Where to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 in Singapore: PAssionArts Heartland Guide

Hi Huneybees,

Celebrating Mid-Auntumn Festival with Canberra Community Club back in 2024.

Mid-Autumn Festival always brings back a certain kind of nostalgia for me. Lanterns glowing after sunset, mooncakes on the table and families heading downstairs to celebrate together. And honestly, some of the nicest celebrations aren't necessarily the big-ticket ones. Sometimes, they're happening right in our own neighbourhoods.

From Ang Mo Kio and Tampines to Woodlands, Bedok and Bukit Panjang, there are plenty of neighbourhood celebrations happening across Singapore this September.

This year, PAssionArts Festival 2026 is bringing the Mid-Autumn festivities into the heartlands with lantern-making, DIY mooncakes, art installations, cultural performances, lantern walks and plenty of hands-on activities for families.

So if you're wondering where to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore this year, here's where you can join the festivities. The list might be a little lengthy, so go ahead and CTRL+F for the community club near your area.

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Celebrating Mid-Auntumn Festival with Canberra Community Club back in 2024.

PAssionArts Festival 2026: Our Neighbourhood Gems

Running from August to September 2026, PAssionArts Festival returns with the theme “Our Neighbourhood Gems” for its second year.

The idea is a lovely one: to rediscover the people, places, stories and everyday objects that make each Singapore neighbourhood special.

Building on last year's edition, the 2026 festival digs a little deeper into the histories and personal stories behind these neighbourhood “gems”. Residents aren't simply spectators either. Many of the installations, workshops and performances have been designed or created together with the communities themselves.

And with Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, several neighbourhoods are giving the festival a seasonal spin. Expect everything from giant lantern installations and traditional performances to clay art, mooncake-making and mass lantern walks.

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Mid-Autumn PAssionArts Festivals to Check Out

Kolam Ayer Mid-Autumn Festival x PAssionArts Festival

19 September 2026, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Block 64 HDB Kallang Bahru

Kolam Ayer's Mid-Autumn celebration brings neighbours together for an evening of arts and cultural activities. Get creative at booths featuring Chinese calligraphy, henna art, sand art and lantern painting, before settling in for performances and cultural displays. There will also be a lucky draw during the evening.

Eunos PAssionArts Festival Mid-Autumn Celebration

19 September 2026, 9am – 12pm
Eunos Community Club

There's an interesting neighbourhood storytelling element at Eunos this year. Its featured art installation takes inspiration from the Singapore Flyer, combining batik art panels and kinetic wind elements with a diorama showing kampong houses alongside modern Eunos HDB estates.

It's a little visual journey through how the neighbourhood has evolved while celebrating the different cultures of the people who call Eunos home. You can also catch community performances, explore interactive art booths, join a lantern procession and even dress up for the Best Dressed Competition.

Cashew PAssionArts Festival 2026

19 September 2026, 2pm – 5.30pm
Senja-Cashew Community Club

Starting a little earlier in the day, Cashew's celebration is one for families looking for an afternoon of arts and community fun.

There will be colourful arts and craft booths and hands-on creative activities where you can make something of your own to bring home. The stage will also feature performances by Cashew residents, giving local talents their moment in the spotlight.  And here's a bonus if you're planning to stay through the afternoon: the celebration includes a bento dinner too!

Cheng San PAssionARTs Festival 2026: A Lamp of Dreams

19 September 2026, 5pm – 9pm
Cheng San Community Club

With a name like “A Lamp of Dreams”, you already know this one's going to be big on creativity, with quite a selection of hands-on activities to try, including painting wooden cars, planes, dinosaurs, birds and flowers, marbling art on fans, creating lighted gems and canvas art.

The stage programme is equally packed, bringing together different generations of performers from the community. Look out for children's performances by local schools and preschools, Chinese orchestra and guzheng ensembles, violin and dance performances, choirs and seniors' percussion.

Students from ITE College Central and Nanyang Polytechnic will also take to the stage with song and dance performances.

Kaki Bukit Mid-Autumn & PAssionArts Festival 2026

19 September 2026, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Kaki Bukit Neighbourhood Park

Kaki Bukit is going for an evening of food, performances and hands-on fun.

There will be live food stations, a traditional face-changing performance, magic show and four arts and craft booths. And here's something a little different: a Guess the Pomelo Weight Challenge with prizes to be won. Because apparently even the pomelo gets its moment during Mid-Autumn. 😂

Teck Ghee Lantern Night 2026 x PAssionArts Festival

19 September 2026, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Ficus Green

If your idea of Mid-Autumn is spending the evening outdoors under the stars, Teck Ghee's Lantern Night 2026 sounds like a lovely one to check out.

