20 New Things To Do In January 2023 - Light To Night, POP MART "Buffet", New Waterpark & Hiking Trails
Another year is upon us and that means new beginnings - a chance to start afresh and set the right note for the next 12 months. Kickstart yours with 20 new things to do in January 2023 in Singapore including free pop-ups, a POP MART "buffet", an indoor waterpark, and hiking trails to fuel your "new year new me" fitness goals.
#1: Go on an art hunt around the island with Singapore Biennale 2022/23
Photo from Singapore Biennale
Art has taken over our garden city thanks to the Singapore Biennale 2022, which will be running for most of Q1 of 2023 across various locations around the island. This includes Singapore Art Museum, conservation shophouse No. 22 Orchard Road, regional libraries, and even nature spots like St. John’s Island and Yan Kit Playfield.
Photo from Singapore Biennale
Do also keep a lookout for these art pieces along building hoardings and landmarks like the Singapore Flyer. They’re literally everywhere, so pay attention as you’re out and about and you might just spot something where you’d least expect.
Photo from Singapore Biennale
Most of these places are free-to-enter, apart from SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, where tickets costs $15 for Singaporean adults. Certain locations such ast St John’s Island and Lazarus Island may incur additional costs, such as ferry transport fees.
Photo from Singapore Biennale
#2: Design & create your own music box from scratch
Photo from OKDoDoo
There’s always something charming about a little music box - and that appeal would be even more so when it’s uniquely created by you. At music box studio OKDoDoo, you get to design and assemble your own music box from scratch in a perfectly relaxing freestyle music box workshop.
Photo from OKDoDoo
Pick a round or square base in a size of your preference, then decorate your box with wooden ornaments and figurines. Feel free to mix and match any way you like - or go with a theme such as animals, travel, under the sea, or seasonal events like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. You can even make love-themed designs for weddings or anniversaries, complete with cute figurines dressed in gowns and suits!
Photo from OKDoDoo
The music will be specially selected by you too, with over 40 choices including classical favourites like Canon in D, evergreens, Studio Ghibli hits, and Moonlight Densetsu from Sailor Moon, among plenty others.
The price of your finished product will vary based on the materials you’ve used, but on average, you can expect to be paying from around $90 to $130.
OKDoDoo
Address: 138 Robinson Road, #03-31 Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 12pm - 6pm | Saturday & Sunday: By appointment only | Standard workshop time slots: 11am, 2pm, & 6pm
Telephone: 98782416 / 97671337
Website
#3: Get vintage-style photo strips at just $2.50 per piece
Photo from Photobytes
Self photo studios aren't exactly on the low-budget end of things, but Photobytes Self Studio has a new wallet-friendly alternative to the remote shutter photoshoots they're known for. They're taking things old school with a vintage photo booth within their studio, where film-inspired photo strips cost just $5 per set - that's $2.50 per piece!
#4: Snag exclusive POP BEANS in a “buffet” at POP MART’s new megastore
Photo from POP MART
It’s official: The POP MART blind box craze has taken over Singapore. After numerous store openings around the island, the collectible figurine retailer has recently unveiled a new POP MART megastore at Plaza Singapura.
Photo from POP MART
One highly-anticipated offering at POP MART Plaza Singapura is their exclusive POP BEAN bar - a shelf full of mini figurines from different character IPs including Pucky, Skullpanda, Bunny, Dimoo, and the other usual suspects. It works very much like pick ‘n’ mix candy and is just as tempting - think of it as a POP MART “buffet” of sorts.
Photo from @peachtoystudio & @humansharkk_toy via Instagram
You’ll first need to purchase a bottle for a fixed price, before stuffing it with as many little POP BEANS as humanly possible. You’ll only be given 3 minutes, so plan wisely! POP BEANS do have different series, so you can probably look forward to new designs in time to come.
Photo from POP MART
Other outlet-exclusives here include specific 400% and 1000% figurines which hardcore enthusiasts won’t want to miss out on. If you don’t have space in your home for these giant versions, you can always admire them via the storefront where they are proudly displayed on revolving platforms.
Photo from POP MART
POP MART Plaza Singapura
Address: 68 Orchard Road, #01-67 Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839
Opening hours: 11am - 9.30pm daily
Website
#5: Be dazzled by glowing installations at Light To Night 2023
Photo from Atelier Sisu
Light To Night, Singapore’s annual light art festival is back for its 2023 run with the theme of “Here and Now”, which explores the meaning of being in the present. Like in previous years, this year’s edition will feature glowing artworks across different locations in town, such as the National Gallery and Arts House.
