6 Fun Things to Do This National Day

Photo by HomeTeam NS¹

9 August. It is the day when we Singaporeans commemorate our country’s independence from Malaysia in 1965. Singapore has come a long way to become what it is today: a prosperous and lively metropolis. This year, the all out National Day celebration is finally making a comeback following scaled-back celebrations in the past two years due to the pandemic. If you have gotten tickets to catch the #NDP at The Float @ Marina Bay, lucky you! If not, we got you covered! Here’s a list of 6 fun activities you and your family can do to celebrate National Day!

1. Watch NDP Weekend @ Heartlands, too

This year’s National Day parade will take place at The Float @ Marina Bay. Spectators can expect a Total Defence display, where the Home Team and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will perform air, land and sea demonstrations. The theme for this year’s parade will be “Stronger Together, Majulah!” which emphasises the importance of the strength and unity of Singaporeans. But celebrations will start earlier than 9 August. Mark your calendars on the 6 to 7 August, and discover (or rediscover) 5 heartland areas across Singapore through a series of celebrations. The exciting performances, exhibitions and activities include a static display of platforms by Home Team and SAF. IMPORTANT: be sure to catch SAF’s parachute team, the Red Lions, as they freefall and parachute over two heartland areas on 7 August! Don’t say we never say!

Photo by NDP 2022²

2. Binge-watch local films and TV series

However, if you and your family prefer to avoid the crowd and spend this year’s holiday in the comfort of your home, we have some suggestions for you too. Netflix actually has a section that is dedicated to Singapore-made films and TV series! These shows reflect how far our country’s film industry has evolved and shows what makes Singapore unique. Here are a few films that you surely wouldn’t want to miss out on!

• Llo Llo by Anthony Chen
• I Not Stupid by Jack Neo
• Ah Boys to Men by Jack Neo
• 7 Letters by Eric Khoo, Jack Neo, K. Rajagopal, Royston Tan, Tan Pin Pin, Boo Junfeng, Kelvin Tong
• Homerun by Jack Neo
• The Little Nyonya by Ang Eng Tee, Chong Liung Man, Tay Peck Choo, Chia Mien Yang, Loo Yin Kam
• Greedy Ghost by Boris Boo
• The Last Madame by Jean Yeo

Photo by pondsaksitphotos

3. Red, White & Tasty

What's a celebration without food? Food is what brings everyone together and serves as a way to forge meaningful connections. This National Day, All Things Delicious has rolled out some very exciting and lip-smacking treats such as Ondeh Ondeh Cake, Cempedak Loaf, Sepak Takraw Rolls and many many more! Click here to check out its National Day menu! Alternatively, you can also swing by ATD To Go, their same-day pick up and delivery online store for last minute or impromptu celebrations!

Photo by CJ Wadhwa

4. Giving back to the community

In light of this year’s National Day, the “22 Days of Doing Good” also known as the #DoingGood Campaign will take place from 16 July to 6 August and it is held in conjunction with the #PledgeSG Campaign. Singaporeans are spurred to make a pledge to do something good and fulfil them. This initiative will bring everyone together and emerge stronger as a nation. Above are some ways where you can contribute or you can simply volunteer in the activities that the partners have come up with³. So what are you waiting for? Grab your loved ones and start #Doinggood together today! (Scroll down for links)

Photo by Aris Leoven

5. Family Picnic @ Marina Barrage (The Green Roof)

Head out and dine outdoors with your loved ones this National Day! The Green Roof at Marina Barrage is the perfect place to have a picnic while 1. catching the sunset and 2. watching the night sky burst with fireworks on 9 August while 3. overlooking Marina Bay Sands and the gorgeous Singapore’s skyline. Phew, that was a mouthful, but you get our feelings about this place right? It’s total on-the-money location. But we cannot emphasise this enough: GET THERE EARLY AND CHOPE THE BEST PICNIC SPOT! A range of outdoor activities such as kite flying, frisbee, or ball games can be enjoyed by you and your family. Add some board gaming to the mix. To save you the hassle of having to pack food, order from ATD To Go which offers islandwide delivery or self pickup on the same day so you get fresh food two hours after you place the order.

Photo by anahtiris from iStock Photos

6. Admire the beautiful architecture in Singapore

Singapore is ranked as one of the top most visited countries in the world. It doesn't matter whether you are an architect or just someone who loves gazing at and admiring beautiful structures and buildings. Despite being a small nation, Singapore has a variety of cultures due to its history as a trading hub. This led to an accumulation of different architectural styles that is a blend of Asian, British colonial and contemporary global influences. Keep reading to find out which are some of Singapore's well known structures that you should visit to snap some instagram-worthy pictures!

• Heritage Shophouses in Joo Chiat, Kampong Gelam, Chinatown and Little India
• Golden Mile Complex
• Marina Bay Sands
• Helix Bridge
• National Museum of Singapore
• OCBC Centre
• The Reflections @ Keppel Bay
• Jewel @ Changi Airport
• The Hive @ NTU
• Pinnacle @The Hive (Learning Hub South - LHS) Duxton
• People’s Park Complex
• Gardens By The Bay

Photo by simon_photos from Getty Images (Heritage Shophouses)	Photo by Netfalls (Marina Bay Sands)	Photo by D J from Pexels (Helix Bridge)
Photo by Joshelerry from Getty Images (OCBC Centre)	Photo by atosan from Getty Images (The Reflections @ Keppel Bay)	Photo by nataliyahora (Gardens By The Bay)

Time to celebrate Singapore’s 57th birthday with all these fun things to do on National Day! Check out 5 Places To Visit in Singapore on National Day 2022. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram and Facebook for fun updates and moments! Remember to tag us on social media if you’ve gotten inspiration from us! 😊 

References:

1. Featured Image 1 Credit: HomeTeam NS
2. Featured Image 2 (Infographic)
3. Doinggood Campaign