Exciting National Day 2020 celebrations at the National Museum, National Gallery and more

This year’s National Day will look a little different as most celebrations are moved online due to the ongoing pandemic. Fret not, there are plenty of upcoming activities for you to celebrate Singapore’s 55th birthday!

Here’s a list of online and on-site activities from the National Museum of Singapore, National Gallery Singapore and other arts and cultural institutions you can try for an enjoyable National Day celebration.

Visit the National Museum from Aug 7 to Aug 10 and share the hopes and dreams you have for Singapore.

Post your thoughts and reflections on your social media and use the hashtag #NationalDayatNMS to get your post featured on the museum’s LED wall, which also features pledges by youths who participated in the Time Capsule.

The National Gallery’s central veiled canopy will be lit up in national colours of red white, together with colourful projections of 60 local artworks.

The projections are part of an initiative by the National Gallery to commemorate Singapore’s 55th National Day and Singaporeans’ resilience through a challenging year.

The projections will run from now until Aug 30, from 7pm to midnight. Admission to the gallery is free until the end of August.

Music performances will be livestreamed from the National Museum on Aug 8 and Aug 9 from 2pm onwards. Tune in at home and enjoy the live performances of songs that may be familiar to all Singaporeans.

Look out for the livestream by The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra comprising musicians with and without special needs, on Aug 9. The orchestra will be performing a set that includes iconic NDP songs like ‘We Will Get There’ and ‘Voices From The People’s Hearts’.

Digital exhibition At Home, Truly is a teaser for a physical exhibition that will open at the National Museum at a later date.

The digital experience relives Singapore’s journey as a country throughout the years and it is told through the eyes of Nadine, a curious nine-year-old, and her grandfather, Hock Seng.

At Home, Truly will be available on the National Museum’s website from Aug 3.

The National Museum will also be streaming an in-gallery theatre performance, All I Have To Do Is Dream, on Aug 8 and Aug 9.

The performance features three characters: a woman who can draw out deeper knowledge from objects, a man who uses sign language and a museum worker with Down syndrome.

These three characters will explore the meaning of the Singapore dream and collect dreams of Singaporeans from the past and the present.

Award-winning chef and cookbook author Christopher Tan will lead this programme called Lighter Side of History: Tasting the Trade Winds with Christopher Tan, where he will talk about the spices and ingredients trading empires were built on.

The video will also include a tutorial on how to make traditional biscuit kueh rose. Participants can stand a chance to win Chef Christopher’s handmade kueh rose by answering a quiz at the end of the video.

Escape room lovers, check out this activity from the National Heritage Board!

In the digital escape room, you will have to find the missing National Symbols and solve the mystery through a series of puzzles and clues in your escape room journey. This game also lets you learn about Singapore’s history while having fun.

The digital escape room will be available until Aug 14. Head over to the game’s website to try it out!

The National Heritage Board will be releasing a SG55 Heritage Pack that includes various digital activities, such as game filters and National Day themed filters that will let you take photos with augmented reality face tattoos with fireworks in the background.

Stay tuned to the National Heritage Board’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more updates.

The Asian Civilisations Museum will be offering a variety of free online programmes this August to celebrate National Day.

You can pre-register for a live portrait illustration, go on a National Day-themed self-guided trail, and try out activities like puzzles and an upcycling craft activity.

The museum will also offer a digital version of their Fashion and Textiles, Jewellery and Ceramics galleries that users can explore on mobile, desktop or even with your own virtual reality headset.

Even if you can’t bask in the National Day festivities with fellow Singaporeans this year, there are many activities you can do from the comfort of your home. We hope you’ll enjoy our list of on-site and online activities!