8 Mid-Autumn Festival activities with giant lanterns, a Tsum Tsum tunnel and more

From an adorable Tsum Tsum tunnel, to spectacular lantern displays, Singapore’s buzzing with plenty of festivities that celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sep 10, 2022. Light up your feed with snaps of mesmerising lantern installations, sculptures, fun activities, and enchanting performances.

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay’s celebration this year is centred around the theme of ‘Reunion’, drawing on the festival’s roots of gathering with loved ones to soak up the sights of beautiful displays and vibrant performances.

Marvel at the stunning “Flight to the Phoenix” display that nods to the Chinese folk myth, as well as the animal-shaped lanterns portrayed to be playing traditional Korean games, a vibrant display of 1,000 paper lanterns designed and hand-painted by the community, and a glowing peony floral arch.

You can also take part in fringe activities during the weekends, as well as enjoy live outdoor stage performances. A marketplace with street food and merchandise is also making a return this year.

When: Aug 27 to Sep 11, 2022, 6pm to 10pm daily
Admission: Programmes are free unless otherwise indicated

Visit Gardens by the Bay’s website for more information.

Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2022 at Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall

Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall has collaborated with Taiwan’s Kai 3D Art Studio to create Celestial Bodies, an outdoor installation that stars five of the artist’s characters: Moon, Earth, Sun, Saturn, and Mercury.

Meanwhile, the kids can take part in various fun workshops like a Chinese opera workshop, a woodblock printing workshop, and an interactive story workshop (tickets required). 

There are also various free activities like lantern riddles on the lawn, a drop-in craft station, as well as performances by The Joyful Voices, and a magic show by Mr Bottle (both on Sept 4). Click here for event timings.

When
Lawn installation: Aug 16 to Sept 25, 2022, 9am to 10pm daily
Extended gallery hours (Sat & Sun): Aug 20, 21, 27, 28, and Sept 3,4, 10 and 11, 2022

Visit Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall’s website and Facebook page throughout the festival period for the latest updates and more information.

Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival

The Chinatown Mid–Autumn Festival has made a celebrated return after two years with its hallmark street light-up, alongside an array of exciting activities.

Head down to the area to catch the spectacular display of lighted sculptures and lanterns that have taken over Chinatown’s streets. That’s not all, there’ll be family-friendly activities like free weekend stage shows at Kreta Ayer Square, and budding young artists (six to 18 years old) can try their hand at the lantern painting competition with prizes to be won. Participation is free and pre-registration is required. Click here.

For the first time, there’s a Food Fair, which will turn Smith Street into a nostalgic, bustling bazaar offering street-style delights. For a bit of shopping, you can also head to the Trade Fair (held at the open space in front of People’s Park Complex) for a variety of clothing and lifestyle accessories.

When: Now till Sept 25, 2022 (The food fair runs from now till Sep 10, 2022, from 12pm to 10pm).
Admission: Free

Visit Chinatown Festivals’ website for event timings, and more information.

Moonfest at Esplanade

Esplanade has a line-up of enticing events this September for both kids and grown-ups, from puppet shows to lantern riddles, Chinese opera, and more. Both you and the kiddos can get hands-on with a parent-child paper lantern-making or string puppet workshop, or try your hand at Chinese drums (13 years old and above).

Don’t miss the Esplanade’s annual Lantern Walkabout on Sep 10 (7.15pm), where you can take a leisurely moonlit stroll with your favourite lantern along the picturesque Esplanade Waterfront.

When: Various dates, from Sep 9 to 25
Admission: Free, excluding workshops

Visit Esplanade’s website for eventing timings, ticket prices and more information.

Tsum Tsum Lantern Tunnel at Jurong Point

Bask in the festivities (and get your cameras ready) at Jurong Point, where an adorable Tsum Tsum Lantern Tunnel, giant lanterns, and themed photo backdrops greet visitors at the main entrance of JP2 from now till Sept 10.

And while you’re there, you’ll want to swing by Jurong Point Shopping Mall’s annual Mid-Autumn Fair, which is brimming with a multitude of mooncakes from hotels and brands in Singapore.

The young and young at heart can check out Cow Play Cow Moo’s carnival pop-up. Have a go at the Giant Claw Machine in front of Bossini at JP1 Level 1, and stand a chance to win limited edition lanterns, mooncakes and merchandise.

When: Now till Sept 10, 2022
Admission: Free

Jurong Point is at 1 Jurong West Central 2, Singapore 648886. Visit Jurong Point’s website for more information.

Lights by the Lake 2022 @ Jurong Lake Gardens

Organised in conjunction with President’s Challenge, Lights by the Lake 2022 celebrates the nation’s strength and resilience against diversity, and raise awareness for the President’s Challenge 2022.

From now till Sep 18, various sections of the garden will be lit up from 7 pm to 11pm daily. The popular It’s a Small World lantern display is back at the Lakeside Field, or you can also check out the four-seasons thematic lanterns display (crafted by artisans from China) depicting spring, summer, fall, and winter in the gardens along the lake near ABC Waters Jurong Lake.

Head down to the ABC Waters Amphitheatre and release a water lantern while making a wish. All proceeds from the sale of the lanterns ($10) go to the President’s Challenge Charity Fund.

Apart from admiring the display, there’s a slew of activities to keep you entertained, including weekly concerts by homegrown artists on Fridays and Saturdays from now till Sep 11. You can also look forward to a series of specially curated programmes and activities by ActiveSG and PassionWaVe.

When: Now till Sep 18, 2022, 7pm to 11pm.
Admission: Free, unless indicated

Visit NPark’s website for more information.

Mid-Autumn Street at Jewel Changi Airport

Take a step back in time at Jewel Changi Airport’s basement, where you can play street games at booths themed to resemble those from ancient China. Toss herb prescriptions, play chess, fill rice buckets and more, and stand to win cool prizes.

Foodies and those shopping for mooncakes will want to check out the food fair where participating F&B partners will be doling out delish eats, from pastries and cakes to coffee and mooncakes.

To really get in the mood, costume rentals and LED lanterns are also available at the Mid-Autumn Street at B1.

When: Now till Sept 8, 2022
Admission: Free

Visit Jewel Changi Airport’s website for more information.

Mid-Autumn Playtime at Capitol Singapore’s Outdoor Plaza

Capitol Singapore’s Outdoor Plaza has been transformed into a Mid-autumn and music fiesta from now till Sep 10, 2022.

Capture fun snaps with a giant moon sculpture, towering blooms and adorable lit bunnies. And from now till Aug 31, tag @capitolsingapore on your photo on Facebook or Instagram to stand a chance to win a mooncake set (with a tote bag) from The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore.

In tandem with the Singapore Night Festival, the outdoor plaza will also be a stage for home-grown artists such as Amanda Lee Swingtet and The Rhythmakers, who’ll be serving up smooth jazz tunes on Aug 26 and 27, 2022, from 7.30pm to 10pm.

And of course, there’ll be food and drink booths with delish treats to quell your hunger, including Chili Lobster Linguine and Buah Keluak Pulled Chicken Sliders from Hopscotch, and beer from Frieda German Restaurant.

When: Now till Sept 10, 2022
Admission: Free

Capitol Singapore is at 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905.

This article was first published in The Singapore Women's Weekly.