Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in the vibrant heart of Chinatown, with exciting stage performances, hands-on workshops, interactive zones, exclusive promotions, and more!
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) proudly presents the Chinatown Dragon Boat Festival 2025 (五五端午节, 欢聚牛车水), taking place from 31 May to 1 June, from 1 – 7pm along Chinatown’s Smith Street. Known as one of the oldest cultural celebrations in Chinese history, visitors can look forward to two full days of cultural immersion featuring stage performances, interactive workshops and experiences, thematic zones, and exclusive promotions from local tenants.
📅 31 May to 1 Jun 2025
⏱ 1pm – 7pm
📍 Smith Street, Chinatown Singapore
🏷 Free admission | Open to all
DRUMS, DANCE AND DRAGONS ON THE LIVE STAGE
One of the main highlights of the weekend is the vibrant stage performances happening along Smith Street.
Visitors can look forward to a mix of traditional Chinese arts throughout the festival, including a Lion and Dragon Dance by award-winning troupe Tian Eng Dragon and Lion Dance Centre, the thunderous beats of a Festival Drum Performance by students from Chung Cheng High School, and the dramatic flair of a Face Changing Show.
Audiences can also enjoy a Chinese Traditional Dance performance, a Harmonica Performance by the Singapore Broadway Harmonica Ensemble, and a Teochew Opera Performance by Er Woo Amateur Musical & Dramatic Association.
EMBRACE THE FESTIVE SPIRIT WITH RIDDLES AND RACES
Visitors can also take part in festive activities such as solving traditional Lantern Riddles, a much-loved pastime that challenges the wit and cultural knowledge of participants. The Dragon Boat Rowing Race will also make its return – bringing together teams and individuals in a spirit of friendly competition and community bonding. In this land-based race, participants compete on dragon-inspired rowing machines in 1-minute rounds, with the highest number of strokes winning a prize.
DISCOVER THE FLAVOURS AND CRAFTS OF DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
Soak in the atmosphere with hands-on cultural experiences for visitors of all ages!
The Bookmark Painting Workshop allows participants to create their very own dragon boat-themed bookmarks, while those looking for a deeper creative experience can partake in the Dragon Boat Canvas Voyage Workshop to create a dynamic dragon boat scene on canvas. Guided by experienced instructors, the workshop is perfect for both beginners and art lovers.
Don’t miss the culinary star of the Dragon Boat Festival – join the Nyonya Chang Workshop and discover the art of wrapping and preparing Nyonya rice dumplings. From savoury rempah filling to the symbolic wrapping technique, participants will not only learn the cultural significance of these festive treats but will also bring home two uncooked dumplings to share and enjoy.
A SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND STORIES
Adding a thoughtful touch to the festival atmosphere is the Art Corner – a serene space within the bustling Smith Street where visitors are invited to pause, reflect, and learn more about the Dragon Boat Festival.
Visitors can browse through a curated selection of books on seasonal traditions, pen their thoughts or well-wishes in the Festival Reflections Journal, and explore symbolic items such as mugwort bundles, festive bookmarks, and greeting cards.
EXCLUSIVE CHINATOWN SMITH STREET PROMOTIONS
To mark the occasion, shops along Smith Street will be launching a host of exclusive promotions, including:
- Elegance of Nanyang (31 May – 1 June): Enjoy 50% off Nyonya Kebaya Set rentals for the second person onwards. Receive a complimentary mystery gift with every two sets rented, while stocks last.
- Killiney @ Smith Street (26 May – 1 June): Celebrate with festive bundles including a Kee Chang Set at $6 and a Bak Chang Set at $9, created exclusively for this festival.
- Gelato Garden (26 May – 1 June): Indulge in their Dragon Boat Festival special dessert – a Banana Split inspired by the shape of a traditional dragon boat, priced at $15.
- Boon Tong Kee (31 May – 1 June): All chicken rice dishes will be served with rice shaped like a traditional rice dumpling (zongzi), adding a festive touch to every meal.
Admission to the Dragon Boat Festival is free. Tickets for selected workshops can be purchased from Peatix.
🎭🎪 JUNE SCHOOL HOLIDAY 2025 🎪🎭
The June school holidays are here! Make the most of the break with your little ones – discover our curated list of fun and exciting activities happening across Singapore during the June School Holidays 2025.
🐉🍙 DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL 2025 🍙🐉
The Dragon Boat Festival falls on 31 May 2025! Celebrate the occasion with delicious traditional treats – check out our specially curated list of the best places to buy rice dumplings (bak zhang) in Singapore.
For other upcoming events, visit Events in Singapore.
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