Organised by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019 presents an exciting weekend of activities including dumpling making sessions, craft workshops, dramatised storytelling and evening music performances ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. Join us at Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019 on 1 and 2 June to learn more about the history and cultural significance of this much-loved festival!
Wan Qing Dumpling Festival 2019 will also be held in conjunction with Children’s Season 2019. Children’s Season is an annual festival organized by the National Heritage Board for families with children aged 3 to 12 years old. Held during the mid-year school holidays, Children’s Season sees museums and heritage institutions across Singapore organizing special programmes for children and families to learn and bond. SYSNMH’s Children’s Season 2019 programme will focus on introducing families and children to the intangible cultural heritage elements associated with the commemoration of Dumpling Festival through an array of hands-on activities such as drawing classes, treasure hunts within the museum’s galleries, storytelling performances and more.
Activities are free unless otherwise stated.
Programmes
Captions by Kids
(Supported by Gan Eng Seng Primary School)
Have you ever wonder how children perceive an artefact in our galleries? Come spot the captions written by students from Gan Eng Seng Primary School and view the artefacts from the eyes of children!
Date: 1 – 30 June 2019
Time: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Make Your Own Dumplings!
(Supported by Eastern Rice Dumpling)
Try your hand at making glutinous rice dumplings the traditional way at this hands-on station. Learn how to stuff, wrap and tie your own bak zhang, and even be treated to a yummy dumpling of your choice, totally free of charge! Halal and vegetarian options available whilst stocks last.
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
“Be a Little Cartoonist” Heritage Hunt @ SYSNMH
(Supported by River Valley High School)
Grab a map and get ready for another adventure this Children’s Season! Be a little cartoonist for a day to uncover the different occupations in the past as you navigate your way through a series of interactive activity stations with students from River Valley High School!
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 10.30am – 2.30pm
Admission: No registration required.
Roving Balloon Artist
Fancy yourself a colourful crown, sword, or flower? Spot our roving balloon artist and bring home a festival souvenir!
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Me & My Dragon Boat
Unleash your inner Picasso at this hands-on craft station as you colour and fold your own miniature dragon boat. Featuring a variety of recycled materials, this interactive activity teaches you how to have fun and save the earth at the same time!
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 11.00am – 8.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Live Caricature Station
Bored of taking selfies? If you’re looking for a fun and interesting way of capturing your self-portrait, head down to our live caricature station where our sketch artist will draw your portrait in minutes. Don’t forget to bring along your friends and family for a quirky group portrait!
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 11.00am – 8.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Carnival Games
Have fun at our carnival game booths and collect stamps for your activity passport! Visit the other activity stations listed in the passport, and win a mystery prize.
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 11.00am – 8.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Snack Stations
What’s a festival without some yummy treats? Visit our snack stations for a scrumptious selection of local snacks including muah chee, popiah, putu piring, traditional ice cream and even freshly-made churros! All snacks are available for sale.
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 11.00am – 8.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
“Sketch & Sing Along” Workshop
(Supported by Lianhe Zaobao Student Correspondents Club)
Chinese cartoons in the past were sometimes accompanied by folk songs to appeal to the masses. Join illustrators from the Lianhe Zaobao Student Correspondents Club in drawing your own cartoon as we sing along your favourite Chinese nursery rhymes!
Date: 1 June 2019
Time: 11.00pm – 12.30pm
Admission: Free. Register at https://peatix.com/event/634316.
Rice Art Sensory Play
(Supported by Bèbè Artiste)
Join us in this sensory play activity, where children will be encouraged to have fun, create and express themselves freely without inhibition! Participants will get to touch and explore different colours and textures as they play with coloured glutinous rice, learn about the ingredient’s symbolism in relation to Dumpling Festival, and create their very own art pieces in a fun and creative manner. Not only will this activity teach children more about Chinese culture and history, it will also enhance the development of their motor skills and coordination!
