6 Fun Things to Do This National Day

Crowd of cheering spectators waving Singapore flags at a National Day celebration

Excited girl in a red and white T-shirt cheering among a crowd waving Singapore flags at the parade
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. If you have tickets to catch the #NDP live, 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

The National Day Parade is the highlight of the celebrations, with air, land and sea displays by the Home Team and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). But the celebrations often start before 9 August, with performances, exhibitions and static displays in heartland areas across Singapore. Check the NDP website for this year’s programme, and be sure to catch SAF’s parachute team, the Red Lions, as they freefall from the sky! Don’t say we never say!

2. Binge-watch local films and TV series

However, if you and your family prefer to avoid the crowd and spend the 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

Smiling family of three on a sofa with a TV remote, settling in to watch local films
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. For National Day, All Things Delicious rolls out local-inspired treats such as the Ondeh Ondeh Cake and many more! Click here to check out the National Day collection! Alternatively, swing by ATD Express, the same-day delivery store, for last-minute or impromptu celebrations!

National Day bakes with Singapore flag picks: glazed loaf cake, strawberry tart and raspberry choux
Photo by CJ Wadhwa

4. Giving back to the community

Around National Day, look out for community campaigns such as #DoingGood and #PledgeSG, which encourage Singaporeans to pledge to do something good and follow through. 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)

Masked volunteer in a Volunteer T-shirt carrying a crate of paper-wrapped food packs
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.

Families picnicking on the Marina Barrage green roof as a kite flies over the city skyline
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!

​
Row of colourful heritage shophouses with ornate plaster facades and wooden shutters Marina Bay Sands towers and ArtScience Museum reflected in the bay at dusk Steel and glass walkway of the Helix Bridge with its curving double-helix structure
Photo by simon_photos from Getty Images (Heritage Shophouses) Photo by Netfalls (Marina Bay Sands) Photo by D J from Pexels (Helix Bridge)
Looking up at tall residential towers linked by sky bridges against a blue sky Curved glass towers of Reflections at Keppel Bay rising above a green forested hill at sunset Illuminated Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay glowing pink and green at night
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 birthday with all these fun things to do on National Day! Check out 5 Places To Visit in Singapore on National Day. 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