Singapore National Day celebrations: Come to lepak and play at the National Museum

In August 2024, Singapore celebrates its National Day, and the National Museum has a series of events designed around this occasion.

The museum invites Singaporeans of all ages to celebrate the country’s birthday, with various activities such as outdoor and inflatable playgrounds featuring iconic local HDB playground designs, drop-in craft activities, intergenerational programmes, and the popular ‘Scavenger Hunt’ at the museum.

Check out ‘Play:Date’ and reminisce about the joy of playing with toys as a child.

End the day with a “picnic under the stars” and catch the live outdoor screening of the National Day Parade on the museum’s front lawn.

In the lead-up to National Day, look out for special light-up installations on the lawn.

Members of the public are invited to use the hashtag #NationalDayatNMS with their photos on social media.

● The Good Old Games; A Light-Up Installation
1 – 9 August; 7.30pm – 12am daily; Outside the Museum

Do you remember the fun days of yesteryear spent playing outdoors and games with friends? For this year’s light-up installation, think back on simpler times and pose with some life-sized old-school games. Invite your friends and family and reminisce about the joy of playing with chapteh, five stones, gasing (spinning tops) and country flag erasers.

This installation will feature lights and some illumination, and visitors are encouraged to be careful at all times. For your safety, please do not remove or cross any barriers and heed all warning signs onsite. The museum will not be liable for any incidents that take place due to non-compliance to on-site safety measures. Lights for the installation will not be turned on in the event of inclement weather.

● National Day Scavenger Hunt
10am – 5.30pm (closed from 12pm – 1pm, final registration by 5pm); Registration/Redemption at Glass Atrium, Level 2; Free, pre-registration recommended

Discover more about Singapore by taking part in this fun activity as you search for answers around the museum. Complete the hunt with all correct answers and stand a chance to redeem a token from the museum, while stocks last. This activity is suitable for all – family and friends or individuals.

Registration and redemption stations will be closed for lunch from 12pm – 1pm. This programme is suitable for participants aged 13 and above. Children aged 12 and below are welcome and must be accompanied by parents. Pre-registration is encouraged via https://ndoh24hunt.peatix.com. Walk-in participation is subject to availability.

● The Singapura Life by Sengkang Green Primary School
9.30am – 10.30am (priority slot for persons with disabilities); 10.30am – 4pm (for public); Glass Atrium, Level 2; Free

Guided by friendly students from Sengkang Green Primary School, showcase your personality with activities about life in Singapore.

My Ethnic Costume: Dress your paper doll with a choice of costumes that represent Singapore’s major ethnicities. Assemble the doll and take it home to add personal touches to make your doll unique.

Postcard Giveaway: Food and play are shared Singaporean experiences regardless of one’s race or religion. Choose from 4 different postcard designs featuring hawker food and games, and share your experiences with friendly students from Sengkang Green Primary School.

This programme is recommended for children aged 5 and above. The station will be closed for lunch from 12.30 – 1.30pm.

Each child is allowed ONE My Ethnic Costume template and ONE postcard to allow more children to participate in this activity. While stocks last.

● Design A Keychain
10am – 5.30pm (final entry by 4.45pm); Outside Explore Room, Level 3

Use the unique technique of pouring paint to create your very own keychain! This craft activity is suitable for participants aged 12 and above. Please note that this activity involves acrylic paint, so please adhere to the facilitator’s instructions. Only ONE keychain allowed per visitor to allow more participants for the activity. While stocks last.

● My Dearest Friend; A Letter-Writing Activity
10am – 5.30pm; Get Curious Studio, Level 3

Get ready to unleash your creativity and reconnect through the art of letter writing at this drop-in activity. Join a casual and enjoyable session where you can craft heartfelt letters and messages to a loved one, friend or even to yourself, or simply enjoy the therapeutic act of putting pen to paper. Seal your letters with wax seals and look forward to them being received approximately 6 months later!

This activity is suitable for participants aged 12 and above. There will be use of hot wax, so please follow instructions onsite. While stocks last. Local postage only.

● Craft Activity by STAEDTLER
9.30am – 10.30am (priority slot for persons with disabilities); 10.30am – 5.30pm (for public); Various locations; Free

In this craft activity, pen messages and personalise designs inspired by the nation’s birthday before folding your creation into a unique fan inspired by traditional round fans of the past.

This programme is supported by STAEDTLER and recommended for children aged 5 and above. Each child is allowed only ONE set of craft materials to allow more children to participate in the activity. The station will be closed for lunch from 12.30 – 1.30pm. While stocks last.

● National Day Colouring Competition
10am – 1pm (Registration at 9.30am); Gallery Theatre, Basement Level; Free with refundable deposit of SGD 10 per participating child

This competition is open to 50 children, aged 6 to 13 years. Participants are encouraged to bring your own colouring materials (dry materials only, no paint allowed) or purchase a colouring pack at SGD 5, while stocks last.

The programme and prizes are supported by STAEDTLER. Walk-ins allowed if spaces are available, however pre-event registration via https://nms-ndoh-colouring-competition.peatix.com is highly encouraged.

● Outdoor Sustainable Play
9.30am – 11.30am; Front Lawn, Level 1

Do you recall using everyday items found at home or at the void deck to play with friends and family? Together with Chapter Zero, the museum is bringing back this popular programme to encourage imaginative play and sensory experience for the young ones.