Bringing “My Neighbourhood Gems 2.0” to life, the celebration explores what makes the community special while weaving inclusivity and sustainability into its art and activities. There will be fringe activities and hands-on art workshops for different ages, but what makes this one a little different is the community picnic.

Grab a spot on the grass, slow things down for the evening and enjoy Mid-Autumn outdoors with family, friends and neighbours.

Marine Parade PAssionArts Festival 2026

20 September 2026, 5pm – 8pm
Marine Drive 75A Communal Hall

Over in the East, Marine Parade is celebrating its own neighbourhood gems through an evening centred on community creativity. Residents can explore a selection of interactive art booths, get hands-on with different creative activities and catch stage performances featuring talents from within the neighbourhood.

It may be a simpler programme compared to some of the larger celebrations, but that's also part of the charm of PAssionArts Festival. Not every neighbourhood gathering needs to be huge. Sometimes it's simply about bringing everyone downstairs, making something together and celebrating the community you call home.

Toa Payoh Central Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration x PAssionArts Festival

19 September 2026, 5pm – 9pm
South Plaza, open area in front of COURTS Toa Payoh

If you're someone who prefers doing rather than just watching, Toa Payoh Central has quite a few hands-on activities lined up.

Try lantern making and painting, fan decorating, clay painting and DIY mooncake-making, accompanied by Chinese drumming and singing performances. Also look out for “Neighbourhood Gems: Home in Every Corner”, a mosaic-inspired art installation featuring the neighbourhood's name surrounded by values shared by its residents.

Kampong Glam Mid-Autumn Festival x PAssionArts Festival

19 September 2026, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Zhongshan Park

Kampong Glam's edition transforms Zhongshan Park into a carnival-themed PAssionArts village. There will be hands-on activities such as jumping clay art and lantern painting, alongside face-changing, Chinese dance and storytelling performances.

And of course, it wouldn't quite feel like Mid-Autumn without lanterns, so the evening also includes a festive lantern walk around the neighbourhood.

Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Mid-Autumn x PAssionArts Festival Carnival 2026

19 September 2026, 5.30pm – 9pm
Kreta Ayer Square

Over at Kreta Ayer Square, the neighbourhood will celebrate with a mix of performances, interactive art activities and community showcases. Expect music and dance performances, hands-on workshops and activity booths, while local artists and community groups get their chance to take the stage.

Admiralty Mid-Autumn PAssionArts Festival 2026

20 September 2026, 6pm – 9pm
Vista Park, 583 Woodlands Drive 16

This might be one of the more visually interesting ones to look out for.

A large-scale fish lantern installation will light up Vista Park for the evening, accompanied by cultural performances, carnival games, lion dance and light displays by the water.

There are plenty of activities for crafty hands too, including Wooden Mandala Coaster Painting, Home Sweet Home – Build a Mini Pop-Up World, DIY Shrink Art Keychain and DIY Lantern Making.

Bukit Panjang PAssionArts Festival 2026

19 September 2026, 9am – 12pm
Open Space next to Blk 259 Bangkit Road

Starting the day bright and early, Bukit Panjang's PAssionArts Festival packs quite a variety of creative activities into one morning. Try your hand at mosaic tile coaster making, wooden keychain painting, Nagomi painting, traditional Chinese ink art and digital street art, alongside activities by Zhenghua Primary School and Artemis Preschool. There will even be balloon sculpting for something a little more playful.

The performances are just as diverse, ranging from Indian and Malay dance to festive drumming, violin, choir, Eurasian dance, ukulele, percussion and Silat. It's a colourful mix that reflects the different cultures, ages and talents found within the Bukit Panjang community.

Taman Jurong PAssionArts Festival: Neighbourhood Ink

19 September 2026, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Taman Jurong Community Club

Titled “Neighbourhood Ink”, the celebration brings together the stories, creativity and perspectives of Taman Jurong residents through an Art Village spanning Taman Jurong Community Club and Beacon.

Get hands-on with art booths, live illustration and printmaking, or join interactive storytelling and puppetry sessions by Karya Kulture.

Over at Beacon, you can catch locally made short films and live music, but perhaps the most interesting activity is the community zine-making session. Residents can contribute their own stories and perspectives, which will eventually become part of a growing visual display documenting life in Taman Jurong.

It's almost like creating a scrapbook of the neighbourhood together, one story at a time.