Photo from Atelier Sisu
One of the main highlights will be a large-scale bubble-like installation at The Padang called Ephemeral, which comes to life at night with iridescent hues.
Photo from National Gallery Singapore
As usual, you can also look forward to projections dancing across the facades of national monuments such as Victoria Concert Hall and its clock tower, as riveting music plays in accompaniment.
Photo from National Gallery Singapore
Live performances and the Art X Social Festival Market will also be making a reappearance. More information on the full line-up will be released in time to come.
Light To Night 2023
Date: 6 to 26 January 2023
Location: Civic District
Price: FREE
#6: Make Y2K-style beaded accessories like jewellery & phone straps at a beading studio
Photo from CraftBeast Handmade
Bead jewellery is one of the hottest Y2K fashion trends right now, and DIY craft studio CraftBeast Handmade has just opened their new beading studio so you can make your own. There are over 100 types of multi-coloured beads and pendants in different shapes and sizes - including cute animal designs and Korean-style ones - which you can string together for necklaces, bracelets, phone straps and keychains.
Photo from CraftBeast Handmade
A session runs for 2 hours and costs $38 per person. Make your booking directly with CraftBeast Handmade or via Klook.
Photo from CraftBeast Handmade
CraftBeast Handmade
Address: 345 Beach Road, #02-00, Singapore 199568
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11am - 7pm, last entry 5pm (Closed on Mondays).
Telephone: 8182 5985 (WhatsApp only)
Website
#7: Enjoy a staycation at Pullman Orchard, a luxury hotel with beach club
Photo from Pullman Singapore Orchard
Newly opened along the Orchard belt is Pullman Singapore Orchard - a stylish 5-star hotel that has taken over the space of the former Grand Park Orchard. With its decor inspired by the high fashion brands along our shopping district, the hotel bears a contemporary and slightly eclectic look in the form of bold art and textures as accents.
Photo from Pullman Singapore Orchard
All the rooms are fully automated, which means that a simple touch of a button on your phone or the Smart TV is all you need to control the lights and temperature in your room. The check-in process is also similarly high-tech, where everything including your room key is contactless and/or digital.
Photo from Pullman Singapore Orchard
The hotel also happens to be home to P.S.O Beach Club - Orchard Road’s first and only beach club. Take a dip in the open-air pool, or chill under the shade of a cabana with a cocktail.
#8: Frolic among quirky animal characters & catch light shows at a free rooftop exhibition
Photo from Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
A pun on the words “兔/tu” (rabbit in Chinese) and “together”, Tugether / 兔gether is a free-entry rooftop exhibition where you can frolic on a lawn among quirky life-sized bunny characters by local art collective Whisky and Foxtrot. The series of installations - which you can walk right into for some snaps - show the bunnies partaking in common Chinese New Year traditions such as having reunion dinners or playing mahjong.
Photo from Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Joining the main character Tu Zai are other kooky-looking creatures, namely Ong Lai the pineapple, and Nian Mei the pink unicorn-esque monster.
Photo from Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
There will also be colourful murals set up around the area, which glow beautifully when night falls. On selected Saturday evenings (7, 14, & 28 Jan, 25 Feb, & 25 March) from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, you’ll be treated to a light show accompanied by the narration of rabbit’s journey home to celebrate CNY with his loved ones.
Photo from Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Tugether / 兔gether
Date: Until 31 March 2023
Time: 10am - 10pm daily
Location: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Roof Garden
Price: FREE
Website
#9: Have unlimited fun at a fixed price of $28 at a Mega Carnival
Photo from Mega Carnival
The glowing lights and upbeat music from rides and games draw you in from a distance. You head in to toss a few hoops at the game booths “just for fun”, and suddenly you’re dying to win that mega-sized plushie. From here you pick from one of two paths - you either go all out and end up with an empty wallet, or cut things short and disappoint bae. This, my friends, is the carnival trap.
Photo from Mega Carnival
Jokes aside, attending carnivals in Singapore can be a pricey affair if you want to experience a bit of everything. But the Mega Carnival at Downtown East is the first of its kind in Singapore, where you get to enjoy UNLIMITED fun at a fixed price of $28 or $32, depending on the date you visit.
Photo from Mega Carnival
No strings attached - head on down and have a go at over 20 stations with games, VR skiing, bumper cars, animatronic dinosaur rides and more! Everything is kid-friendly, but adults who are young at heart are more than welcome.
