How much do you really know about our local community? This December, take the chance to learn all about our local neighbourhoods during the My Community Festival! Suitable for people of all ages, the festival aims to unravel all of Singapore’s mysteries – layer by intriguing layer.
Offering activities, immersive tours, culinary tastings, and more, the festival will stretch out over an entire three weeks in December! Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect:
One Bean Many Coffees
Now, here’s a brew-tiful experience that can be enjoyed by all. Take a journey with skilled coffee connoisseurs as you watch them work their magic right in front of your eyes.
There are various places you could visit: check out the Bhai Sarbat Teh Tarik stall that serves more than 1,000 drinks a day; learn about Foreword Coffee Roasters’ inclusive hiring programmes; find your happy place with PPP x Fossa Chocolate’s coffee and chocolate-pairing workshop; or travel back in time at Ho Tit Coffee Powder Factory.
Makan My Curry
Nothing connects people more than the sharing of a meal. This activity goes beyond simply dining at a restaurant; you’ll get the privilege of actually stepping into 11 different homes, where you’ll be greeted by home cooks. Say hello to a heartwarming two hours of sampling home-cooked curries, and getting to know more about the stories and history behind the dishes.
Be spoilt for choice with Bengali, Japanese, Indonesian, Malaysian curries, and more! Bond with your fellow participants and host over a hearty meal in a homely setting; what could be better?
Meet My Craftsman
Roll up your sleeves; it’s time to get to work. How often will you get a chance to meet with a beekeeper, paint your own lantern, create your own pottery masterpiece, or create your own rangoli (a type of floor art that guards home from evil spirits)?
That’s not all: you can even choose to pick up some basic lion dance performance skills, go on an exciting treasure hunt at the last surviving handmade effigy shop in Singapore, or bust some moves with the Era Dance Theatre troupe.
Of Rites and Ritual
If there’s one thing to be proud of, it’d be Singapore’s multicultural landscape. Isn’t it amazing how so many races and cultures are able to live together in harmony? Delve deeper into the intricacies of different religions by visiting various places of worship, observing their practices, and sampling traditional meals.
Visit a Russian Orthodox Church inconspicuously nestled in a bungalow in Serangoon; marvel at the Thekchen Choling Vajrayana Buddhist Temple; go on a tour of the Hindu Sri Ruthra Kaliamman Temple; or experience how Eurasians celebrate Christmas over an elaborate four-course meal.
Open My Factory
Go behind the scenes and find out how things are able to run like clockwork in our little red dot. Bonus: these are activities that aren’t usually open to the public!
Go on a privileged tour of the Singpost Mail Processing Centre and watch how they handle massive volumes of letters and packages on a daily basis; learn what the Salvation Army does with donations; immerse yourself in the history of the well-loved Tai Hua soya sauce; or find out more about Singapore’s energy consumption on a tour of the city’s first power station.
After Hours @ My Community
What goes on after the clock strikes midnight, when all the shops are closed and many of us are snug in our beds? The answer is: plenty. A midnight tour of Toa Payoh brings you around a night vegetable market and two funeral service providers; or embark on a jaunt around Geylang showcases the secrets of the city’s red-light district.
However, not everything is conducted after hours; wake up bright and early for a tour of Lim Chu Kang’s local farms, or take a trip out to the nostalgic Pulau Ubin.
Singapore is so much more than just the glitz and glamour; the city’s heart lies with the everyday people that we live with, each with a treasure trove of stories to tell. Head over to My Community Festival’s website, where you can find out more information about the various programmes. Tickets are also selling fast; grab yours here!
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