Your complete weekend guide for the whole family

weekend-guide

When it's finally the weekend, you probably want to squeeze in as many fun activities as you can and spend those precious moments with your family creating special memories.

But if you're a little stumped as to where to bring your little ones out for a good time, we've put together a fun-filled weekend guide for the whole family to enjoy.

From outdoor fun, to interactive exhibitions, exciting parent-child workshops and delicious dining places, there's something for everyone on our list!

1. Goodman Arts Centre

Formally school grounds since the 60's, this art centre opened it's doors in 2011 and houses a diverse mix of tenants including F&B outlets and various arts creatives groups.

Have a nice and relaxed brunch at Cafe Melba while the kids jump around to their hearts' content on the bouncy castles that are only set up on the weekends and public holidays.

Fun workshops and programmes are also available for adults and children, so you can try your hand at painting, dancing, pottery, digital art, making perfumes and more!

They also have flea markets and garage sales on certain weekends so you can hunt down some great bargains.

When: Various arts programmes available on a daily basis and special events on some weekends.

Price: Some events are free (course fees apply for most art programmes).

Website: www.goodmanartscentre.sg

(Image source: Facebook - Cafe Melba)

2. Lockdown: Real-Life Escape Game

If you're looking for some thrill and excitement, check out this reality first-person adventure game where you and your team mates will be locked in a room and must use your critical thinking skills to solve the challenges and riddles in order to escape.

Choose from different rooms and themes such as The Forgotten Temple, Circus of the Dead, CSI: A Good Night To Die, End of the World - Break In, Trafficking, and Top Secret.

They even have a new large scale escape game held at Haw Par Villa called Journey To The End And Back, where you have to navigate your way around the park grounds and race against time to complete your mission.

These real-life escape games are suitable for those 13 years and up, but kids who are at least seven years old can also take part if they are accompanied by their parents.

When: Monday to Sunday, 11.00am - 10.00pm

Price: $22 per person (on weekends and public holidays).

Website: https://lockdown.sg/

(Image source: Facebook - Lockdown Singapore - Real Life Escape Game)

3. Straits Family Sunday @ Peranakan Museum

Head on down to the Peranakan Museum for some family fun for the hands-on Straits Family Sunday programmes such as All Sewed Up, Family Tree, Of Butterflies and Peonies, Let's Get Crafty!, Joyous Noel!

Discover the wonderful Peranakan culture and learn more about this interesting community through the exhibits, displays and various activities.

If you sign your children (12 years and below) up for the free Young Explorer Club programme, they will receive exclusive privileges including advanced updates on fun programmes, a chance to earn exclusive collectibles and the opportunity to engage in family activities in conjunction with special exhibitions.

Simply sign up at the museum's front desk and your kids will also receive a special start-up package!

When: Sunday 14th Aug, 11th Sep, 9th Oct, 13th Nov, 11th Dec 2016.

Price: Free admission for the programmes and to the permanent galleries for all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. Charges apply for special exhibitions.

Website: https://peranakanmuseum.org.sg

(Image source: Facebook - Peranakan Museum Singapore)

4. Pets In The Park @ ORTO

Animal lovers will squeal with delight at this public viewing of various furry, feathery and finned friends at this scenic and laid-back park!

There will be some dog shows by the Utility Dog Club and the Singapore Kennel Club; Ranchu fish viewing, Betta show and National Flowerhorn Competition; bird appearances by Featherhood SG; and even a cat adoption drive in case you're scouting for a new family pet.

ORTO is also home to Fishing Paradise, Katapult Trampoline, Prawning, Longkang Fishing, Red Dynasty Paintball Park, and Ubersports Futsal.

After all the excitement of the day, you can also have a lovely family meal at the many F&B outlets there with a range of Thai street food, local classics, Chinese cuisine, Halal delights, traditional Thai BBQ, and an alfresco bar.

When: 5th - 7th August 2016

Price: Free admission

Website: www.facebook.com/orto.sg

5. Brain & Body Exhibition @ Science Centre Singapore

Bring your little Einsteins to the Science Centre to learn more about the wonders of the human body and brain at this special exhibition, also brought to you by the Ministry of Education and Brand's®.

Explore all the sights and sounds, take selfies at the ASCII photo booth and be amazed by the mid-brain art installation.

You and your little ones will enjoy the various interactive exhibits as you discover how your brain works, develops and evolves over time.

Highlights of this exhibition includes Sensing Brain, Emotional Brain, Thinking Brain, and 21st Century Brain.

The rest of the Science Centre also offers an educational yet fun hands-on experience for the whole family, and you might even get to catch the annual Singapore Science Festival for a range of exciting programmes!

When: The Science Centre Singapore is open daily from 10.00am to 6.00pm; and the Singapore Science Festival is from 15th July - 5th August 2016.

Price: $6 per adult and $4 per child or senior citizen (for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Website: www.brandworld.com.sg

(Image source: Facebook - Science Centre Singapore)

6. Splash N Surf @ Singapore Sports Hub

Beat the heat and have a splashing good time with your little ones at Splash N Surf!

