What’s on in Singapore in May & June 2023

Cocktails in the City

Tipplers rejoice! Singapore Cocktail Festival 2023 (SGCF) returns from 5 – 21 May 2023. The party starts with a 3-day event at Festival Village at the iconic Bayfront Event Space. To the backdrop of the city skyline, cocktail lovers will have the choice of nearly 100 concoctions and the chance to meet some of the world’s best bartenders hailing from bars around Asia Pacific, such as Maybe Sammy (Sydney), Penicillin (Hong Kong) and Sidecar (New Delhi). The fun doesn’t stop there as a City Takeover continues across 45 of Singapore’s best bars until 21 May. Look out for pop-ups, cocktail brunches, specially created cocktails and more. Start lining your stomach now!
From S$40 for one day. Bayfront Event Space, 12A Bayfront Ave, 018970
 singaporecocktailfestival.com

Aussie opera comes to SG

The Butterfly Lovers was a hit in Melbourne last year and now it’s set to captivate audiences on the red dot. In collaboration with Victorian Opera, the performance takes place from 3 – 7 May 2023. It’s the first time this Chinese folktale takes flight as an original English-language opera. The performance, which tells the story of Zhu Yingtai, a woman who disguises herself as a man to survive in a patriarchal society, is as thought provoking as it is beautiful.
Victoria Theatre, 11 Empress Place, #01-02, 179558 wildrice.com.sg

Smell the flowers

If you’re partial to a bunch of pretty blooms, don’t miss ‘Tulipmania – ‘Origins of the Tulip’ at Gardens by the Bay. The floral display takes on a Turkish twist being set in a landscape that features some of Turkey’s most iconic landmarks and architecture while retracing the rich history of tulips in the country.
Until 21 May.   gardensbythebay.com.sg

Big love for the Kebaya

The National Heritage Board (NHB) has launched Love, Kebaya, a new travelling exhibition showcasing the iconic kebaya and the community stories behind them. The exhibition, which features contributed items, photographs and a selection of kebaya, follows the multinational nomination of the kebaya by Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia to Unesco’s heritage list in March.
 nhb.gov.sg

Birds in Paradise

Following the ‘great migration’ from Jurong Bird Park to Mandai, our avian friends are ready to welcome guests to Bird Paradise from 8 May. Over 100 staff members helped with the transition of around 3,500 birds from over 400 species to their new home, and we hear inhabitants are settling in well. Indeed, their new dwelling is quite an upgrade with eight walkthrough aviaries and better environments intentionally designed to mimic different ecologies from around the world. Highlights include Penguin Cove with its cold salt-water habitat, a Bee Eater’s Cliff where you can observe bee-eater birds, and the Amazon jungle at Amazonian Jewels. The Sky Amphitheatre will host live avian presentations in an upgraded format that will feature the amazing talents of the birds alongside their trainers.
20 Mandai Lake Rd, 729825  mandai.com

Candlelight & classics

To celebrate a century of iconic classics, entertainment studio Warner Bros is bringing ‘Candlelight: 100 Years of Warner Bros’ to Singapore. The event on 8 May takes place at CHIJMES Hall and will showcase music from the likes of The Wizard of Oz and Batman, as well as television shows such as Friends.
7 and 9pm, 8 May    feverup.com

Lighten Up

The island brightens up from 2 – 25 June as i Light Singapore returns with the theme ‘A New Wave’. Highlighting art and sustainability, the festival will turn Marina Bay into a visual extravaganza with luminous works by international and local artists alongside fringe activities.
Marina Bay    ilightsingapore.gov.sg