Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) is back this 1–25 May 2025 with over 100 programmes islandwide, spotlighting the nation’s living heritage. Perfect for culturally curious travellers who want to immerse in the local way of life, this year’s festival – held in conjunction with Singapore’s SG60 celebrations –features hands-on experiences, performances, exhibitions, and culinary stories that offer unique insights into local traditions.
What to do at SHF 2025:
Watch vibrant performances: Catch Out of the Red Box, a bold mash-up of traditional Teochew opera and getai. Then, dive into Indian classical music, Malay opera, and ancient Chinese Nanyin melodies through immersive performances and workshops.
Get crafty: Try your hand at lantern-making, rattan weaving, or painting with natural plant pigments. Or personalise a pair of rattan-knot Belle Mary Janes in a design-meets-heritage workshop.
Taste heritage dishes: Learn to craft Nasi Ulam, bake cempedak cake in a 1960s bakery after dark, or uncover the history of bak kut teh with guided storytelling and tea pairings.
Explore cultural practices: Discover Singapore’s wedding customs, rites of passage across communities, or relive childhood through traditional games and toys.
Reconnect with nature: Tie fragrant flower garlands, paint using native botanical dyes, or visit the birthplace of Singapore’s national flower in an orchid cultivation workshop.
Visit festival favourites:HOMEGROUND returns at Gardens by the Bay with pop-up hawker stalls and cultural markets. Meanwhile, Ride & Discover transforms MRT stations into mini heritage showcases, and UNDISCLOSED invites guests on a surprise behind-the-scenes heritage adventure.
Travellers can register for activities at http://sgheritagefest.gov.sg/ from 22 April, 12pm. Whether they're after hands-on fun or deep
cultural dives, SHF 2025 offers a window into Singapore’s living
traditions and community stories.