Date: 1 June 2019
Time: 4.00pm – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required
Dumpling Five Stones Workshop
Five Stones is a traditional local game that was popular with children during the kampong days. The game originally used actual stones, but slowly evolved to feature small pouches of cloth sewn into triangular pyramids filled with sand, rice, or saga seeds. Join this nostalgic workshop as you make your own set of Five Stones in the design of traditional rice dumplings!
Date: 1 June 2019
Time: 5.00pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
“NiuBiZi and Friends” Cartoon Drawing Workshop
(Supported by Huang Yao Foundation)
“NiuBiZi” is an iconic cartoon character created by renowned artist and scholar Huang Yao in the 1930s, and was used in satirical portrayals of social and political issues back in the day. Learn how to draw the “NiuBiZi” cartoon in this workshop led by local illustrator, Anngee Neo!
Date: 2 June 2019
Time: 11.00am – 1.30pm
Admission: Free. Best suited for children 8 years and above.Register at https://peatix.com/event/634307
Fun with Clay Art
Have fun moulding your own miniature dragon boat or rice dumplings in this interactive craft station, which uses kid-safe playdough created from eco-friendly and biodegradable ingrediants such as flour, water and salt. Take home your creative as a festive souvenir!
Date: 2 June 2019
Time: 4.00pm – 7.00pm
Admission: No registration required.
Chinese Tea Art Workshop
(Supported by Camellia Tea Bar)
Join us for an enriching afternoon as you enjoy a cup of freshly-brewed aromatic Chinese tea and learn more about the delicate art of tea brewing and appreciation.
Date: 2 June 2019
Time: 5.00pm – 6.00pm
Admission: No registration required. Available on a first come, first served basis.
Dumpling Festival Tales
(Supported by the Speak Good English Movement and Speak Mandarin Campaign)
Discover the legends and myths behind Dumpling Festival in our popular storytelling sessions conducted by local authors and veteran storytellers. Embark on a literary adventure with stories such as The Origins of Dumpling Festival, 《端午节。图腾祭－龙的传说》, and more. Each session will feature a different story and craft activity.
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 1.30pm – 2.30pm (English); 6.00pm – 7.00pm (Chinese)
Admission: No registration required.
Once Upon a Storytime (Multi-arts Storytelling Experience)
Did you know that a Chinese female domestic helper in the early days is known as “majie”? Travel back in time to discover the life of “majies” through a multi-sensory storytelling journey of drama, music and movements! This programme is an interactive and collaborative storytelling performance between the actor-facilitator and the performance audience. Children are invited to participate in this storytelling journey by applying various techniques such as drama, music and movement, thereby creating an immersive and engaging multi-sensory experience.
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Admission: Admission: Free. Conducted in Mandarin, best suited for children 4 to 7 years old. Register at https://peatix.com/event/634351.
Balestier Heritage Trail
Embark on our best-selling Balestier Heritage Trail to uncover the rich history and origins of Balestier from as early as 1835. From landmarks like the Maha Sasanaramsi Burmese Buddhist Temple to heritage stops such as Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory, delve into the architectural and cultural developments of Balestier and discover the unknown stories behind these places.
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm
Admission: $5.00 (includes bottled water and a traditional snack). Register at http://ptix.at/iHQzGM. Available in English or Mandarin.
Permanent Gallery Guided Tour
Join us for a guided tour of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and hear the stories behind this century-old villa that trace Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary activities in Southeast Asia. Gain valuable insights on the impact of the 1911 Revolution on Singapore, as well as Singapore’s contributions to the Revolution.
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 2.30pm (Chinese), 3.00pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
Special Exhibition Guided Tour: Between the Lines – The Chinese Cartoon Revolution
Learn more about the history and development of local Chinese Cartoons between the late 1800s and 1950s with our volunteer guides as they take you through the memorial hall’s special exhibition, Between the Lines - The Chinese Cartoon Revolution!
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 10.30am (Chinese), 1.30pm (English)
Admission: No registration required
Evening Concert
Experience wonder and delight in this dynamic showcase of cultural and contemporary arts! Performances include LED drums, Chinese dance, live music performances and more..
Date: 1 & 2 June 2019
Time: 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Admission: No registration required