Singapore is truly a city that never sleeps, what with quite a number of establishments that are open deep into the night.
Personally, the only thing that comes alive when the sun goes down is my stomach but there are also a number of activities that you can explore as part of the annual grassroots event My Community Festival.
Running from August 5 to 21 this year, the festival will give us an intimate look into the various facets of our Little Red Dot, including work offices, places of worship and even communal spaces.
But if a late-night adventure is what you’re after, check out the After Hours @ My Community series of guided tours.
From a creepy night walk inside Bukit Brown Cemetery to a tour about the inner workings of Senoko Fishing Port, we spotlight five of the 10 excursions you shouldn’t miss.
1. My Bukit Brown with Andrew Lin
Warning: This is not for the faint-hearted. Learn about Chinese rituals, beliefs and taboos at the eternal home of many pioneer Chinese Singaporeans.
There is much rich history to unearth at Bukit Brown Cemetery if you’re garang enough to ignore the fact that the guided tours take place during the Seventh Month.
Highlights
Join long-time Brownie Andrew Lin who will be bringing you to meet the many pioneer Singaporeans buried here and introduce you to the different types of graves scattered around the cemetery.
Have your torchlights at the ready during the night walk, and keep your eyes peeled for the many activities occurring in the vicinity.
Enjoy Andrew’s animated narration that brings this resting place to life figuratively (in a good way, we hope).
About the host
Andrew is a Bukit Brown resident. No, he does not actually live in the cemetery but he does consider it almost like a second home, having visited it regularly for well over a decade.
“Those Malayan horror stories told to us back in the day alongside movie depictions of the Pontianak and the Oily Man become vivid and real in our minds when we enter a place like Bukit Brown at night,” says Andrew, “…but don’t worry, I will be there to snap you out of your reverie!”
Errr, thanks for the reassurance?
Tour details
Ticket price: $35 (excluding Eventbrite service fee)
Tour timing: 9pm to midnight
Tour dates: August 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21
Meeting Point: Farrer Road MRT – Exit B street level (71 Farrer Road Singapore 261006)
Ending Point: Farrer Road MRT – Exit B street level (71 Farrer Road Singapore 261006)
Book tickets here.
2. My Geylang with Cai Yinzhou
Geylang is known for many interesting things. But if you delve further into its lorongs and back alleys, you’ll discover some fascinating tidbits about this district in the east.
This tour aims to change mindsets and battle stereotypes regarding the red-light district and its diverse inhabitants.
Highlights
Explore the neighbourhood with Geylang resident Cai Yinzhou, who will walk you through the complex issues that communities living in the area face.
About the host
Yinzhou founded Citizen Adventures in 2014 which designs experiences to help Singaporeans learn about various neighbourhoods and unpack the social issues unique to the respective communities.
They currently offers tours of Geylang and Dakota Crescent while also providing weekly haircuts for migrant workers on top of organising adhoc welfare events for them.
Tour details
Ticket price: $50 (excluding Eventbrite service fee)
Tour timing: 9pm to 11pm
Tour dates: August 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21
Meeting Point: Aljunied MRT POSB ATM (60 Sims Dr Singapore 380060)
Ending Point: Aljunied MRT POSB ATM (60 Sims Dr Singapore 380060)
Book tickets here.
3. My Pasir Panjang with Pamela Loh
Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre is a bustling hub for the country’s fruit and vegetable supply chain industry. Get to know the unsung heroes – vendors, truck drivers and more – who call this place home while the rest of the population is fast asleep.
Highlights
Fresh Deals & Fresh Faces
Ready for a tasty adventure? Take a stroll with tour guide Pamela Loh and discover the secret life of your favorite fruits and veggies.
What You’ll Experience
- Step inside the warehouse and see how those crisp apples and juicy tomatoes stay fresh for longer.
- Learn the art of packaging—no more wilted greens in your grocery bag.
- Meet the stall owners who turn their produce into the tastiest bargains in town.
Why Join Us?
In a world where everyone is vying for the top spot, discover the strategies that make these farmers stay ahead—while you score the freshest deals.
About the host
Pamela is a community volunteer and licensed tourist guide. She will help you put on a traveller’s lens when exploring the nooks and crannies of Singapore after hours.
You can count on her to share great anecdotes and personal stories about the people that make Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre tick.
Tour details
Ticket price: $30 (excluding Eventbrite service fee)
Tour timing: 9pm to 11.30pm
Tour dates: August 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 19, 20
Meeting Point: Kopitiam next to the entrance of Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (1 Wholesale Centre, Singapore 110001)
Ending Point: Kopitiam next to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (1 Wholesale Centre, Singapore 110001)
Book tickets here.
4. My Senoko Fishery Port with Richard Kuah
If you’ve ever visited or heard of the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan, then you’ll get a sense of the action at the Senoko Fishery Port when the seafood is unloaded at around 1am after being transported from a variety of sources, including Jurong Fishery Port or from across the Causeway.
The port is not only swimming with fish and good deals, but also the poignant stories of tireless fishmongers who are responsible for bringing us the freshest catch of the day.
Highlights
Learn about the rich (and surprising!) history of Senoko Fishery Port.
Interact with the stall owners and fishmongers, who are mainly of Teochew descent.
Watch the entire seafood unloading process as it happens in real time.
About the host
Richard Kuah loves to explore the offshore islands around our mainland and specialises in nature and island tours. He will take you to Senoko Fishery Port after hours to identify seafood and get up-close and personal with the port’s Teochew fishing community.
Tour details
Ticket price: $35 (excluding Eventbrite service fee)
Tour timing: 1am – 4am
Tour dates: August 6, 7, 9, 13, 14, 20, 21
Meeting Point: Bus stop next to Sembawang MRT Exit C (B58211) (11 Canberra Road Singapore 759775)
Ending Point: Bus stop next to Sembawang MRT Exit C (B58211) (11 Canberra Road Singapore 759775)
Book tickets here.
5. My Balestier with Lora Lee
If you’re looking for an excuse to satisfy those late night hunger pangs, join the Balestier guided tour which is essentially a supper feast around the area.
You’ll also get to meet the many stall owners operating deep into the night. Did we also mention that you’ll get to makan to your heart’s content?
Highlights
A gastronomic journey peppered with historical nuggets about Balestier.
Visit the many stores working through the night to provide us these comfort foods – from freshly baked bread and mouth-watering bak kut teh to savoury dumplings and herbal jelly.
Food served is non-halal and not suitable for vegetarians.
About the host
Lora Lee has been a tour guide for the past four years. She strongly believes that Balestier is the best supper spot in the country, thanks to its hearty meals and relatively central location. Who are we to disagree?
Tour details
Ticket price: $35 (excluding Eventbrite service fee)
Tour timing: 9pm to midnight
Tour dates: August 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21
Meeting Point: Zhongshan Mall (20 Ah Hood Rd, Singapore 329984) – Outside McDonalds’
Ending Point: Near Whampoa Market
Book tickets here.
This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.
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