Woodgrove PAssionArts Festival 2026

19 September 2026, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Fuchun Community Club

Over at Woodgrove, the theme of co-existence takes centre stage with activities celebrating different cultures while slipping a little sustainability into the mix too.

You can make your own Peranakan-inspired fridge magnet and lantern, or try some of the more unusual sustainable crafts, including upcycling bottle caps into potpourri bowls and making hand soap together with ITE College East.

The multicultural theme continues on stage with Malay and Chinese cultural dances, an Indian singing performance and a magic show, bringing together the different talents and cultures within the Woodgrove community.

I especially like that sustainability isn't treated as a separate lesson here. Instead, it's worked naturally into something fun you can make and bring home.

Tampines East PAssionArts Festival

19 September 2026, 5pm – 8pm
Basketball Court @ Tampines Blk 209

Tampines East is bringing art right into the neighbourhood with a selection of hands-on activities created by community volunteers together with artists and groups. Try your hand at Puffy Art, fan marbling, Prosperity Ang Bao Fishes and lantern painting, with plenty of opportunities for residents to sit down, get creative and make something of their own.

It's a simple way to celebrate Mid-Autumn while seeing what can happen when artists and residents create together.

Tampines Changkat PAssionArts Festival

19 September 2026, 7pm – 9pm
Tampines Changkat Community Club

Over at Tampines Changkat, the neighbourhood gems are getting a playful interpretation through a series of family-friendly arts and crafts.

Make your own Neighbourhood Gems fidget keychain, create a mini bouquet, decorate butterfly wings or light up the evening with a constellation lamp. With activities that little hands can easily get involved in, this could be a fun one for families looking for a creative way to spend their Mid-Autumn evening together.

Chua Chu Kang PAssionArts Festival

20 September 2026, 6.30pm – 9pm
Chua Chu Kang Park

If lanterns, crafts and performances are your idea of a classic Mid-Autumn night out, Chua Chu Kang is packing all three into its celebration at Chua Chu Kang Park.

At the arts and crafts booths, you can make a bunny coaster, stamp your own personalised tote bag or create a soft clay mooncake keychain, with activities by Sasha & Lulu Atelier. Once you're done crafting, stick around for a rather eclectic line-up of entertainment, including a magic show, Sichuan face-changing performance, 新谣 singalong and bubble show. And to complete the Mid-Autumn experience, grab your lantern and join the lantern procession through the park.

Bedok PAssionArts Festival

20 September 2026, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
16 Bedok South Market & Food Centre

Bedok's celebration is another one for those who like getting hands-on. There are plenty of crafts to choose from, including fan marbling, clay mooncake magnets, tote bag printing, lantern cup painting and Chinese calligraphy.

Between activities, catch a mix of drumming, ethnic dances, Chinese dance and live musical performances, turning a familiar neighbourhood space into an evening of art, culture and Mid-Autumn festivities.

Bukit Gombak Mid-Autumn Festival x PAssionArts Festival

26 September 2026, 6pm – 9pm
CMPB, 91 Hillview Link, Singapore 669723

Bukit Gombak's annual Mid-Autumn celebrations have long been about bringing the neighbourhood together through lanterns and shared traditions.

This year, PAssionArts Festival joins the celebration with stage performances, art activities, games and a Mass Lantern Parade. There's also a Best Dressed Costume Competition, so this might be the occasion to bring out something creative or traditional for the evening.

Henderson-Dawson PAssionArts Festival

26 September 2026, 6pm – 9pm
Bukit Merah View

Over at Henderson-Dawson, the Mid-Autumn celebration is getting an artsy twist with plenty of opportunities to create something together.

Explore interactive art booths and works by local interest groups, or get involved in the mass art activities, including digital art jamming and canvas painting. I especially like the idea of everyone contributing to an artwork together, turning the creative process itself into part of the community celebration.

The evening continues with performances by community talents, artists, bands and interest groups, with a mix of music, song and dance bringing Bukit Merah View to life. If you'd rather get hands-on than simply watch the festivities, this is one celebration where you can actually become part of the art.

Mid-Autumn Festival at Kebun Baru Bestari x PAssionArts Festival

27 September 2026, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Block 246A HDB Ang Mo Kio

Rounding off the September celebrations is Kebun Baru Bestari, with an evening geared towards families. One activity that immediately caught my attention is the Mooncake Making Booth. Because yes, eating mooncakes is great, but making your own sounds even more fun.

There will also be games, lanterns, festive displays, snacks and live performances, together with a special art installation where families can stop for photos.

