Dumpling Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival or Duan Wu Jie, is an important festival for Chinese communities around the world.
Organised by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and held in conjunction with Children’s Season 2019, Wan Qing Dumpling Festival presents an exciting weekend of activities such as dumpling making stations, craft workshops, treasure hunts within the museum’s galleries, storytelling performances, alfresco concert performances, and more!
Children’s Season is an annual festival organized by the National Heritage Board for families with children aged 3 to 12 years old. Held during the mid-year school holidays, Children’s Season sees museums and heritage institutions across Singapore organizing special programmes for children and families to learn and bond. SYSNMH’s Children’s Season 2019 programme will focus on introducing families and children to the intangible cultural heritage elements associated with the commemoration of Dumpling Festival through an array of hands-on activities such as drawing classes, treasure hunts within the museum’s galleries, storytelling performances and more.
Event Highlights:
MakeYour Own Bak Zhang
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 11am – 4pm
Try your hand at making glutinous rice dumplings the traditional way at this hands-on station. Learn how to stuff, wrap and tie your own bak zhang, and even be treated to a yummy dumpling of your choice, totally free of charge! Halal and vegetarian options available whilst stocks last (supported by Eastern Rice Dumpling).
“Be A Little Cartoonist” Heritage Hunt
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 10.30am – 2.30pm
- No registration required. Please queue early to reserve a slot.
Grab a map and get ready for another adventure this Children’s Season! Be a little cartoonist for a day to uncover the different occupations in the past as you navigate your way through a series of interactive activity stations with students from River Valley High School!
Captions By Kids
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 10am – 5pm
Have you ever wonder how children perceive an artefact in our galleries? Come spot the captions written by students from Gan Eng Seng Primary School and view the artefacts from the eyes of children!
Electrifying Dragon Dance Performance
- 1 June 2019 (Dragon Dance)
- 2.30pm – 3pm
Revel in the festivities with an electrifying dragon dance performance! Come early to reserve a spot for this popular performance showcase.
Fables & Fairytales
Embark on a literary adventure and discover the legends and myths behind Dumpling Festival in our popular storytelling sessions conducted by local authors and veteran storytellers!
Dumpling Festival Tales (supported by Speak Good English Movement and 讲华语运动 Speak Mandarin Campaign)
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 1.30pm – 2.30pm (English) / 6pm – 7pm (Chinese)
Once Upon a Storytime
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 7pm – 8pm (Chinese)
This programme is an interactive and collaborative storytelling performance between the actor-facilitator and the performance audience. Children are invited to participate in this storytelling journey by applying various techniques such as drama, music and movement, thereby creating an immersive and engaging multi-sensory experience. Register here
Festive & Cultural Activities
Try your hand at these free activities and collect stamps to win prizes!
Roving Balloon Artist
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 11am – 3pm
Me & My Dragonboat
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 11am – 8pm
Live Caricature Station
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 11am – 8pm
Carnival Games
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 11am – 8pm
Snack Stations
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 11am – 8pm
Visit our snack stations for a scrumptious selection of local snacks including muah chee, popiah, putu piring, traditional ice cream and even freshly-made churros! All snacks are available for sale.
Free Craft Stations & Workshops
Unleash your inner Picasso at our festive craft booths and workshops! Learn to sew your own Dumpling-inspired five stones set, engage in fun and colourful sensory play, or get creative at our drawing workshops.
“Draw and Sing Along” Workshop (supported by Lianhe Zaobao Student Correspondents' Club 联合学生通讯员俱乐部)
- 1 June 2019
- 11.00am – 12.30pm
- Register here
Rice Art Sensory Play (supported by Bèbè Artiste)
- 1 June 2019
- 4pm – 7pm
- No registration required. Please queue early to reserve a slot.
Dumpling Five Stones Workshop
- 1 June 2019
- 5pm – 6pm
- No registration required. Please queue early to reserve a slot.
“NiuBiZi and Friends” Cartoon Drawing Workshop (supported by Huang Yao Foundation)
- 2 June 2019
- 11.00am – 1.30pm
- Register here
Fun with Clay Art
- 2 June 2019
- 4pm – 7pm
- No registration required. Please queue early to reserve a slot.
Chinese Tea Art Workshop (supported by Camellia茗岩 Tea Bar)
- 2 June 2019
- 5pm – 6pm
- No registration required. Please queue early to reserve a slot.
Concert Under The Stars
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 7.30pm – 9pm
Experience wonder and delight in this dynamic showcase of cultural and contemporary arts! Grab a hammock and enjoy a range of performances including LED drums, Chinese dance, live music performances and more.
Heritage Trails & Museum Tours
Take a free tour of the Memorial Hall’s permanent galleries and learn more about Dr Sun Yat Sen and Singapore’s role in the 1911 Revolution, or embark on our popular Balestier Heritage Trail to uncover the architectural and cultural history of the precinct!
Balestier Heritage Trail
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 10.30am – 12pm
- $5 per person (includes traditional snacks). Register here
Museum Guided Tours (Permanent Galleries)
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 2.30pm (Chinese) / 3pm (English)
Museum Guided Tours (Special Exhibition)
- 1 & 2 June 2019
- 10.30am (Chinese) / 1.30pm (English)
Image Credit: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Age
3+
Price
Free
Telephone number
+65 6256 7377
Links
Address
Singapore12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
How to get there?
By Bus
Bus service nos. 21, 130, 131, 139, 139M, 145, 186 (to alight at Zhongshan Mall)
Bus service nos. 139, 139M: Opp EASB (to alight at East Asia Institute of Management)
By Train
Toa Payoh Station (NS19)
Take bus service nos. 139, 145 from Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (to alight at Zhongshan Park)
Novena Station (NS20)
Take bus service nos. 21, 131 from Novena Church (to alight at Zhongshan Park)
Alternatively, the Memorial Hall is a 20 minute walk from Toa Payoh Station (NS19) or Novena Station (NS20)
By Car
Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), from Changi Aiport towards Tuas
Take Exit 17 (Balestier Road/Thomson Road/Upper Thomson Road) onto Jalan Datoh. Turn left at Balestier Road, then turn left at Ah Hood Road.
Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), from Tuas towards Changi Airport
Take Exit 17D (Thomson Road/Toa Payoh) onto Jalan Toa Payoh. Turn right to stay on Thomson Road. Turn left to Balestier Road, then turn left at Ah Hood Road.
Parking
The Memorial Hall does not offer parking spaces. Visitors may park at Zhongshan Mall, HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse, or Ah Hood Gardens housing estate.