Frolic around with the younger ones at the Water Play Area & Kids Pool, which features whimsical aquatecture; or have a relaxing float along the Lazy River.

If you and your kids are game, try the exhilirating bodyboard and skimboard at Stingray® and show off your wave-riding skills on the half-pipe surfing facility (children must be at least 1.2m tall to participate in these activities).

Stingray® Clinics are also available for those who want to learn how to surf without assistance and pick up different surfing techniques such as surfboard management, proper positioning on a surfboard and also master riding on the boogie board and knee board.

When: Splash N Surf is open daily from 8.00am - 10.00pm; Stingray® Clinics vary throughout each month (refer to official website for more details).

Price: Free entry to Water Play Area & Kids Pool; Lazy River is $2 per entry; Stingray® is $40 per hour or $105 per 3-hour block (on weekends and public holidays) and $38 - $42 for the clinics.

Website: www.sportshub.com.sg

7. Family Fun @ National Gallery Singapore

Take part in some valuable bonding time with your little one at these parent-child programmes that have been designed in collaboration with artists and art practitioners.

Introduce your children to art and let their imaginations come alive as they create their own masterpieces, or allow them to explore the wondrous Art Playscape (for children 5 - 12 years).

Kids can also tinker around with some special activity kits at the Project Gallery, or pretend to be a professional artist for the day at the Children's Museum (suitable for kids 7 years and up).

The whole family can also wander trough the Art Corridor and have fun navigating your way to discover the longest and shortest routes as you try to complete the puzzle while avoiding hidden "traps" in the large-scale colourful maze.

When: Programmes are on Saturdays and Sundays.

Price: Free admission for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents; $10 - $30 for certain programmes; $2 - $4 for special activity kits.

Website: www.nationalgallery.sg

(Image source: Facebook - National Gallery Singapore)

8. Pip's Club @ Esplanade

The Esplanade has a club just for children to encourage them experience and explore the arts from young, which is absolutely free to sign up, so your little one will enjoy priority booking for selected parent-child workshops, receive exclusive invitations to selected PIP’s PLAYbox events and activities, and also special bi-monthly newsletters called Pip's World.

Upcoming fun-filled arts activities include Draw PIP A Friend, Make Your Own Wau, Malay Traditionall Danc Workshop, Lantern-Making Workshop, Parent-Child Workshop: DIY Snowskin Mooncakes, Octoburst! Drawing Competition and Colouring Fun.

Or immerse yourselves in art performances such as Kancil: Adventures of the Little Trickster, Raindrops Are Falling!, The Bird Who Was Afraid of Heights, Red Riding Hood, and more.

When: Check out the official website for more details.

Price: Pip's Club membership is free; some programmes and performances are free; refer to the official website for ticket rates for certain programmes and performances.

Website: www.esplanade.com/pips-club

9. Singapore Art Museum (SAM)

Create some art (and fun memories) with your little one as you take part in parent-child art-making workshops (suitable for children 18 months to 3 years old).

Or catch the special puppet performance, Suara Muara (The Sounds of the Estuary) by Papermoon Puppet Theatre, a contemporary puppet theatre all the way from Indonesia.

While you're there, you should also check out the various shorts films that are being screened, with titles such as The Sea Is Blue, Contre Temps, Jean-François, Fish Love Constellations, Bottle, Ray's Big Idea, The Deep, Playing With Light (Mon Ami le Robot), and The Little Costeau (Maly Costeau).

You can also snap a few fun pictures at the magical Original Selfie Machine to capture this family bonding moment.

When: Open daily from 10.00am - 7.00pm (or until 9.00pm on Fridays); Toddler Art Workshops on 22nd and 29th July 2016; Suara Muara performance on 26th August.

Price: Free admission for Singapore Citizen and Permanent Residents; $35 for Toddler Art Workshops; $30 for adults and $15 for children (6 - 12 years old) for the Suara Muara performance; $4 for two print-outs at the Original Selfie Machine.

Website: www.singaporeartmuseum.sg

(Image source: Facebook - Singapore Art Museum)

10. Big Splash

Bring your family to this iconic place in Singapore before it permanently ceases operation on 21st October 2016.

There's still some family fun left to squeeze out of this place as you take a swing at the Lilliputt Indoor Mini Golf; let your toddlers zoom about on ride-on toys at Discovery Kidz Rides; sign up for parent-accompanied classes at Alpha Gymnastics; encourage your kids' playfulness at Kaboodle Kids; or catch some fish and prawns at Fish @ Big Splash.

Soak in the sun as you treat your family to sumptuous meal with a great view and enjoy some western fare, seafood delights, Japanese cuisine, Thai BBQ, or Indonesian food.

You can also sign up for the Metta Charity Run there with your child in the Parent & Child category (1.5km Fun Run) and make memories before Big Splash closes down for good.

When: Metta Charity Run is on Saturday 10th September.

Price: Free admission to Big Splash; Parent & Child Fun Run is $55 per pair or $210 for a group of 4.

Website: www.bigsplash.com.sg

(Image source: Facebook - Big Splash)

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Written by

Dew M. Chaiyanara

Weekend Guidefamily timethings to dofamily activitiesbonding time