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Rediscovering Our Neighbourhoods Through Art

With Mid-Autumn Festival adding lanterns, traditions and plenty of nostalgic touches into the mix, September might just be a good excuse to head downstairs, explore another neighbourhood and rediscover a little bit of that old-school community spirit.

That's also what I like about the PAssionArts Festival. It brings art into places we're already familiar with: our community clubs, HDB estates, neighbourhood parks and public spaces. We can walk past the same places every day without thinking much about them, until art, stories and the people living there give us a reason to see them differently.

So... which PAssionArts Mid-Autumn celebration will you be checking out?

For the latest event details and any registration or ticketing requirements, check the respective organisers' official social media pages before heading down.

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Sketch Up 2026 at Asian Civilisations Museum: Slow Down, Sketch & Rediscover the Civic District

Hi Huneybees,

There are places in Singapore that we walk past so often, we eventually stop really looking at them.

The Civic District is probably one of those places for many of us. We recognise the grand buildings, know the museums and have probably photographed them countless times. But when was the last time we actually slowed down and noticed the little details?

That is exactly what Sketch Up 2026 is inviting us to do.

Returning to the Civic District on 12 September 2026, Arts House Group's Sketch Up turns the precinct into an open-air drawing room once again, bringing artists, sketching enthusiasts and curious beginners together to capture one of Singapore's cultural landmarks from their own perspectives.

This time, all eyes, and sketchbooks, are turning towards the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM).

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Seeing the Asian Civilisations Museum Differently

Since its launch in 2024, Sketch Up has been encouraging people to experience the Civic District through art rather than simply walking from one attraction to another.

The idea is refreshingly simple: pick a spot, sit down, observe and sketch what you see.
And no, you don't have to be an artist.

What I like about the concept is that everyone can be looking at exactly the same building, yet walk away with completely different interpretations of it. One person might be drawn to ACM's architecture, another to its windows and columns, while someone else might capture the people, trees or everyday activity happening around it.

For the 2026 edition, Arts House Group is taking that idea a little further with a new artist-led workshop.

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New for 2026: The Art of Noticing

Before the mass sketching session begins, a limited group of participants can join The Art of Noticing, led by Ying of Ying In Art.

Rather than focusing solely on drawing techniques, the workshop encourages participants to slow down and pay closer attention to the architecture, details and stories hidden within familiar surroundings.

Instead of looking at ACM and simply thinking, "I've seen this building before", you might start noticing the shapes, textures, shadows and tiny architectural details that normally disappear into the background when you're rushing somewhere.

And perhaps that's the more interesting takeaway from Sketch Up. It's not necessarily about creating the perfect drawing. It's about learning to look at familiar spaces differently.

The workshop is beginner-friendly, so you don't need any previous sketching experience to take part.

Then Find Your Own View of ACM

From 4pm to 6pm, Sketch Up opens up for its signature mass sketching session.

Participants can find their own vantage point around ACM and the surrounding Civic District before translating what catches their attention onto paper. 

There isn't one "correct" view to draw. You could focus on the museum's distinctive façade, zoom in on an architectural detail or step further back and capture ACM as part of the wider cityscape.

In a world where we're so used to snapping a photo and moving on, there's something rather lovely about spending time in one place long enough to actually study it. Maybe you'll notice something you've walked past a dozen times without ever seeing.

A Few Perks for Sketchers

Participants should bring their own preferred sketching materials and tools, but early birds can look forward to a few extras.

The first 200 mass sketching participants who check in on event day will receive a Sketch Up bucket hat and Pencil Sketching Set goodie bag, while participants attending The Art of Noticing workshop will receive a Watercolour Set goodie bag.

*All participants can also enjoy 15% off dining at Baker & Cook at ACM on 12 September.

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Your Sketch Could Win You Prizes Too

The experience doesn't end when everyone puts down their pencils. Participants can upload their completed works to a digital Sketch Up showcase, allowing the public to see the different interpretations of ACM and vote for their favourites.

The Grand Prize winner will receive a Creative Art Station worth S$280, a S$50 UmiStrong voucher and ACM exhibition tickets.

Two runners-up will each receive a Desktop Creative Station worth S$160, a S$50 UmiStrong voucher and ACM exhibition tickets.

Even voters get a little something to look forward too, with two lucky voters walking away with exclusive gift cards.

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Maybe We Should Look at Singapore a Little Slower

What draws me to Sketch Up isn't really the competition or even the sketching itself.
It's the idea of noticing.

