Top Festivals and Cultural Events in Singapore 2025

Singapore is the cradle of various cultures and religions from almost every part of our planet. You can see and feel the diversity everywhere: in people, architecture, food – and in bright celebrations and happenings that depict Singapore’s multiculturalism. So, let us see the Top Festivals and Cultural Events in Singapore 2025 by BusyKidd – to better understand the vibrant atmosphere of The Lion City.

Pongal

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Pongal is a Tamil Hindu festival. It lasts for 4 days and brings charming lights, thrilling activities, and the mouthwatering aroma of traditional dishes to the city. People decorate homes, wear new clothes, give gifts, and spend time with families. The highlight of the festival is cooking Pongal, a dish of rice cooked in boiling milk. 

• When: January 13 to January 16, 2025

Chinese New Year

Image Credit: Chingay Parade SG via Facebook

Chinese New Year is one of the most meaningful festivities for many homes. It marks the beginning of a new year and has many family traditions, with a reunion dinner among the most important ones. Other customs include the exchange of oranges, the Hong Bao exchange, wearing traditional clothes, and more. Besides, the CNY festival is known for its bright happenings, including street light-ups, the Chingay Parade, the River Hongbao, weekly stage shows, festive fairs, food fairs, and more. 

• When: January 29, 2025

Thaipusam

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Thaipusam is a Tamil Hindu festival. It celebrates the victory of good over evil. During Thaipusam, the devotees embark on a bright procession with decorated kavadis (a special structure that Hindu devotees carry on their shoulders). By the way, some kavadis can weigh up to 40 kg and reach a height of 4 m.

• When: February 11, 2025

Hari Raya Aidilfitri

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Hari Raya Aidilfitri (aka Hari Raya Puasa) is a joyful celebration of forgiveness, fellowship, and food. It marks the end of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting for Muslims.

This festival has a deep meaning – it celebrates love, gratefulness, and a community. People wear new clothes, get together, pray, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional dishes with family and friends. You can also visit many inspiring, family-friendly events with your little ones – to dive even deeper into the atmosphere of this festival and strengthen your family bonds.

• When: March 31, 2025

Holi

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Holi is a mind-blowing (and the most colourful) way to celebrate spring, love, and new life. Also named the Festival of Colours, Holi is a fun-filled Hindu festival. Yes, it is a religious festival – and many families hold religious ceremonies during Holi. However, for many people, Holi is associated with fun, bright colours, laughter, songs, dances, and lots of excitement.

Holi is a day to forget and forgive – and turn the next page in your book of life. People light bonfires and participate in paint-throwing. Perfect for having an exciting family time and creating bright memories!

• When: March 14, 2025

Easter

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One of the most significant Christian festivals and cultural celebrations, Easter commemorates Jesus Christ’s return from the dead. It is observed by many families in Singapore, despite their ethnicity and religion. Christian families gather for church mass and worship services. Many exciting Easter activities take place throughout the city and welcome all families to join Easter fun. That only is Easter egg hunting loved by little ones! Families participate in various Easter-themed workshops, enjoy Easter brunches, attend Easter Sunday parties, and have lots of fun.

• When: April 20, 2025

Vesak Day

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Vesak is the most sacred day in Buddhism. It is the Day of the Full Moon, which honours the birthday of Gautama Buddha. This holiday brings not only candles, lights, parades, and festive activities but also many good deeds.

Beautiful candles and lights light up the temples. Buddhists sing hymns and bring flowers, candles, and food to temples. Devotees pray and meditate. Many people donate money and food, help those in need, etc. Communities organise bright festivities with many kid-friendly activities.

• When: May 12, 2025

Dragon Boat Festival

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The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday. As one of the legends tells, this festival honours the life and death of Qu Yuan, a poet and prime minister of the Chinese state of Chu. He drowned himself to protest against corruption, and for more than 2000 years, people have thrown cooked rice in the water (to feed fish, thus saving the poet’s remains) and participated in dragon boat races – ‘in search’ of Qu Yuan’s body.

Today, people participate in fun Dragon Boat Races, eat delicious rice dumplings and other traditional foods, and visit various cultural performances, markets, etc.

• When: May 31, 2025

Hari Raya Haji

The Festival of Sacrifice (or Hari Raya Haji) is an important Muslim festival. It is a time to meet with your family, participate in traditional prayers and rituals, and enjoy delicious meals.

• When: June 7, 2025

National Day

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Definitely one of the main events of the year in Singapore, this day is associated with freedom, the future, dreams, and independence, of course. It is about red and white, exciting performances, numerous family-friendly activities, and mind-blowing fireworks. Did we mention that the nation celebrates Singapore’s 60th National Day this year? So, can you imagine the scale of the festivities? 

• When: August 9, 2025

Hungry Ghost Festival

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Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated by Buddhist and Taoist devotees that honours the dead. It is believed that in August, the ‘Gates of Hell’ are opened – and the souls of the dead can return to Earth. The Ghost Day, the day when the souls are the most active, falls on September 6 this year.

Since the ghosts are hungry, families offer them food and drinks during the festival. Beautiful lotus-shaped lanterns are set afloat in rivers – to show lost souls the way to the afterlife. Live street performances are among the highlights of the festival.

• When: September 6, 2025

Mid-Autumn Festival

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Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture and a beloved celebration for kids. It is a fantastic festival of family, friends, love, the moon, and food. The main things that describe the Mind-Autumn Festival are incredible lanterns and mouthwatering mooncakes. Combine this with thrilling competitions, hands-on workshops, fantastic cultural showcases and performances, outstanding concerts, and many other kid-friendly activities – and it becomes obvious why little ones (and their grown-ups, of course) love this celebration so much.

• When: October 6, 2025

Deepavali

Image Credit: Indian Heritage Centre via Instagram

Myriads of mesmerizing lights light up Little India. You can hear traditional Indian music everywhere and see many smiling people wearing traditional clothes in the streets of Singapore. It is Deepavali – one of the brightest celebrations in Singapore that marks the victory of light over darkness.

Take a fascinating tour of Little India, participate in engaging workshops, visit Indian Heritage Centre, and don’t miss Deepavali Festival Village – dive into colourful traditions and enjoy a meaningful time with your family.

• When: October 20, 2025

Hanukkah

Known as The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is a significant Jewish holiday that lasts 8 nights and days. People light up the Menora, play the game of dreidel, eat oil-based foods and dairy foods, and spend time together.

• When: December 14 to December 22, 2025

Christmas

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Christmas is loved for its heartwarming traditions, incredible atmosphere, and magic in every detail – and for lots of presents, of course. The streets of the city are adorned with lovely decorations. Festive markets and fairs gather happy people who enjoy Christmas shopping, lively entertainment, delicious street food, and more. Bright performances and concerts raise the level of excitement, and plenty of family-friendly events make this holiday season the favourite time for all kids.

Christmas trees, charming music, an incredible smell of traditional dishes, and an enchanting spirit in the air – it seems it’s impossible not to love Christmas.

• When: December 25, 2025

Learn more about different cultures. Add new traditions to your lives. Enjoy various festivals and cultural events with your kids. No matter your faith, beliefs, and dreams.

Featured Image Credit: Depositphotos