Stroll through Singapore’s heritage one step at a time at the Five Footway Festival 2025
Five Footway Festival 2025: Bringing the Past to Life
WHEN: 14 to 23 March, 2025, 1 PM – 7 PM
WHERE: Smith Street, Chinatown
TICKETS: Free general admission but with various ticketed events. Book here.
My family never fails to attend the Five Footway Festival because it’s hands-down the most immersive way to experience Chinatown’s cultural roots. This annual celebration transforms the district’s iconic five-foot walkways into a lively stage for various celebrations and events.
Running from 14 to 23 March, the 2025 edition promises a rich lineup of hands-on workshops, games, performances, and exhibitions designed to showcase Singapore’s multicultural heritage.
Where to Join Events
The festival takes place throughout Chinatown, with key event locations including:
- Pagoda Street (main performance stage)
- Smith Street and Trengganu Street (food and craft markets)
- Chinatown Heritage Centre (workshops and exhibitions)
- Kreta Ayer Square (traditional games and storytelling sessions)
What to Expect at the Five Footway Festival
For the most authentic ways to experience Singapore’s history (beyond just reading about it), these are the events you mustn’t miss. I will be there, and I hope to bump into you!
Captivating Cultural performances
– Media from chinatownsingapore
One of the festival’s highlights is the heritage performances featuring traditional Chinese opera, lion and dragon dances, and Nanyin music, an ancient art form dating back over a thousand years.
It’s your chance to watch a Teochew opera performance up close and be transported to a bygone era with colourful costumes and expressive storytelling.
You can also look forward to walking down Chinatown’s iconic streets and witnessing storytelling sessions, street theatre, and even Peranakan dances that showcase Singapore’s diverse cultural influences.
All-Ages Hands-On Workshops
– Media from chinatownsingapore
For those who love to learn by doing, the festival offers a variety of interactive workshops led by skilled artisans. My family is looking forward in particular to the following sessions:
- Calligraphy and paper cutting are where we can learn the art of Chinese calligraphy or intricate paper cutting, both integral to traditional celebrations.
- Heritage craft making is where we can try our hand at making miniature Peranakan tiles, traditional lanterns, or even handcrafted beaded slippers.
- Tea appreciation and brewing are where we can experience the delicate process of Chinese tea brewing and gain insights into its significance in Singaporean culture.
- Traditional TCM remedies are where we can discover age-old healing techniques and home remedies rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
These workshops not only provide hands-on fun but also help keep endangered heritage crafts alive for future generations!
Traditional Games and Family Fun
– Media from chinatownsingapore
Did you or your parents grow up playing games like five stones, chapteh, or marbles? Now’s your chance to show off your skills, as the festival revives these childhood pastimes via fun, competitive events!
Younger visitors growing up in the digital era can get a glimpse of how kids entertained themselves without mobile phones, gadgets, and video games.
The event will also feature large-scale community mural painting and storytelling corners where seniors will share their experiences of old Singapore. It’s a great way for families to bond over shared traditions while learning more about Chinatown’s history.
Food and Market Stalls for a Taste of the Past
– Media from chinatownsingapore
No Chinatown festival is complete without a feast, and this year’s Five Footway Festival will bring together some of the best heritage street food vendors!
Expect to indulge in traditional snacks like peanut pancakes, kueh tutu, and bak kwa. Those interested in heritage food workshops can look out for special cooking sessions where you can learn to make dishes like Hakka thunder rice tea or Nyonya kueh.
There will also be stalls selling handcrafted goods, vintage collectables, and Peranakan-inspired home decor. See you there!