Singapore changes so quickly that we're always looking for what's new, what's opening next and where we should go this weekend. Sometimes, though, there's something equally interesting about returning to somewhere familiar and asking ourselves: What haven't I noticed before?

You might arrive at ACM thinking you're there to draw a building, but perhaps you'll leave having discovered a side of the Civic District you've never really paid attention to. So what if your sketch isn't museum-worthy, that's perfectly fine.

Sometimes the best souvenir isn't the prettiest drawing. It's simply proof that, for an afternoon, you stopped long enough to really look.

Sketch Up 2026 Event Details

Sketch Up 2026 at Asian Civilisations Museum
Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555

Mass Sketching Session
Time: 4pm – 6pm
Registration: 4pm – 5.30pm
Price: S$5 refundable deposit

Bookings: https://bookmyshow.sg/en/e/SKETCH26

The Art of Noticing Workshop
Time: 3pm – 4.30pm
Price: S$15
Capacity: Limited to 35 participants

Bookings: https://sketch-up-2026-the-art-of-noticing.peatix.com

For more information on Sketch Up 2026, visit:
https://www.artshousegroup.sg/civic-district/sketch-up-2026.

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PAssionArts Festival 2026: 3 Neighbourhood Arts Events to Catch This Weekend

Hi Huneybees,

Created by Sengkang East residents, Youth Network and students from Nanyang Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and North Spring Primary School, this artwork ‘Woven Harmony – A Singapore Story’ is attempting to set a new Singapore Book of Records for the largest Singapore map made of bottle caps at the Sengkang East PAssionArts Festival 2026.
(Image Credit: People’s Association – PAssionArts)

The arts are continuing to pop up across our heartlands this September!

Following August’s PAssionArts Festival 2026 activities, where we saw creativity taking on very different forms across Singapore’s neighbourhoods, the festival continues this 5 and 6 September 2026 with another round of community celebrations.

From recycled art in Tampines to a neighbourhood legend coming to life at Telok Blangah, one thing I’ve enjoyed about following this year’s festival is seeing how every neighbourhood interprets the theme “Our Neighbourhood Gems” differently.

And that is really what makes PAssionArts Festival interesting to me. Instead of having to head into town for an arts festival, art is brought right into spaces that residents already know and use, with the people living there becoming part of the creative process too.

This coming weekend, you can expect everything from community weaving and pencil drawings to Chinese Orchestra performances, coffee painting and even edible flower planting.

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More PAssionArts Festival Activities This Weekend

If you’re wondering where you can experience PAssionArts Festival 2026 this weekend, here are 3 more neighbourhood celebrations happening on 5 September.

PAssionArts Festival and Mid-Autumn Celebration @ Ulu Pandan

Date: 5 September 2026
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Venue: Ulu Pandan Community Club, Level 2 Multi-Purpose Hall

With Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Ulu Pandan is combining the festivities with an evening of arts, culture and community activities. Residents can look forward to interactive arts activities, multicultural stage performances, games, snacks and fringe activities suitable for the family.

Tanjong Pagar–Tiong Bahru PAssionArts Festival 2026

Date: 5 September 2026
Time: 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Venue: Tanjong Pagar Community Club

If you enjoy getting hands-on, the Tanjong Pagar–Tiong Bahru edition might be the one to check out. From 5pm, residents can try a surprisingly wide variety of creative activities, including coaster decorating, ice cream soap making, UV clay making, fan marbling, coffee painting, windmill making and edible flower planting. There will also be different upcycling and keychain-making activities to explore.

Then, from 6pm, slow things down and enjoy a Chinese Orchestra performance, bringing a musical element to the afternoon’s festivities. I quite like the mix here because there isn’t just one definition of “art”. You can make something, grow something, experiment with different materials or simply sit back and enjoy a performance.

Canvas of the Hidden Stars V2 @ Sembawang West

Date: 5 September 2026
Time: 5pm – 8pm
Venue: Open Hardcourt in front of Blk 786B, Woodlands Drive 60

Over at Sembawang West, Canvas of the Hidden Stars returns for its second edition with another series of collaborative art experiences. Residents can take part in community weaving using upcycled textiles, origami and an animated community art experience created through pencil drawing.

Rather than simply viewing a finished artwork, the activities invite residents to become part of its creation. And I think that captures the spirit of PAssionArts particularly well. Sometimes the neighbourhood gem isn’t necessarily something we go there to see. It can also be something that neighbours create together.

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Snap, Stamp & Win at PAssionArts Festival 2026

There’s also an extra reason to explore the different PAssionArts Festival celebrations this year. Visitors can take part in the Snap, Stamp & Win contest by completing the festival’s Passport Quest for a chance to win prizes.

