National Heritage Board | April & May 2025 Happenings!

This April and May, National Heritage Board (NHB) will be running an array of programmes and events for you and your family!  

So much is happening this April and May across the venues managed by the National Heritage Board! Here's a closer look at what you can expect in these two months: 

Kebaya Catwalk

Venue: Various locations
Date: 24 Mar to 16 Jun 2025

The National Heritage Board has collaborated with Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Design & Media to release a limited-edition series of kebaya-themed keychains featuring cats in kebayas, which launched on 24 March 2025. With four designs to collect, these keychains will be available for free (while stocks last) via vending machines island-wide. Simply play a game at the vending machines to get yours!

The “Kebaya Catwalk” celebrates the multinational inscription of kebaya onto the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and aims to raise awareness about Singapore’s living heritage.

Details on the Kebaya Catwalk and locations of the vending machines can be found here.

Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco

Photo Credit: Asian Civilisations Museum

Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: Until 1 Jun 2025
Time: 10am to 7pm (Fri extended till 9pm) 
Fee: Free* admission to the Asian Civilisations Museum upon presenting either a Gardens by the Bay Flower Dome ticket, valid Gardens by the Bay (Friends of the Gardens) membership, or an email confirmation from Asian Civilisations Museum at the ACM Visitor Services Counter.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with two captivating exhibitions steeped in Chinese culture and tradition. Gardens by the Bay ushers in the Year of the Snake with Spring Blossoms, a brand-new floral display in Flower Dome that draws inspiration from one of China’s Four Great Folklores—the Legend of the White Snake. Taking centre stage amidst a vibrant landscape of dahlias and festive blooms is a stunning 4.5-metre-tall floral rendition of the protagonist Madam White Snake. Also on display in Spring Blossoms are two intricately crafted wooden models of pagodas linked to the Legend of the White Snake—the Compassion and Longevity Pagoda (Cishou Ta) and Thunder Peak Pagoda (Leifeng Ta). These models, on loan from the Asian Civilisations Museum, are part of a historic set of 84 pagodas carved by artists from Shanghai’s Tushanwan Workshop between 1912 and 1914. The collection travelled thousands of miles to San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, where it introduced Western audiences to the elegance of Chinese traditional architecture. To view the full set, visit the Pagoda Odyssey 1915: From Shanghai to San Francisco exhibition in the Asian Civilisations Museum.

*Limited quantities available, terms and conditions apply. Please visit this link. 

Monumental Hunt in the Civic District

Photo Credit: PSM

Date: TBC
Time: 9.30am to 12pm
Fee: $55 per participant | Register here

Set off on a fun-filled puzzle hunt in the Civic District! Inspired by escape rooms and treasure hunts, participants go on an immersive outdoor expedition featuring nine National Monuments in the area. Facilitated and guided by a game master, get ready to put on your thinking caps to decode the puzzles and discover fascinating facts about these historic buildings and sites along the way!

Note: This Monumental Hunt will be recurring and will usually take place every 3rd Saturday of the month. Participants are encouraged to check the website regularly for the confirmed dates.

Programmes by Children’s Museum Singapore

Into the Hawkerverse Special Exhibition

Photo Credit: Children’s Museum Singapore

Venue: Children’s Museum Singapore
Date: Ongoing till 2026
Time: 9am, 11am, 2pm & 4pm (Please note that entry is by a timeslot basis)
Fee:

• Singaporeans / Permanent Residents: Free
• Foreign Residents/ Tourists: $10* (Child) | $15* (Adult) (*subject to prevailing GST rate)

The Children’s Museum Singapore’s (CMSG) new special exhibition, Into the Hawkerverse, introduces Singapore’s Hawker culture as an important part of Singapore’s food heritage and way of life to children (aged 12 and below). This exhibition is curated in consultation with children and aims to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Hawker Culture through play, activity and object-based learning.

For more information, please visit this link. For further enquiries, please e-mail: NHB_CMSG@nhb.gov.sg.

