There’s plenty in store this November, including a new exhibition at the National Gallery to Gardens by the Bay’s returning tulip showcase. Whether you’re looking for something fun to do on your own or in groups of two, Native brings you November’s unique event highlights for your monthly inspiration.
Tulipmania
Tulipmania returns after a two-year hiatus as one of Gardens by the Bay’s most popular floral displays. Showcasing more than 1000 wild tulips, this year’s edition of Tulipmania explores the origins of the tulip in the Kazakhstan wilderness. In addition to admiring the vibrant tulips, visitors will also be taken on a cultural journey of Kazahkstan, with Timurid architecture and traditional yurt displays accompanying the floral display.
Workshops on floral arrangements will also be held at Gardens by the Bay throughout November, where visitors can learn how to make their own living wall art collection and grow their own microgreens.
Date: Now-15 November 2021
Address: Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Singapore Writers Festival
Singapore’s annual literary festival returns for its 35th edition in a hybrid format spanning digital and onsite programs this year. The 2021 Singapore Writers Festival features prolific authors and famous personalities such as R.L. Stine (Fear Street), Julia Quinn (Bridgerton), Tan France (Queer Eye), and many other critically acclaimed names. Through a series of talks and workshops revolving around the central theme of “Guilty Pleasures”, the festival explores the complicated relationships between guilt and pleasure through the actions we take and choices we make as individuals, and the broader global community within our societies and environments.
Date: 5-14 November 2021
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Hell’s Museum
Haw Par Villa is one of Singapore’s most infamous landmarks, housing the attraction 10 Courts of Hell that spooked many Singaporean children back in the 60s. After going through refurbishment works, Haw Par Villa reopens with an all-new museum centered around death, aptly named Hell’s Museum, as well as a fully air-conditioned 10 Courts of Hell attraction. The museum is the first of its kind in the world to explore how death and the afterlife are viewed and interpreted across different religions, cultures, and through the ages.
Visitors will get a better understanding of the topic of death through specially commissioned videos that shed light on rituals and ceremonies for the dead, amongst other topics, and specially curated displays. Spanning 3,800 square meters and serving as a prelude to the 10 Courts of Hell experience, Hell’s Museum is an intriguing look into death and its influence across different beliefs and cultures. Do note that pre-booking a time slot to visit is required to enter Hell’s Museum.
Address: 262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118 628
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday from 10am-8pm
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Deepavali Open House
To celebrate Deepavali this year, the Indian Heritage Centre opens its doors with a mini light-up installation and various activities. Craft paper lanterns, participate in a rangoli and kolam-making workshop and make your own paper garland. If you’re feeling touristy, join a guided trishaw tour when the sun goes down and take in the sights and sounds of Little India as the precinct ushers in the Festival of Lights.
Date: Now-14 November 2021
Address: 5 Campbell Lane, Singapore 209924
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Minion Cafe
Meet the adorable Minions from Despicable Me’s franchise as they take over a cafe in Clarke Quay. Modeled after the official Minions Summer Cafe in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, the Singapore edition promises exclusive merchandise, cute photo-op spots, and a Minions-themed menu. From minion-shaped wagyu cheeseburgers to adorable minion lattes, fans of the Minions franchise are sure to enjoy this experience. Do note that reservations are required before heading down to the cafe, so book yours early to avoid disappointment.
Date: Now-Jan 2, 2022
Address: 3A River Valley Road, Merchant’s Court, #01-01C to 01D, Block A Clarke Quay, Singapore 179020
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday from 11am-10pm, and Saturday-Sunday from 10am-10pm
Website | Facebook | Instagram
The Tailors and The Mannequins: Cheng Chen Mei and You Khin
National Gallery Singapore’s new exhibition gallery, Dalam Southeast Asia makes its debut with the launch of The Tailors and The Mannequins: Cheng Chen Mei and You Khin. Exploring lesser-known artists in the Southeast Asian sphere, the exhibition spotlights two talented artists: Cheng Chen Mei, a Singaporean artist whose art was influenced by her frequent study trips in Asia and Africa; and You Khin, a Cambodian migrant who was abroad during the Khmer Rouge period and creates art that includes studies of the Middle East, as well as depictions of his country’s internal turmoil. Exploring how far-flung regions are depicted by Southeast Asian artists, the exhibition presents a new narrative that strays from the linear and invites visitors to form their own perspectives on Southeast Asian art.
Date: Now-10 April 2022
Address: National Gallery Singapore, Level 3 Supreme Court Wing, 1 St Andrew’s Road #01–01, Singapore 178957
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday from 10am-7pm