Prizes include a HUION Kamvas Pro 16 V2 Drawing Pad worth $465 and a $100 Beyond The Vines gift card. Check out PAssionArtsSG on Facebook and Instagram for the latest contest details and instructions before taking part.

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What Is PAssionArts Festival 2026?

Running from August to September 2026, PAssionArts Festival returns with the theme “Our Neighbourhood Gems” for its second year.

The festival invites Singaporeans to look a little closer at the people, places, objects and stories around them that give each neighbourhood its own character.

This year, the festival dives deeper into the histories and personal stories behind these neighbourhood “gems”, with residents themselves contributing to art installations, workshops and performances.

Rather than keeping art within traditional galleries and museums, PAssionArts transforms familiar heartland spaces into temporary creative grounds where residents can participate, create and celebrate together.

Sometimes we travel across Singapore looking for something interesting to see, without realising there may already be stories, creativity and little gems waiting right within our own neighbourhoods.

So if one of these celebrations happens to be near you this weekend, perhaps it’s worth dropping by and seeing what your fellow residents have created.

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From Recycled Sunbirds to Sang Nila Utama: Finding Art in Our Singapore Neighbourhoods

Hi Huneybees,

“Wings of Renewal”, showcased at the Tampines West PAssionArts Festival, was awarded a new entry in the Singapore Book of Records for the largest hand-painted plastic sculpture, measuring 1.0m by 1.3m by 2.0m.
(Image Credit: People’s Association – PAssionArts)

We often think we need to head into town, visit a museum or step inside a gallery to discover art. But sometimes, the stories worth looking at are already sitting right in our own neighbourhoods.

A bird fluttering among the greenery. A familiar landmark we've walked past countless times. An old story behind the name of the place we call home. Even things we might normally throw away!

Well, that's what caught my attention about PAssionArts Festival 2026 this year...

With the theme “Our Neighbourhood Gems”, the festival is encouraging residents to look a little closer at the people, places, nature and stories around them, before turning these everyday inspirations into art together.

Over the weekend of 15 and 16 August, two very different artworks emerged from Tampines West and Telok Blangah. One transformed discarded materials into a colourful sunbird and even found its way into the Singapore Book of Records. The other reached much further back into our history, using traditional batik to retell the legend of Sang Nila Utama.

Different neighbourhoods. Different materials. Different stories.
But both made me think about how much character can exist in places we casually call home.

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A closer look at “Wings of Renewal”, where flowers, a butterfly and a dragonfly shaped from recycled materials bloom beside the sunbird, at the Tampines West PAssionArts Festival held in conjunction with the Tampines West National Day Carnival 2026.
(Image Credit: People’s Association – PAssionArts)

When Discarded Objects Become a Neighbourhood's Sunbird

Over at Tampines West, residents unveiled “Wings of Renewal”, a two-metre-tall sculpture inspired by Singapore's colourful sunbirds and the greenery surrounding the neighbourhood.

Held in conjunction with the Tampines West National Day Carnival 2026, the community artwork depicts a sunbird perched on a branch beside a blooming flower, accompanied by a butterfly and dragonfly in flight.

Sounds like a pretty garden scene, right? But look closer and things get much more interesting.

Up to 90 per cent of the sculpture was created using recycled materials collected from the community, including bottle caps, clothes hangers, clean plastic bottles, a metal shoe rack and even the steel legs of a chair. Suddenly, the things we might normally consider rubbish have wings.

Plastic bottles were painted and shaped into flowers. Bottle caps became eyes. Clothes hangers became feet. Residents layered individual pieces together to create the sunbird's feathers and decorated the wings of the butterfly and dragonfly.

More than 110 residents participated in two co-creation workshops led by artists from Artz Johan and organised by the Tampines West Community Arts and Culture Club (CACC), Green Action for Communities and Tampines Summerville RN.

And their collective effort eventually earned “Wings of Renewal” a new entry in the Singapore Book of Records for the largest hand-painted plastic sculpture.
That's certainly something to chirp about. 🐦

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Why a Sunbird?

According to Mr Avery Hoo, Chairman of the Tampines West Community Arts and Culture Club, seeing sunbirds fluttering around is also an indication of a thriving ecosystem.

As natural pollinators and pest controllers, these little birds contribute to the green spaces around us. The sculpture therefore isn't simply about recreating a beautiful bird. It represents the relationship between the neighbourhood and the nature growing alongside it.