Family Egg Hunt

Venue: Activities will be held outdoors, around and inside Children’s Museum Singapore
Dates & Times:

• 18 Apr 2025: 9am & 11am
• 12 & 19 April 2025: 11am

Fee: $25 per child | $15 per adult | $70 bundle for 2 children & 2 adults (discount will be automatically applied upon checkout)

Children’s Museum Singapore’s Signature Family Egg Hunt is back! Together with WonderBot, explore various stations, complete missions, discover hidden eggs, and uncover eco-friendly surprises that could help save the future of Mother Earth.

But that's not all, there are prizes and surprises galore from Children’s Museum Singapore, Families for Life, Mandai X, National Environmental Agency, No Time To Waste and Yeo’s that await!

Come and enjoy an egg-citing family day out at Children’s Museum Singapore!

To register, please visit https://www.nhb.gov.sg/childrensmuseum/whatson/activities or
email us at cmsg_prg@heritage.sg for further enquiries.

Hyde Goes to the Museum (Special School Assembly Programme for Primary Schools)

Venue: Programme will be conducted at the requested school's venue
Date: Available till Nov 2025, and subject to slots availability
Time: Approx. 30min
Fee: Free Assembly programme for primary schools

An ordinary school learning journey to the museum soon turns extraordinary when Hyde time travels back into the 1960s where some street hawkers need help.

Watch as your students become part of history in a live enactment inspired by an oil painting “Here they come!” by Koeh Sia Yong.

To make a booking, please email us at cmsg_edu@heritage.sg

Programmes by the Malay Heritage Centre (MHC)

Teroka Raya Festival 2025

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 26 Apr 2025
Time: 10am to 6.30pm
Fee: Free Admission with some ticketed activities

Experience the rich heritage of the Malay world, or Nusantara, as the Malay Heritage
Centre celebrates Hari Raya Aidilfitri with Teroka Raya Festival 2025. Join us in this
festive celebration of cultural customs, crafts, and cuisines that shape and connect our
Nusantara heritage. With an exciting line-up of events, there’s something for all ages as
we discover the rich, cultural tapestry of the Malay world.

To register, please visit this link.

Beats on Baghdad Street: Bangsawan Pantomime by Opera Academy

Venue: Baghdad Street
Date: 17 May 2025
Timings: 6pm to 6.45pm | 9pm to 9.45pm
Fee: Free

Watch history come to life with Bangsawan Pantomime, an experimental performance that tells the story of Sang Nila Utama through dialogues, movements, gestures and dances. The narrative traces Sang Nila Utama's royal lineage, beginning with his grandfather Raja Suran and father Sang Sa Purba, culminating in his discovery of Singapura.

Experience a Bangsawan performance showcasing a multigenerational cast by Opera Academy, a training hub specializing in traditional Asian Pacific languages, culture and the arts.

This programme will be presented in Malay and English.

To register, please visit this link.

I am a Little Jewellery Designer

Photo Credit: Malay Heritage Centre

Did you know that a diamond village called “Kampong Intan” used to exist in Singapore? It was bustling with diamond traders and jewellery designers!

Join our friends Laila and Oreo in this interactive video game where you can harvest your own intan (diamond), polish it and set it in a beautiful piece of jewellery. Your creation will also be available for download as an image file to keep forever.

Pssst.. redeem a specially designed sticker at the MHC if you flash your creation- while stocks last!

Access this online game here for free.

Programmes by the Indian Heritage Centre

Free Tamil Guided Tours

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 5, 12 & 13 Apr 2025
Time: 11am to 12pm
Fee: Free

Join us for a free Tamil guided tour at the Indian Heritage Centre as part of the Tamil Language Festival (TLF) and the celebration of the Indian New Year.

This immersive experience will take you on a fascinating journey, exploring the rich history of South and Southeast Asian connections, the Indian Diaspora, Singapore’s pioneering figures and heritage of the Tamil community.

Each tour is limited to 20 participants. To reserve your spot for this unforgettable tour, please visit https://ihctamiltour.peatix.com.

Indian New Year Celebrations

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 12 & 13 Apr 2025
Time: 10am to 5pm
Fee: Free admission to the museum for Singaporeans & Permanent Residents (PRs) +
Paid Programmes & Workshops

The Indian New Year is observed by various Indian sub-ethnic communities in Singapore around this time of year, marking the start of a new year and the harvest season. It is a time for new beginnings and cultural traditions. Tamil families celebrate Puthandu on the first day of Chithirai, the Tamil calendar month. The Sikh community observes the harvest festival Vaisakhi, the Malayalee, Telugu, and Bengali communities celebrate Vishu, Ugadi, and Pohela Baishakh, respectively.