Suitable for children ages 4 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and are encouraged to dress comfortably for outdoor playing. Programme will involve playing with water and grass. Please adhere to the instructions and directions of the facilitators onsite.

● Inflatable Playgrounds
10am – 5pm; Bus Bay, Level 2

Bounce away on inflatable playgrounds featuring colourful and bright castles. Suitable for children ages 6 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. In the event of overwhelming response, playtime limits may be imposed to manage the crowd. Please adhere to instructions by the crew onsite. This programme is supported by Families For Life.

● National Day Special: Experience Reunion Intergenerational Tour
9.30am – 11am; Reunion, Level 1
Tickets: Grandparent-grandchild pair ticket SGD 25.60 (incl. GST); Individual grandchild ticket SGD 12.80 (individual grandchild ticket has to be purchased with 1 initial grandparent-grandchild pair ticket)

Join Care Facilitator volunteers on an inter-generational conversational tour of museum galleries and discover Reunion, the museum’s social space for seniors. Engage with the museum’s handling objects in the activity area and look forward to creating your own digital exhibition at the Memory Lane immersive interactive experience. Light refreshments will be provided.

The tour is conversational in nature and allows participants to share their experiences and stories while exploring familiar items from the museum’s collection. Purchase your ticket via Peatix at https://nmsnatday-igtour.peatix.com.

● Community Art Mural Photo Booth
10am – 5.30pm; Gallery Theatre Foyer, Basement Level

Pose and snap a photo with the unique art mural at the museum’s outdoor staircase, painted by museum visitors as part of NMS’s Singapore HeritageFest 2024. Commemorate your visit to the museum this National Day, and share your digital photograph on social media with the hashtag #NationalDayatNMS.

Please expect longer waiting times during the peak periods from 11am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm. Each person is allowed 1 printed photo. If you have a large group, you may be asked to return later to collect the prints.

● A Lighter Side of History: Signed, Sealed, Delivered
2.30 – 4.30pm; Gallery Theatre, Basement Level; SGD 65 per ticket

Delve into the history of letter writing, tracing its evolution through time and the fascinating history of wax sealing, including its origins and significance through the ages.

During the programme, become immersed in the art of crafting meaningful messages, allowing you to slow down and enjoy some self-care in the process, followed by decorating the beautiful messages with wax seal embellishments.

This programme is recommended for participants aged 13 and above. Limited spaces available. Purchase your tickets via Peatix at https://lsoh-wax-seals.peatix.com.

● Intergenerational Special: Wear (We’re) As One
2.30pm – 3.30pm, 4pm – 5pm (1 hr per session); Reunion, Level 1; SGD 15 per family ticket

Join the National Museum for a multi-generational programme (an adaptation of Nat’s National Day Wish, presented in 2020) with fun and interactive activities for the young and young-at-heart to dress up together.

The programme begins with a short video featuring a young boy, Nat, as he lives out his National Day wish of marching as a soldier with Papa and Yeye through the Singapore History Gallery, and learns about the history of National Service in Singapore. Be inspired and get creative in your multi-generational triad to dress up as ONE!

This programme is recommended for children aged 5 and above and invites active audience participation. Purchase your ticket via Peatix at https://nms-ndoh-wear-as-one.peatix.com. Participants will get to take home a multi-generational family bonding tool kit.

Each family ticket allows up to 5 persons, and must comprise at least 1 grandparent, 1 parent and 1 child. Tickets will be cancelled if ticket holders turn up without 1 grandparent, 1 parent and 1 child, and/or exceed the maximum capacity of 5 pax per ticket.

● Drum Performance
5pm – 5.20pm; Front Lawn, Level 1

Be sure to catch this heart-thumping performance just before the live telecast of the National Day Parade on the National Museum’s front lawn.

● Writings on the Wall
10am – 7pm; Glass Atrium, Level 2

Share with the National Museum your thoughts on what is unique about Singapore and what the Singapore spirit means to you, and you might see your responses projected on the museum’s LED wall!

● Live Telecast of National Day Parade
5.30pm – 8pm (seated by 5.15pm); Front Lawn, Level 1; Free

Have a picnic under the stars and enjoy a live telecast of the National Day Parade under the museum’s iconic Banyan tree with your family and friends.

Visitors are encouraged to bring along your own mats, light bites and snacks to watch the live telecast but please ensure not to leave anything behind and to dispose of all food items and/or waste in the nearest bin.

● Special offer by Cafe Brera

Enjoy a special offer presented by Café Brera to celebrate Singapore’s birthday. Red Velvet Cream Cheese Muffin with black coffee / white coffee / tea, SGD 9 only (excl GST). While stocks last.

● Story of the Forest
On till 13 Oct 2024; daily from 10am to 7pm, last admission at 6.15pm; Glass Rotunda, Level 2; Free admission for Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and visitors aged 6 and below

Step into the Glass Rotunda of the National Museum and lose yourself in the enchanted nightscapes of Story of the Forest. Inspired by the museum’s treasured William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings, the installation transforms 69 drawings from the collection into three-dimensional animations that invite you to interact up close with the wildlife and landscapes of 19th century Malaya.

Framed by the natural foliage of Fort Canning, the Glass Rotunda is a modern architectural response to the 19th century Neo-Palladian Rotunda that has existed since the museum’s opening in 1887.

The second level of the original Rotunda is home to the Goh Seng Choo Gallery, dedicated to hosting the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.