Mr Hoo shared that the sunbird was intended to represent more than Tampines alone, with vibrant greenery reflecting a healthy environment and, in turn, a healthy Singapore.

When more than a hundred residents each paint, shape or contribute one small part to the artwork, no single bottle cap or plastic feather may seem particularly significant. Put all those individual contributions together, however, and suddenly you have a two-metre-tall sunbird.

Perhaps there's a little metaphor for community hiding in there too.

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Residents painting a 2.8m batik panel, one half of the artwork “In the Beginning”, a 6.5m-long batik artwork detailing the legend of Sang Nila Utama, and celebrating the history of the neighbourhood of Telok Blangah, at the Telok Blangah PAssionArts Festival.
(Image Credit: People’s Association – PAssionArts)

From Tampines' Nature to the Legends of Telok Blangah

The following day, PAssionArts Festival travelled from the natural environment of Tampines West into the history and legends surrounding Telok Blangah.

Instead of plastic bottles and bottle caps, residents here picked up paintbrushes and fabric dye to create massive 6.5-metre-long batik artwork called “In the Beginning”, led by artist Ms Amruthaa of Artz Johan and created in collaboration with the community.

During a three-hour community workshop at the Telok Blangah PAssionArts Festival on 16 August 2026, residents worked alongside the artists to add colour to the first 2.8m by 0.8m batik panel.

Using traditional wax-resist and fabric-dyeing techniques, the two-panel artwork brings together different chapters of Telok Blangah's story, from kampong life to the Singapore we recognise today. And if you grew up hearing the story of Sang Nila Utama spotting a lion and naming our island Singapura, there's something rather nostalgic waiting within it too.

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(Image Credit: People’s Association – PAssionArts)

Look Closely and You Might Recognise Your Neighbourhood

Ms Amruthaa explained that Sang Nila Utama is depicted travelling in a djong, a Palembang ship, as he is believed in the legend to have landed around the Telok Blangah area.

But history is only one layer of the artwork.

Telok Blangah is surrounded by some of Singapore's most recognisable green spaces, including Mount Faber, Telok Blangah Hill Park, HortPark, the Southern Ridges and Labrador Park. Nature therefore became another important part of the batik's visual story.

Look around the artwork and you'll find orchids representing Singapore, alongside butterflies inspired by a spot near Telok Blangah Community Club where they are known to gather. Elsewhere, familiar neighbourhood and Singapore icons appear too, including the Henderson Waves bridge, kingfisher birds and modern HDB flats.

It's a beautiful concept where you're looking at different versions of the same place existing together on one canvas: legends, kampongs, nature, landmarks and today's HDB neighbourhood.

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(Image Credit: People’s Association – PAssionArts)

Maybe These Are the Real “Neighbourhood Gems”

One neighbourhood turned discarded objects into a symbol of its natural environment.

Another reached into legends, landmarks and memories to paint its story in batik.

Yet perhaps the most interesting part of both artworks isn't the finished pieces at all.

It's the fact that they were made together.

Someone painted a plastic bottle. Someone added colour to a piece of batik. Someone else might have shared a story about the neighbourhood while doing it. Each contribution seems tiny on its own, but together they become something that represents an entire community.

And maybe that's what PAssionArts Festival 2026's “Our Neighbourhood Gems” is really inviting us to discover.

Our neighbourhood gems don't necessarily have to be spectacular attractions or places we'd put on a tourist itinerary. Sometimes they're the birds outside our windows, the greenery along our daily walks, the legends behind familiar names and the memories shared by people who live alongside us.

We just have to notice them.

So perhaps the next time we're walking through our own estate, it's worth looking around a little more closely. There might be a story hiding somewhere we've already passed a hundred times...

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[Updated] I’m Not a Car Girl, But Concours d’Elegance Singapore 2026 Made Me Look Twice

Hi Huneybees,

I wouldn't exactly call myself a car enthusiast, but I definitely appreciate a nice-looking car.
Of course, there are definitely a few dream cars on my wishlist, but ask me about engines, horsepower or what's under the bonnet and... you might lose me pretty quickly. 😂

But after spending an afternoon at Concours d'Elegance Singapore 2026, I think I finally understood something.

Sometimes, you don't need to know everything about cars to appreciate them.
Because when you put history, craftsmanship, beautiful design and some seriously rare automobiles together, these cars start looking less like machines and more like works of art.

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Seeing Concours d'Elegance Through a Non-Car Girl's Eyes

Held from 13 to 16 August 2026 at IMBA Theatre, Concours d'Elegance Singapore brought together classic, vintage and exotic automobiles in what was billed as the world's first immersive edition of the prestigious motoring event.