Mega Carnival
Date: Until 5 February 2023
Time: Monday to Friday: 12pm - 9pm | Saturday, Sunday, PHs & PH Eves: 10.30am - 9.30pm
Location: D’Marquee Downtown East
Price: From $28 for unlimited games and rides
Website
#10: Customise a bag at Charles & Keith’s massive new boutique
Photo from Charles & Keith
Behold the one Charles & Keith outlet that rules all - the homegrown fashion brand has gone all out with their newest boutique at Orchard, a massive 233 square metre space boasting a luxe minimalist look that’s almost futuristic.
Photo from Charles & Keith
Rows of bags and shoes line the walls, along with stone-line geometrical centre pieces that also serve as fashion displays, but the main draw of this new branch has to be Charles & Keith’s very first personalisation counter, with embroidery expertly done by an in-house artisan. Pick your own colour combinations and go for lettering, fun seasonal patterns, or motifs of Charles & Keith icons like the Gabine bag!
Photo from Charles & Keith
#11: Be wowed by live light paintings as you listen to orchestral performances
Photo from Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Classical music performances are getting a new spin with the upcoming concerts by Singapore Symphony Orchestra. One of them is Transfigured Night, which will have talented musicians playing Shonberg’s eponymous opus along with spring tunes, as light painter Lawrence Koh works his magic, making the stage glow with his expert light painting dances.
Transfigured Night will be happening at Victoria Concert Hall on 15 January 2023 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost $15. Find out more here.
Photo from Singapore Symphony Orchestra
There’s also Stroboscope - Light Beats happening on 14 January 2023 at 7pm and 9pm, where young percussionists of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra will be making music on the xylophone and the ilke. Best part? It’s free-of-charge! Find out more here.
#12: Grab Korean nosh at emart24, a 24-hour Korean convenience store
Photo from Shinsegae Group
Miss those late-night convenience store runs for instant noodles, coffee, and kimbap during your trips in Korea? Korean chain emart24 has just landed in Singapore at not one, but two locations, with 24-hour access to their authentic nosh.
Photo from emart24
It’s not just snacks like sandwiches and butter popcorn chips here, for you can also indulge in full microwaveable meals, along with cooked street food and banchan from their gastro bar. It’ll be hard to exercise restraint, that’s for sure!
#13: Art jam with free drinks & photo booth snaps at a vibrant new studio
Photo from PaintBlush
PaintBlush is a vibrant new art jamming studio located in a shophouse, and they do things a little different there. While some studios don’t allow patrons to eat on the job, this sip ‘n’ paint establishment creates a comfortable and homely environment by letting you bring your own snacks and drinks - with glassware and ice buckets provided. Certain packages also come with complimentary espresso coffee or TWG tea!
Photo from PaintBlush
Beginners are sure to benefit from the 3-hour Sip ‘n’ Paint Signature Art Jam sessions where you’ll learn how to recreate a painting of your choice with soft guidance. Pick from their extensive range of landscapes, animals, or seasonal designs.
But if you already know how to put brush to paper and would rather go free and easy, go for their 2-hour Non-Guided Art Jam at an affordable price of just $18.
Photo from PaintBlush
Don’t forget to take some snaps at their self-painted professional photo booth with your completed masterpiece! Digital copies of your photos will be sent to you. Make your booking directly with PaintBlush or Klook.
PaintBlush
Address: 73 Dunlop Street, #02-00, Singapore 209401
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm daily, last slot at 8pm
Telephone: 8883 7211
Website
#14: Unwind with an indoor waterpark & staycation villas at the new HomeTeamNS Bedok
Photo from HomeTeamNS
Tired of city living? Have a tranquil getaway without leaving Singapore’s shores at the new HomeTeamNS Bedok, a waterfront country club with spacious double-storey villas for staycations. Set on a sloped hill, these luxurious chalets are surrounded by greenery, with a view of the expansive reservoir which you can easily admire through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Photo from HomeTeamNS
All villas come with 1 king, 1 queen and 2 single beds, along with a fully-equipped kitchen with an induction stove, refrigerator, microwave, water purifier, and complimentary coffee and tea. The premium rooms even come with game consoles, while guests of other tiers can have them rented along with mahjong sets and board or card games. And there’s no need to rush to book a barbecue pit, because you’ll get your very own private BBQ countertop with an electric grill.
