sambal Tumis Udang dan Petai with Firdaus Rahman
   1. 23 May: Learn to make a Hari Raya favourite with MP Amrin Amin
   1. 6 June: Learn to make Soto Ayam with Maria Mahat
2. Kuih Raya! Simple Baking Series
   1. 2 May: Kueh Bangkit
   1. 16 May: Kueh Tart
   1. 30 May: Kueh Tapak Kuda
   1. 13 June: Kek Lapis
3. Interview with Rina, founder of Sufyaa (13 May)
4. Did you know? (18 May) – Test your depth of knowledge about Raya
5. Raya from Home – Memories of Raya’s Past vs Present (21 May)
6. Hari Raya Greetings (24 May)

The NHB is also presenting RamadanTogether – a social initiative which serves to bring the community together virtually and reminds us of the significance of Ramadan.

1. Iftar Together (9 May)
2. Masak Together (16 May)
3. Concert Together (24 May)

Wan Qing Dumpling Festival

The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall (SYSNMH) will present its annual Wan Qing Dumpling Festival online from 1 to 30 June 2020. Some of the highlights include an online cooking tutorial by Kim Choo Kueh Chang with step-by-step instructions on how to prepare their famous rice dumplings, animated short stories, game contests and craft tutorials.

Singapore Heritage Festival 2020

An inaugural digital edition of the well-loved Singapore Heritage Festival will also be happening from 19 June to 5 July 2020. Together with SHF’s partners, NHB will be bringing aspects of lesser known places and stories in Singapore to the public with digitally commissioned works, online tours, cultural workshops and demonstrations, etc – all presented through live streaming, video and other digital formats.

Get acquainted with a Tanjong Pagar, Pasir Ris and Kallang not many know of – from the different lives of Tanjong Pagar’s 5 Kadayanallur Street to tales of grand resort vacations Singaporeans used to have at Pasir Ris, as well as adventures told by Police Coast Guard retirees who were based in the Kallang Basin. You can also hone your pastry-making and belachan-pounding skills with online food demonstration workshops conducted by our community partners.

Heritage Activities for the May School Holidays

In addition, Singaporeans now have one-stop access to fun and engaging stay-home heritage resources and activities on NHB’s heritage portal, Roots.sg.

During the May school holidays, families can visit it for kids-friendly activities such as:

1. Singapore Tales: Attack of the Swordfish
2. Ramadan Together
3. Colouring Sheets from A Narrow Escape: The Fearless Twins and the Magical Kaleido
4. Heritage Explorers Programme
5. An Old New World: From the East Indies to the Founding of Singapore, 1600s–1819
6. From the Coromandel Coast to the Straits – Revisiting Our Tamil Heritage
7. Orchard Heritage Trail
8. Faces of the Past: The Singapore River Bridges
9. Intangible Cultural Heritage in Singapore
10. The Singapore Story through 60 objects
11. Heritage in Episodes
12. Heritage Conservation Centre: BTS1

New and exciting initiatives such as virtual exhibitions, 3D scans of treasures in our National Collection, and videos sharing insights into diverse aspects of our heritage will also be added in the coming months as part of NHB’s efforts to boost digital heritage offerings with the Digitalisation Fund.

Cancellation of Singapore Night Festival 2020

The Singapore Night Festival 2020, scheduled to take place from 21 to 29 August this year, will be cancelled. This decision was made after careful consideration to prioritise the safety and well-being of the many local and international artists and partners involved, as well as festival-goers. Stay tuned for the next edition of Singapore Night Festival in 2021.

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