Instead of simply lining cars up in a conventional exhibition, the experience combined the automobiles with cinematic storytelling and large-scale projections inspired by legendary Grand Touring routes.

And I have to say, the setting made a difference. Walking through the exhibition with these gorgeous cars framed against changing landscapes made me pay attention to their silhouettes, details and personalities in a way I probably wouldn't have at a regular car show.

The history, the shape, the sleekness... Set against those spectacular backdrops, how could I not indulge in their beauty?

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The Bugatti Bolide Stole My Attention

Of course, there was one car that immediately caught my eye.

The Bugatti Bolide.

Displayed right in the centre of the exhibition, it was almost impossible to walk past without stopping for a closer look. With only 40 examples produced worldwide, this isn't exactly something you casually encounter on your weekend outing. Just look at that beautiful streamlined body!

Futuristic, aggressive and ridiculously dramatic, it looked like something that had driven straight out of a movie. Dream car status? Absolutely! In fact, this might just be my dream Batmobile. Now, if only I could get a peek inside, or better yet, slip into the driver's seat for just a moment. That would be pure magic. 🖤

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The Cars That Made Me Stop and Read Their Stories

One of my favourites was the sleek silver 1962 Jaguar Lightweight E-Type.

Only 12 of the originally intended 18 were built, making it an incredibly rare sight. Even without knowing its history beforehand, its shape alone made me stop. There's something about the curves and proportions of these older cars that feels almost sculptural.

Then there was the 1966 Jaguar MK2, a true icon of British motoring with a very Singaporean connection. The car was locally distributed by Cycle & Carriage and has been Singapore-registered since 1966, making it a rare survivor with its own piece of local motoring history attached to it.

That was when I started looking at the exhibition differently. These weren't simply beautiful old cars being kept shiny for display. Some of them had lived entire lives before many of us were even born.

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A Singapore-Built Survivor From World War II

Perhaps the story that stayed with me most was that of the 1941 Ford Mercury Eight Convertible.

This car was built at the former Ford Motor Factory along Bukit Timah Road and was reportedly the last car to roll off its assembly line before the Japanese Occupation. It was subsequently confiscated by the Japanese Army during World War II and shipped to Indonesia in 1945, where it passed between the Indonesian Army and private owners.

Decades later, MSVCR member Kevin White purchased the car and brought it back to Singapore in 1998 before restoring it to its former glory.

Now THAT made me stop. Imagine everything that happened around this car during its lifetime, only for it to eventually find its way back home to Singapore. Suddenly I wasn't looking at a vintage Ford anymore. I was looking at a little piece of our history that somehow survived.

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And Then I Found the Ancestor of My Dream G-Wagon...

If you've been around Huney'Z World long enough, you probably know I have my fair share of dream purchases.

Well, apparently I found another reason to add a G-Wagon to that list. 😂

At the exhibition, I got to see a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 280GE, a predecessor to the modern G-Class that I've been dreaming about. Let's just say seeing where the iconic G-Wagon came from did absolutely nothing to cure me of wanting one.

Hubby, if you're reading this...

I'm just saying. 😏

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What About the Concours Judging?

The competition itself is an important part of the Concours tradition, with collector automobiles evaluated according to internationally recognised standards covering areas such as historical significance, technical aspects, aesthetics, rarity, authenticity, elegance and condition.

The live judging took place during the Preview Day on 13 August, so having visited on the second day, I missed seeing that process in person.

By then, however, the winning automobiles had been announced and visitors could see the cars up close, with recorded judging highlights available within the exhibition. For me though, the competition wasn't really what stayed with me.

It was the stories.

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Maybe You Don't Have to Be a Car Enthusiast

So, I went into Concours d'Elegance Singapore thinking I would probably admire a few beautiful cars, take some nice photos and move along.

Instead, I found myself reading about where they came from, how few survived, who preserved them and why certain models became icons. That's probably my biggest takeaway from the experience.

You don't necessarily have to understand everything underneath the bonnet to appreciate an automobile.

Sometimes it's about the history.

Sometimes it's the craftsmanship.

Sometimes it's simply standing in front of a beautifully designed machine and thinking...

Okay. I get it now.

And yes, I still want that G-Wagon. 😉

Concours d'Elegance Singapore 2026 was held from 13 to 16 August 2026 at IMBA Theatre, bringing together rare collector automobiles, immersive cinematic environments, automotive heritage and the prestigious Concours competition under one roof.

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