This October, Car-Free Weekend returns from 25 to 27 October 2019 to Telok Ayer Street and the Civic District promising fun-filled activities for everybody. Several streets across both districts will be closed off to vehicles during selected periods of the weekend, to promote a car-lite lifestyle and showcase Singapore’s heritage in a fun way.

Date: 25 to 27 October 2019
Time: 11am – 2pm (Fri) | 5pm – 11pm (Sat) | 8am – 11am (Sun)
Venue: Telok Ayer Street and the Civic District

Local Heroes at Telok Ayer – Food and Art Market

Car-Free Weekend will be collaborating with space activators The Local People for the first time, presenting ‘Local Heroes at Telok Ayer – Food and Art Market’ – a weekend of engaging activities, specially curated to celebrate local culture and share insight about Singapore’s rich heritage along the historic street. Visitors look forward to exploring an art market, art installations and intriguing activities that commemorate the local heroes who continue to be an integral part of Singapore’s development.

Guests can also grab a seat at Car-Free Weekend’s first-ever Communal Dining Area to enjoy their favourite munches from a variety of food vendors or get their movie fix at this locally decked out space.

⇒ Related Read: Things To Do In Singapore This Weekend With Kids

Celebrating our everyday local heroes

Singapore is nothing without its people, and Singapore’s culture and history can be credited to many everyday local heroes, including our hawkers, artists, craftsmen and entrepreneurs who have become an essential part of the country’s way of life. This Car-Free Weekend, we commemorate them by sharing their crafts, stories and values.

One such local hero is Natalia Tan, a Singaporean educator and textile artist who has dedicated over 300 hours to hone her skills in Saori weaving, combining it with sustainable fashion. She will be present to demonstrate how she transforms things that Singaporeans find familiar into works of art along Amoy Street on Saturday, 26 October from 5pm to 11pm.

Combining local art and local food

Art lovers can stroll along ‘Local Heroes at Telok Ayer – Food and Art Market’ to art hunt and get their creative juices flowing. They can look forward to making their very own DIY Merlion Plush and try their hand at block printing to create personalised Peranakan tiles.

“With a passion to create experiences that incubate and inspire ideas for a continually expanding Singaporean cultural identity, we love to challenge ourselves by coming up with fresh ideas to present what seems ordinary. Telok Ayer Street is an integral and beloved part of Singapore’s heritage, history and harmony. We are honoured and excited to be collaborating with Car-Free Weekend to reimagine the use of this familiar and well-known space to incorporate multiple cultural activations and experiences for everybody. As the new generations of Singapore stroll down the same streets their pioneers have threaded upon, we hope that they learn more about their local heroes and are proud of this tiny but mighty island,” said Pin Goh, Founder and Creative Director of The Local People.

Other highlights at the Civic District

Organised by National Parks Board (NParks), Parks Festival will be back at the Civic District with activities happening across Esplanade Park, Connaught Drive and Empress Lawn over 26-27 October. Music lovers can enjoy live music at ‘NParks Concert Series in the Park: Rockestra‘ featuring hits from the 2000s, while pet lovers can look forward to free pet health checks and microchipping services by Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) as well as an obstacle course for their doggo buddies. There will also be a Kids’ Play Zone with an outdoor ball pit, inflatable play area, and the ActiveSG Imagination Playground – an unstructured play area for children.

Leveraging on the 5.5km-long car-free route from the Civic District to the Central Business District and Telok Ayer conservation area, cyclists can look forward to fun cycling-themed activities at the Move Happy Cycling Festival. Organised by the Land Transport Authority, cyclists can participate in a 5km Treasure Hunt, play cycling-themed games and test their agility cycling through challenging circuits. Shared bicycles are available for rental with special offers from their respective operators.

Highlights of: Car-Free Weekend (25 – 27 October 2019)

Longest Spice Line (Singapore Book of Records Attempt) at Nagore Dargah
Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre (NDIMHC) is attempting the longest Spice line Singapore Book Of Records on the 26th October 2019 at 2.30pm. NDIMHC with its SBOR attempt on the ‘Longest Spice Line’ hopes to create awareness of spices and bring to the fore how spices have been an integral part of our lives. Docents will be present at the new spice gallery to host and provide guided tours for visitors coming in before and during car-free road closure timing.

Date: 26 October 2019
Time: 2.30pm – 11pm
Venue: Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre

Savour Chinese Tea with the Abbot of Singapore Yu Huang Gong
Come by Yu Huang Gong to enjoy a beautiful time of savouring different varieties of Chinese Tea in the temple surrounds. While sampling the tea, have a conversation with the Abbot to learn more about the history and heritage of the monument.