In line with the New Year Celebrations, Indian Heritage Centre invites you to join us for free drop-in museum craft activities & exclusive workshops!

To register, please visit https://ihc-programmes.peatix.com/.

Let’s Try a Trade – Exploring Traditional Indian Trades (Travelling Exhibition)

Venue: Our Tampines Hub, Tampines Regional Library
Date: Apr to 30 May 2025
Time: 10am to 9pm, closed on Public Holidays

Step back in time to the 19th century, when Indian traders settled along Singapore River, providing essential goods and services to the community. Among them were the Tamil Muslims (or Chulias), who traded textiles, gems, cattle, and tobacco, shaping Singapore’s heritage.

Today, explore our refurbished Travelling Exhibition titled – Let’s Try a Trade – Exploring Traditional Indian Trades, that highlights five master tradesmen, each with a unique craft and story. Join us in celebrating the rich history of Indian traders and their lasting impact on Singapore’s culture.

Tamil Gallery Tours

Date: 5 Apr 2025
Time: 11am
Fee: $10 (Refundable deposit)

In line with the Tamil Language Festival 2025, the Indian Heritage Centre will be hosting Tamil docent tours in its permanent galleries. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore the rich cultural history and heritage of the Tamil community through insightful guided tours, celebrating language, tradition, and history.

To register, please visit this link.*

*Please keep a lookout for a confirmation of the tour via IHC Peatix. If you are unable to
attend the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, kindly inform ahead of time via
Peatix.

IHC10 & SG60 Gallery Refresh

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Date: 25 Mar 2025 onwards
Time: 10am to 6pm
Fee: General Admission fees apply

In commemoration of IHC’s 10th anniversary and SG60 celebrations in 2025, IHC will embark on a special refresh at its Permanent Exhibition. In line with the SG60 theme, 60 new artefacts—many of which are being displayed for the first time—will be introduced across the galleries in March and September 2025. This refresh will also feature the addition of new digital content and child-friendly interactive spaces to further enhance the visitor experience.

Don’t miss the first phase of the refresh, showcasing 30 new artefacts in Galleries 1 & 2 at Level 4 from 25 March 2025 onwards. Artefact highlights include the vibrant Bommai Golu (Court of Dolls) – a colourful arrangement of dolls and figurines displayed during the Navaratri festival.

Changi Chapel and Museum

Photo Credit: Changi Chapel and Museum

Photo Credit: Changi Chapel and Museum

Address: 1000 Upper Changi Road North, Singapore 507707
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5.30pm, Tue to Sun (Closed every Mon except Public Holidays, Last admission at 5pm)
Fee: Free admission for Citizens & PRs

The Changi Chapel and Museum tells the story of the prisoners of war and civilians interned in Changi prison camp during the Japanese Occupation. Managed by the National Museum of Singapore, the Changi Museum was revamped and reopened in May 2021. The revamped museum features new content and artefacts, including stories and personal objects collected from families of former internees, presented in an intimate and engaging format. The museum’s narrative is centred on remembrance and reflection, encouraging visitors to contemplate both the hardships that the internees underwent, as well as their courage and resilience in the face of difficulties.

Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Photo Credit: Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Photo Credit: Reflections at Bukit Chandu

Address: 31-K Pepys Road, Singapore 118458
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5pm, Tue to Sun (Closed every Mon except Public Holidays, Last admission at 4.30pm)
Fee: Free admission for Citizens & PRs 

Reflections at Bukit Chandu is a World War Two interpretative centre that commemorates the battle of Pasir Panjang and the men of the Malay Regiment who fought in it, as well as the history of Bukit Chandu itself. Housed in a bungalow that is closely connected to the site’s history, the interpretative centre uses immersive experiences and contextual artefacts to present a multi-faceted look at Bukit Chandu and Pasir Panjang, while inviting visitors to reflect on our nation’s wartime experience and the brave sacrifice of the soldiers.