5 Easy Ideas for Celebrating National Day with the Kids!

If you missed out on tickets to this year’s National Day Parade — don’t fret, mama! There’s still plenty of fun activities happening across the island to get the family in the patriotic mood. From free art installations at the Esplanade Theatre to family fun at your local SAFRA club, we’ve got it covered with these easy ideas for celebrating National Day with the kids. Time to roll out the red and white! 

1. National Day Open House
When: 9 August 2014, 10am-6pm
Where: National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
How much: Free!

National Day is the perfect time to scrub up on your local history, and what better what to do that than at the National Museum? On 9 August you’ll get free admission to all the galleries, plus the chance to complete fun 80s-inspired craft activities and games with the kiddos. Coordinated by the cool kids from Tamasek Polytechnic, there’ll even be old fashion schoolyard games to play, like flag eraser, zero-point, and hopscotch!

2. Flea Speech at Public Garden
When: 9-10 August 2014, 1-7pm
Where: TripleOne Somerset, Level 16, 111 Somerset Road, Singapore 238164
How much: Free!

A perennial fave, Public Garden is rolling out the latest installation of their popular weekend market, with their “We Celebrate National Hobbies” edition. Featuring some of Singapore’s best independent (and creative) businesses, shop for vintage fashion, customised furniture, and even new yoga gear, while you chow down on local delights and other food goodies. Bring the kids too mama — there’ll be plenty for small ones to gaze at.

3. BBQ Under the Stars – National Day Edition
When: 9 August 2014, 6:30-9:30pm
Where: Port of Lost Wonder, 54 Palawan Beach Walk, Singapore 098233
How much: $39 for adults, $25 for children

If you fancy braving Sentosa on a public holiday, then Port of Lost Wonder is a good pit stop with the fam. Their monthly BBQ Under the Stars event is going patriotic on National Day, with traditional snacks like muah chee, kachang puteh, and satay available to fill rumbling tummies. You can even watch a live screening of the parade on their big screens too!

4. I Like Singapore National Day Celebrations
When: 8-10 August 2014
Where: Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
How much: Free!

With a whole swag of activities to keep every member of the family happy, Esplanade Theatre has you covered for free kid-friendly activities this National Day weekend – your hardest decision while be deciding which activities to try! Turn your hand to a session of old-school kampung games (8 Aug from 6-9pm, 9 Aug from 2-7pm, 10 Aug from 3-9pm), get the kiddos’ faces painted (9 Aug from 2-5:30pm), listen to Singapore’s very own independent band, The Summertimes Big Band as they perform local faves (9 Aug from 8:20-9pm & 9:20-10pm), discover more about famous roads in Singapore with Raymond Goh (10 Aug from 4:30-5:15pm), play a game of five stones with the kids (10 Aug from 6-8:30pm) or turn to Kampong Kards to teach youngsters how to make Singapore-themed greeting cards (10 Aug from 6-7pm). Phew!

5. National Day Family Fun at SAFRA
When: 9 August 2014, 10am-9pm
Where: SAFRA clubs across the island and Kidz Amaze centres
How much: $10.70 (Kidz Amaze Members) or $12.85 (SAFRA Members) for children, $2.15 per accompanying adult

Roll out the red and white and head to any of SAFRA’s clubs for a bit of patriotic participation (while the clubs are members-only, you can still attend as a guest if you’re lucky enough to know a member!). While all the clubs are hosting some sort of celebration – it’s the Kidz Amaze centres at Jurong and Toa Payoh that are the place to be with the munchkins. Jurong will be hosting an “I love Singapore” craft-making contest, while Toa Payoh will be warming up their vocal cords with a “Sing that Song” competition. Fun!

And if all else fails mama, our Guide to Alternative National Day Celebrations is still as relevant as ever – it’s swimming with clever ideas for making the most out of your public holiday!

Top image sourced via shutterstock