The best things to do in Singapore in July

You don’t have to wait for the actual NDP for stunning fireworks. Instead, ooh and aah at fireworks displays at NDP rehearsals, held every week from now until July 29. This week, the rehearsals will be happening on July 2, at around 8pm. There are several places to watch fireworks from; head to Gardens by the Bay East, Esplanade, The Promontory, or Helix Bridge for the best views. You’ll want to get there early, however – even rehearsals tend to draw large crowds.

Rum aficionados, mark your calendars! At The Capitol Kempinski Hotel’s first-ever Singapore Rum Festival, you’ll get to sample over 20 different rum brands, including Black Tears, Neisson, and Doorly's. This year, there’s also a special focus on regional Southeast Asian rums such as Thai rums like Chalong Bay and Cambodian rums like Samai. In addition to tasting opportunities, you can also expect curated masterclasses by industry experts as well as food and cocktails.

Catch over 10 world-class music acts at Marina Bay Sands’ inaugural music festival, taking place from July 15 to August 2. Renowned artists like The 1975, The Strokes, Ellie Goulding, Sabrina Carpenter, RINI, and J Balvin will grace the stages of the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. You can book your tickets here, but you’ll have to act fast – popular acts like The Strokes and The 1975 are almost entirely sold out.

The Singapore Street Festival, an annual non-profit social and community festival for youths, returns this year from July 7 to Aug 13 across four malls including Jem, Parkway Parade, and 313@Somerset. At the Festival, youths will be given an opportunity to perform and display their skills, with categories ranging from music, arts, and dance to culture and sports. This year, there will be a yo-yo, belly dance, and street soccer competitions, as well as busking and choir performances. Click here for the full programme.

BTS fans, here’s something for you. Meet the Lego minifigure versions of your favourite members at the free BTS Dynamite experience, which will be located just outside Ngee Ann City. The experience comprises three zones and will immerse fans in a Dynamite town inspired by the music video. You’ll be able to participate in interactive activities, such as a dance-off and custom minifigure building, not to mention plenty of photo and retail opportunities that will be available at the pop-up.

Love running? Sign up for the Lazada Run, happening on July 23. There are four categories to choose from – 21km, 10km, 5km, and a kids’ 650m dash – so don’t worry if you’re not quite able to run a half-marathon yet. The route is particularly scenic – the run will take you from Marina Barrage around the picturesque Bayfront area and, for longer distances, along East Coast Park. To motivate you, there are cash prizes of up to $3,000 to be won. Prices start at $45 and you can register at this link.

Celebrate Racial Harmony Day and learn more about our multicultural roots at the Indian Heritage Centre, Malay Heritage Center, and Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall open houses. You’ll get to participate in a wide variety of family-friendly cultural experiences, free drop-in crafts activities, and live performances. Activities at the Malay Heritage Centre will take place online as the Centre is currently being renovated. More details will be made available closer to the date; find out more at their respective websites.

Stop and smell the orchids at the Orchid Extravaganza, which returns to Flower Dome from July 28. Presented in partnership with embassies from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, the Extravaganza will feature orchids cultivated from species native to each country, alongside displays of each country’s cultural handicrafts and artefacts.

Fans of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things can now travel into its eerie world at an immersive retail experience that features retail spaces littered across two levels of Bugis+. The main draw is The Encounter on Level 7, a 45-minute experience that invites you to step into the world of Stranger Things. The experience costs $39 per person on weekdays and $109 for a Priority Pass ticket that comes with an exclusive merchandise bundle. If your heart can't take the excitement, a mere $15 will give you access to the Starcourt Mall Area where you can shop for Stranger Things merchandise in an 80s-themed set-up. There's also a free-for-all area on Level 2, with fun photo booths and another retail zone stocked with select merchandise. Stranger Things – The Encounter: Singapore will run from June 30 to October 1. Can't wait to travel to the Upside Down? Book your slots at strangerthingsencounter.com.

Canadian R'n'B singer Daniel Caesar will soon be back in Singapore for the Asia leg of his Superpowers world tour. He's hitting our shores on July 17 for one night only at The Star Theatre. The self-made musician first built a following through two critically-acclaimed EPs Praise Break (2014) and Pilgrim's Paradise (2015). His debut album Freudian produced hits like Best Part featuring American singer H.E.R., which he followed up two years later with another commercial and critical success, Case Study 01. For the Superpowers tour, expect him to light up the stage with tracks from his latest album Never Enough too. Tickets are on sale at the Sistic website. 

Slurp on shuck-ulent oysters at Greenwood Fish Market’s World Oyster Festival, which returns this year from July 1-31. This year’s edition boasts a record-breaking lineup of 32 oyster varieties from Canada, France, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, USA. You can get your briny fix a la carte (from $4.95 per oyster), or in a tasting platter ($109.95 for eight pairs of oysters selected by the chef) at both their outlets.