Date: 26 October 2019
Time: 6pm to 9pm
Venue: Singapore Yu Huang Gong Temple, 150 Telok Ayer Street




Singapore Yu Huang Gong Open House
Established in 1831, the Former Keng Teck Whay Building is now home to the Taoist temple, Singapore Yu Huang Gong (玉皇宫). Designated as a national monument in 1973, and once home to one of Singapore’s oldest self-help organisations, the building stands witness to the presence and contributions of the Hokkien Peranakans (Straits Chinese) in colonial Singapore and to the community spirit of mutual aid among the pioneers. Come visit the monument which will be open for visits.

Date: 25 October 2019
Time: 11am to 3pm
Venue: Singapore Yu Huang Gong Temple, 150 Telok Ayer Street

Thian Hock Keng Temple Guided Tours
Thian Hock Keng Temple will be extending its opening hours on Saturday. It is one of Singapore’s oldest and most important temples for immigrants from southern China’s Fujian province. In 1973, it was gazetted as a national monument. The restoration project received the 2001 Architectural Heritage Award and the Honourable Mention in the 2001 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award.

Date / Time:
● Friday, 25 October (11am to 3pm)
● Saturday, 26 October (7.30am to 10pm)
● Sunday, 27 October (9am to 1pm)
Venue: Thian Hock Keng Temple main entrance, 158 Telok Ayer Street

Traditional Yangge Performance
Yangge (秧歌) is a traditional Chinese folk dance accompanied by drums and colourful fans. Come to Telok Ayer Square to join the Yangge troupe in the exuberant occasion and learn more about this traditional art form.

Date: 26 October 2019
Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Telok Ayer Square

Blast from the Past
Amoy Street will be transformed into an old school playground featuring traditional games such as chapteh, tic-tac-toe, five stones and hopscotch. Singapore Polytechnic’s Garageband will also be performing ‘live’ at Boon Tat Street. Be there to support these young talents of Singapore who are performing at Car-Free Weekend for the first time!

Date: 26 October 2019
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Venue: Amoy Street and Boon Tat Street

Outdoor Film Screening: China Wife
Enjoy a night under the stars, in an open-air ‘cinema’ with this classic Cantonese film, ‘China Wife’, a series of three Cantonese-language films produced by the Kong Ngee Company in 1957. The film has been restored by the Asian Film Archives and features some familiar landmarks and scenes of 1950s Singapore, which you may recognize. No pre-registration required.

Date: 26 October 2019
Time: 7pm – 9.15pm
Venue: Junction of Stanley Street and Boon Tat Street

Heritage Trishaw Rides with Cycling Without Age
The less mobile, in particular the elderly, will get to experience the wind in their hair within Telok Ayer conservation area, in custom-built trishaws powered by non-profit organisation Cycling Without Age volunteers and supported by Frasers Property Singapore! Priority will be given to those who are less mobile, in particular, the elderly, and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Date: 26 October 2019
Time: 6pm – 9pm
Venue: Around Telok Ayer

Traditional lslamic Music Concert
Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre will be holding an Islamic cultural music concert titled ‘Remembrance of the Legend Nagore E M Hanifah’ (1925 – 2015). His well-acclaimed Islamic songs will take centre stage as it will be performed live by our guests singers Mr Farihullah and Mr Sultan accompanied by veteran musicians from ‘Mr Ilias and Team’. Admission is free and the centre cordially invites everyone to be part of the event.

Date: 25 October 2019
Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Venue: Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre, 140 Telok Ayer Street

Singapore Really Really Free Market
Singapore Really Really Free Market (SRRFM) is a temporary market based on the concept of giving and building a community based on sharing resources, caring for one another and improving the collective lives of all. Everyone is welcome to give what you can and take what you need. Come share your stuff (books, CDs, toys, food, etc) or skills (tarot card reading, hair cutting, poetry writing, singing, etc)!

Date: 27 October 2019
Time: 8am – 12pm
Venue: Amoy Street

Nagore Dargah Open House and Curator’s Tour
Come visit the monument to learn more about the pioneers of the Indian Muslim community in Singapore, or join one of the Curator’s Tours. The tours will focus on the ‘Singapore to Singaporean – Pioneers and Descendants’ photo exhibition and the new Spice gallery (Longest Spice Line).

Singapore to Singaporean – Pioneers and Descendants – This curated collection displays the photos of 100 modern-day Singaporeans, who responded to our call to submit their personal photos.

Date: 27 October 2019
Time: 8am – 12pm
Venue: Nagore Dargah Indian Muslim Heritage Centre, 140 Telok Ayer Street

Curated tours:
● Saturday, 26 October (7pm, 8pm, 9pm and 10pm)
● Sunday, 27 October (11am to 12pm)

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