Photo from HomeTeamNS
Amp up the excitement with indoor water park Aqua Adventure, which houses Singapore’s first indoor pool obstacle course and longest indoor water slide. There’s also Action Motion, an indoor ninja warrior course with a gamified experience.
According to the HomeTeamNS website, bookings for the villas will be made available at an unspecified date this month.
HomeTeamNS Bedok
Address: 900 Bedok North Road, Singapore 479994
Telephone: 6708 6600
Website
#15: Admire art from galleries from all over the world at ART SG
Photo from ART SG
You don’t have to traverse the world just to see the best of modern art. ART SG, the largest-ever art fair in Southeast Asia, is happening over 4 days this month with works from over 150 leading art galleries from around the world. Spanning across 2 floors, this large-scale exhibition will feature art across various mediums including paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, experimental films, and even blockchain art.
Photo from ART SG
#16: Hike through Rifle Range Nature Park to explore boardwalks, a quarry wetland, & 31m-tall deck
Photo from NParks
If your new year’s resolution is to keep fit, then there’s no better way to start than with an adventure at the new Rifle Range Nature Park, a vast and densely-forested nature haven at Bukit Timah that’s the newest addition to the Central Nature Park Network. The 66-hectare park has over 7km worth of hiking trails and boardwalks to explore, so put on your comfy shoes and get ready to work those leg muscles!
Photo from NParks
Along the way you’ll come across the Quarry Wetland, a freshwater ecosystem in itself that’s home to wild birds and small animals.
Photo from NParks
There’s also a 31-metre-high Colugo Deck, offering a bird’s eye view of the magnificent scenery before you. It’ll be an uphill climb, but one that certainly won’t go unrewarded!
Photo from NParks
#17: Say hello to ginormous bunny daruma dolls
Photo from Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
The Year of the Rabbit is upon us and adorable round bunny daruma dolls have hopped their way to town! At Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall’s "Bunny-ful" Blessings event, you can say hello to these supersized Bit Bit Forest bunnies, created in collaboration with Hong Kong illustrator Chan Siu Kau. Each of the bunnies has lucky wordings on it, wishing all visitors a year of good fortune.
#18: Step into the world of the Na’vi with the immersive Avatar experience at GBTB
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
The whole Avatar franchise has certainly brought us on a whole journey. After keeping us at the edge of the seats with their first movie in 2009, they’ve only just released the sequel - a whopping 13 years later. Yup, that’s how much effort went into it, and if you’re still in awe after catching the show on the big screen, you can now transport yourself into the world of the Na’vi with Avatar: The Experience at Gardens by The Bay’s Cloud Forest.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
This immersive walk-through will have you creating an Avatar version of yourself, “flying” on a banshee, and activate a bioluminescent glow in plants using mere contactless movement.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
There are also super realistic animatronic creatures from Pandora, as well as special dark zone with magical illuminations and the Tree of Souls.
#19: Catch the Chinese New Year 2023 light-up at these locations
Photo from Chinatown Singapore
Christmas is barely over, but with Chinese New Year happening a little earlier this year, the festive trees with shiny baubles are making their way for firecrackers, gold ingots, spring couplets and the like. *Cue that overused “merry fa cai” joke.*
It’s only a matter of time before Chinatown dives right into the celebrations with their annual CNY light-up, and with this year being the year of the rabbit, we can probably expect some super adorable bunny-themed lanterns and floats.
Gardens by the Bay and Orchard Road will also likely be putting up their decor to welcome this auspicious occasion.
#20: Let out your inner child at the 2-storey Children’s Museum
Photo from Children's Museum Singapore
Spotted that colonial building with cute colourful windows in the Fort Canning/City Hall area? That’s the newly-opened Children’s Museum, which has taken over the former Philatelic Museum’s home. The 2-storey museum has 4 galleries with permanent exhibitions, and 3 that will be revamped regularly with new exhibits.
Photo from Children's Museum Singapore
Since it’s specially catered to those aged 12 and below, it’s unsurprising that everything here is full of vibrancy and interactive elements to occupy those curious young minds. That said, adults are also welcome, so don’t be shy! Entry is free from now till end March 2023.
Photo from Children's Museum Singapore
While you're here, you're probably also looking for new dining spots for your food-ventures with your squad. Check out our article on La Forêt, a whimsical floral-themed dessert house in Singapore's "countryside" with 3-course afternoon tea sets, sparkling tea, and pet-friendly seating.
