National Museum holds retro-themed celebration for its 135th anniversary

The National Museum will be celebrating its 135th anniversary with various workshops, activities and snacks. The Retro Party event will happen on Oct 8 to 9, from 11am to 6pm daily, and admission is free. 

Visitors who show up dressed in retro outfits inspired by the 1970s to 1990s will receive a welcome gift and complimentary access to the workshops. 

Free traditional snacks will be available at selected timings, while stocks last. They include a slice of old-school flavoured cake at 1pm, a serving of Craze Hottis (Tong Garden’s iconic creation) at 3pm, and classic kacang putih, a classic and enduring snack at 5pm.

The OFF / ON: Everyday Technology that Changed our Lives, 1970s – 2000s showcase  provides visitors with a glimpse into how technology has advanced since the 1970s, featuring iconic pieces of technology that shaped the lives of Singaporeans in different time periods. 

Visitors can also redeem a quest card at the event booth that when completed can be exchanged for a tech-inspired gift. The gift differs depending on the time the card is returned. From 11am to 1pm, visitors will get a personalised typewritten poem from The Novel Encounter. From 1pm to 3.30pm, they will get a customised pop socket, and from 3.30pm to 6pm, they will get an old-school handheld water ring game.

Over the weekend, there will be daily craft workshops on making friendship bands and scrapbooks. Visitors will have to approach event staff to register for a slot, with limited slots daily. 

Visitors interested in bringing something home can browse handmade crafts at the Retro Bazaar, which consists of around 12 curated pop-up booths from local brands.

Those unable to make it in person can try out the new online game that was launched to celebrate the anniversary. 

The Dig Deeper into History online game will have players take on the role of a museum curator, travelling through time to collect various artefacts from different periods in Singapore’s history.

It is accessible via the museum’s website, and encourages players to learn more about artefacts featured in the museum’s Singapore History Gallery.