MDC's HOMEGROWN Festival, And Other Ways To Support Local This October

Can you believe there's just a few months left till SG60 is over? But fret not, there's still time to celebrate all things Singapore. And what better way than with a musical festival spotlighting local artistes?

Behold the return of Music and Drama Company's (MDC) HOMEGROWN Festival next week. Taking place from 17 to 18 October, the two-day festival brings together MDC artistes and other local musicians to celebrate the very best of Singapore's homegrown talent.

You can look forward to an electrifying line-up of live performances featuring both fresh faces and beloved names like lewloh, Sezairi, MDC artistes Rines, Dominic Chin, and Gail Belmonte, and many more.

In addition, the festival boasts tons of other fun activities, from classic arcade games to jagua gel temporary tattoos, on-the-spot quirky caricature portraits, tarot card readings, and beautiful bouquet-making workshops. You can also unleash your creative juices by taking part in a special community art project, where you'll transform blank HOMEGROWN easels into vibrant, collaborative masterpieces.

Looking for more ways to support local? Here are some other fun events that you can check out this month.

Museum of U & Me

Step into Singapore's history with this pop-up exhibition by the National Heritage Board (NHB). Taking place on the lawn of the National Museum of Singapore (NMS), the exhibition brings together everyday objects and artefacts from the museum's National Collection, alongside crowdsourced treasures from everyday Singaporeans.

Spanning 5 themes from our shared history to work, food, leisure, and home, Museum of U & Me features objects like a retro 1970s made-in-Singapore Setron television, measurements of Diana, Princess of Wales taken by local fashion designer Benny Ong, and even a plaque for the first passenger to fly Singapore Airlines.

Till 14 December 2025
Find out more here

Kimberly Akimbo

Catch the final show of local theatre company Pangdemonium's 2025 season: A local staging of the musical Kimberly Akimbo.

This outrageously funny yet heartfelt musical tells the tale of the eponymous Kimberly, a teenager dealing with the ups and downs of life, a dysfunctional family... and a rare genetic disorder that exponentially accelerates her aging process, giving her the body of a person four and a half times her age.

With her unique biological clock ticking away exponentially, friends and family pulling her in different directions, and a secret bucket list, Kimberly must make some tough decisions about how she wants to live (what’s left of) her life.

17 October to 2 November 2025
Find out more here

IMAGE: GARDENS BY THE BAY

SG60 Comic Trail @ Gardens by the Bay

Held as part of Gardens by the Bay's (GBTB) Race to Sustainability! event, this comic trail invites you to embark upon a free-and-easy trail through GBTB alongside Biogirl MJ as you learn about the effects of climate change, along with how Singapore is doing its part to transform into a global city of sustainability.

The trail will take you through the Flower Dome, Golden Garden, Heritage Gardens, Supertree Grove, The Canopy, and World of Plants. Do note that separate admission charges to the Flower Dome apply.

21 October to 30 November 2025
Find out more here

Haw Ror Villa 4! — The Final Journey

Celebrate the spooky season with Haw Par Villa's annual Halloween event. This year's bash promises to be bigger and better than ever, especially since it's the final edition of this uniquely Asian Halloween festival.

As you step through the looming gates of Haw Par Villa, you'll be transported into a battleground between the sacred and the sacrilegious as the park has been overrun by an ancient cult. The mystery and horrors of the cult unfold through connected narratives across 3 spine-chilling scare zones: A haunted house, an interactive guided ghost tour, and a fiendish puzzle hunt.

Bonus: You can use your SG Culture Pass credits for this!

3 October to 1 November 2025
Find out more here

Clockwise from left: Hailjah Travels, Gandhi Restaurant, and Anushia Flower Shop. | IMAGES: NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD

#ShopLocal

Want to get a headstart on your holiday shopping? The NHB has just recognised 42 local heritage businesses as awardees under its inaugural SG Heritage Business Scheme. Why not rediscover some of Singapore's community and cultural anchors through these homegrown businesses?

1. ANA Book Store
2. Anushia Flower Shop
3. Basheer Graphic Books
4. Cathay Photo Store (Pte) Ltd
5. Chatterbox
6. Chop Wah On
7. CYC Company Pte Ltd
8. Dakshaini Silks Pte Ltd
9. Foundation Jewellers Pte Ltd
10. Gandhi Restaurant
11. Gayatri Restaurant
12. Halijah Travels Pte Ltd
13. JUMBO Seafood
14. Kamala Restaurant
15. Kele Confectionery
16. Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant
17. Koo Kee Yong Tow Foo Mee
18. Lim Chee Guan
19. Maha Yu Yi Pte Ltd
20. Mei Heong Yuen Dessert
21. Muthu's Curry
22. Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop
23. Nasi Padang Sabar Menanti Singapore
24. Old Chang Kee Singapore Pte Ltd
25. On Cheong Jewellery
26. Pek Sin Choon Pte Ltd
27. Red Star Restaurant Pte Ltd
28. Rumah Makan Minang
29. Shashlik Restaurant
30. SIS Premium Meats
31. Spring Court Restaurant
32. STYLEMART Bridal Collection Pte Ltd
33. Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant
34. Tai Chong Kok
35. Tea Chapter
36. Teck Soon Medical Hall Pte Ltd
37. Thandapani Company Pte Ltd
38. Thye Shan Medical Hall Pte Ltd
39. Toko Aljunied
40. Tong Heng Delicacies
41. VSS Varusai Mohamed & Sons
42. Yixing Xuan Teahouse

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