SINGAPORE — This year’s Singapore Night Festival kicks off tonight; and while the theme may be Glitz And Glamour, trudging across the entire festival area, which spans from Armenian Street to Middle Road, and trying to catch everything, would most likely leave you rather, well, “tak glam”. So what can you do? We’ve singled out a couple of must-sees in each of the five zones for both weekends — enough to have “been there, done that” bragging rights and still retain that glam factor.

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ZONE 1 (NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE)

THE ANOOKI CELEBRATE SINGAPORE. What’s a night fest without the big spectacle? This one, featuring “the world’s smallest Inuits” running riot on the National Museum’s facade — animated Inuits, not real people — is pretty special. David Passegand and Moetu Batlle created it specially for our Golden Jubilee year. Aug 21, 22, 28 and 29, 7.30pm to 2am, National Museum.

GARDEN OF ANGELS. Belgian group Theatre Tol wowed us at the 2011 edition and they’re back and up in the air once more with a show inspired by the paintings of Marc Chagall. Google his whimsical art and you’ll see why we’re intrigued. Aug 28 and 29, 9pm and 11pm, National Museum front lawn.

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ZONE 2 (ARMENIAN STREET)

BETWEEN YOU AND ME. The Armenian Street events have always had that fringe-y vibe — and this one will make your festival experience a bit more personal. Theatre artist Tim Nga and collaborators fashion this one-on-one experience based on the story of Hades’ ferryman Charon. One of the performers is a real-life taxi driver named Tony the Cowboy! Queue up early. Aug 21 and 22, 7.30pm to 11pm, The Substation Random Room.

THE DONDANG PROJECT. This is as “fusion” as it gets: Women in kebaya from GenerAsia will “joget” to the digital beats of experimental music group NADA (picture). Think of it as a “deconstructed dondang sayang presentation”, said NADA’s Rizman Putra (who’s also performing with his band Tiramisu over at House Of Glamour). Babas, hipsters and everyone in between can join in the fun. Aug 28 and 29, 8.30pm to 9.30pm, Armenian Street.

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ZONE 3 (CATHAY GREEN)

IMPROV COMEDY TAKES THE STAGE. While most of the events are free, the ones at the new House Of Glamour are ticketed. But they’re worth your while (and money). If you’re a fan of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, this is for you. Aug 21 and 22, 11.30pm, House Of Glamour, Cathay Green. S$15 (inclusive of a S$2 discount coupon for drinks sold in the tent). To reserve tickets, email your name, date of birth, contact number, programme title and date to tickets [at] ag-one.com. Collect from 6pm onwards.

RIOT!. What’s more glam than drag performers? While Kumar is also performing, why not check out the show by Becca D’Bus and buddies Noristar and Mona Kee Kee (or the value-for-money Fat Kids Are Harder To Kidnap at 11.30pm, featuring 20 plays in half an hour). Aug 29 and 30, 1am, House Of Glamour, Cathay Green. (For those ages 18 and above). S$15 (inclusive of a S$2 discount coupon for drinks sold in the tent). To reserve tickets, email your name, date of birth, contact number, programme title and date to tickets [at] ag-one.com. Collect from 6pm onwards.

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ZONE 4 (FESTIVAL VILLAGE STAGE AT SMU GROUNDS)

LORONG BOYS. The festival is welcoming buskers for the first time, and this group is one of the most popular of the lot (but stay for others such as Amanda Tee, Awi Rafael and The Gladstones, too). Aug 21, 9.15pm, and 22, 7.45pm, Festival Village Stage, SMU grounds.

SONIQUETE. You’ll be doing a lot of walking at the fest but you can stay put and rest while Flamenco Sin Fronteras do the footwork (and clapping) instead. Aug 21, 22, 28 and 29, 7pm, 9pm, 11pm, Beside SMU School of Information Systems.

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ZONE 5 (SAM, QUEEN STREET, NATIONAL DESIGN CENTRE, WATERLOO STREET, SOTA)

THE GARDEN OF FIRE & LIGHT. Local arts collective Starlight Alchemy has been a fixture at the festival but this time they’re going big with a series of shows and installation works using LED lights and fire. Aug 21 and 22, 8pm, 9.30pm, 11pm, Singapore Art Museum front lawn.

ALT-TOPIA. We’re fans of the Proletariat Poetry Factory, whose modus operandi is quite simple: You give them a word or phrase and they’ll type out a verse or two for you on the spot — what better souvenir for your festival experience, right? Aug 28 and 29, 7.30pm to midnight, Centre 42, 42 Waterloo Street.

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The Singapore Night Festival is on Aug 21, 22, 28 and 29, 7pm to 2am around the Bras Basah.Bugis area. Visit http://www.nightfest.sg for details.