Coming Up: November-December 2020

There’s plenty to celebrate this holiday season - from Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, to Yuletide arias for Christmas.

By Edmund Wee        2 November 2020

2020 may have been one wild roller coaster ride, but there is much to look forward to before the year ends.

“Love This Christmas” Light Up

13 November – 1 January 2021
Orchard Road

With the theme “Love This Christmas”, Orchard Road transforms into a Yuletide playground on 13 Nov. In its 37th year, this annual event will showcase a dazzling display of lights and decorations along the 2.88km stretch from Tanglin Mall to Dhoby Ghaut, including Scotts Road, in an all-new, virtual 360-degree tour.

Brightly lit snowflakes intertwined with mistletoes and hollies in white, gold and blue will be strung across the sub-precincts of Somerset, Orchard and Tanglin, while Christmas ornaments and white and gold baubles will hang from trees and lampposts lining the boulevard. Taking centre stage at the Orchard-Paterson Road junction is a shimmering main arch adorned with a gigantic blue ribbon, and festooned with glittering reindeer and hollies.

Deepavali

14 November
Islandwide

A gazetted national holiday in Singapore, Deepavali, which is one of the highlights on Singapore’s cultural calendar, is known otherwise as the Festival of Lights. Check out the light-up in Little  India, where the festive spirit reigns with bold splashes of colours.

Look out for eye-catching and intricate rangoli patterns adorning entryways and floors; lighted diyas (clay lamps) carefully placed in front of homes to welcome auspicious energy; as well as lots of traditional sweets and savoury snacks.

“An Exercise Of Meaning In A Glitch” Exhibition

Now Till 21 February 2021
National Gallery Singapore
www.nationalgallery.sg

This exhibition of contemporary art practices is presented as part of a new initiative launched by the National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Art Museum. It is a collective response by the visual arts community to the global pandemic and its impact on our community.

A visual treat for art lovers, this exhibition, which is curated by guest curator Syaheedah Iskandar, features the works of young Singapore-based artists. Through it, audiences are invited to contemplate and reflect on their experiences during the pandemic, and imagine new ways to move forward as individuals and as a society.

Inside Singapore Airlines

21-22, 28-29 November
KrisShop.com

Over two weekends in November during the school holidays, Singapore Airlines launches “Inside Singapore Airlines”, an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the airline training facilities with a wide range of activities for the family.

Visitors will get an opportunity to interact with SIA pilots. Children can enjoy craft activities such as balloon sculpting, while adults can learn how to operate a full flight simulator. A selection of the most popular meals that are served on board SIA flights will also be on sale.

“Under The Skin”

1 December – 31 January 2021
NTU Centre for Contemporary Art
ntu.ccasingapore.org

Curated by artist Cheong Kah Kit, this exhibition, which is held at the Nanyang Technological University Centre for Contemporary Art, is an experimental showcase of the practices of three artists (George Chua, Nina Djeki , and Noor Effendy Ibrahim) that engage with sound, bodily movements and performance.

Weaving together elements of performance, sound and visual art, it will highlight the experiences of these artists in response to the sudden uncertainty and loss of normalcy of the Covid-19 pandemic.

SSO Christmas Concert

18 December – 8 January 2021
SISTIC Live
www.sistic.com.sg

Join the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for its special year-end celebration, featuring Baroque classics by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi, as well as contemporary Christmas carols by popular choral music composer John Rutter.

Premiering online on SISTIC Live from 18 Dec at 8pm until 8 Jan, the concert, which retails at S$10 on a pay-as-you-wish basis, will be conducted by Joshua Tan.