SINGAPORE — With the nation’s 51st birthday coming up next week, this weekend is all about the opportunity to “lepak” and get into the spirit of National Day with some artsy fun.

This Saturday (Aug 6), for example, the Mount Faber Loop will be turned into a car-free zone from 4pm to 7pm, and activities planned have been curated to celebrate National Day. Expect a uniquely Singapore flavour including local traditional games such as Five Stones and Hopscotch, as well as the chance to create a Singapore Cable Car cabin from cardboard.

This Saturday’s event marks the first of a new initiative to turn every first Saturday of every month car-free. 

“The weekend leading up to National Day is the perfect time to launch the first car-free event in a park in Singapore,” said Suzanne Ho, general manager, Mount Faber Leisure Group. 

One of the highlights that day is Dance Painting, a form of artistic expression using the body as a brush. The dance painting workshop will have a National Day twist to it, where participants will be grouped into fours with each group creating a large piece with movements and paint based on themes such as Sunny Island, Garden City, Crescent Moon and Stars, shared Ho. 

If shopping is more your cup of tea, Gallery & Co. at the National Gallery Singapore is featuring a range of design products specially launched in conjunction with National Day. This new series of merchandise tells the Singapore story through useable and wearable forms of art, inspired by the “Siapa Nama Kamu? Art in Singapore since the 19th Century” exhibit that is housed within the Gallery.
 
A diverse mix of creatives across the fields of art and design including Vanessa Ban and Robert Zhao were invited to produce the collection of contemporary artwork in three sub-themes — Majulah, State of Mind and Biodata.

Ban, a Singapore-based graphic designer-artist, explained the inspiration behind her ironic work. It features the characteristic danger signs we see at construction sites but focuses on the subject of progress. 

“We felt that progress was something most evident in Singapore, and it’s what we have all enjoyed the fruits of. We wanted a tongue-in-cheek response to this idea of progress in Singapore, hence we combined the over-cautious approach with our progress,” she said.

“As Singapore progresses past its 50 years, it’s interesting to see if the work will remain relevant in the coming years, or if national sentiments will change.”  

Just a short walk away from the Gallery is the Snapshots of Heritage Photography Exhibition at Capitol Piazza, which will run until Aug 11. “We timed the exhibition to coincide with the lead up to National Day as we want to celebrate the Singapore spirit by presenting snapshots of Singapore’s heritage which will appeal to both locals and tourists. It will be an excellent opportunity for us to share our colourful diversity of heritage through photography,” said Dawn Tan, general manager of Capitol Investment Holdings
. 
Filled with a sense of pride and nostalgia, the photographs on display focus on forgotten places, memories, and the people, food and things that Singaporeans hold dear to their  hearts.

Photography enthusiast Ong Yi Chao, 30, whose photograph featuring the Joo Chiat shophouses won first prize in the Snapshots of Heritage Photography competition, shared: “As our nation celebrates her 51st birthday, it is important to treasure our historical roots and memories. This exhibition provides the perfect platform for us to learn more about our past.”

“As Singapore continues to progress, it will be beneficial to integrate modern infrastructure with charming heritage sites. In this way, we will be able to appreciate the traditional icons that play a vital role in nation building,” Ong elaborated. 

Still craving for more fun things to do this weekend? Hop on a bus or train from City Hall to Scape Orchard, there will be activities and events throughout this weekend celebrating everything local. 

A crowd favourite is *SCAPE Marketplace, an extended version of their weekly Marketplace with specially curated booths such as Uncle G’s Handmade (crispy roast pork), Shan’s Addiction (Yam abacus seeds, chilli sauces and special sauces) and Spinacas (salads). ComCrop, Singapore’s first rooftop farm and Singapore Young Farmers will also be there to share more about urban farming, food security, resilience and diversity today. 

At the Singapore Botanic Gardens, you even can enjoy a medley of National Day Songs played by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra at a free concert in the evening organised by the National Parks Board.

The Esplanade Festival Village at Esplanade waterfront is also running from noon to 10pm over the weekend. Curated by LalooLalang, a multi-label online shopping hub and an events management organisation and craft bazaar will feature familiar names such as Supermama and K+, with yummy food and drinks from Ratu Lemper, Spatula and Dapper Coffee.