Marina Bay Sands closes out its month of giving this weekend, and the Sands for Singapore Charity Festival is the part everyone actually shows up for. From 28 to 30 August, Event Plaza turns into a three-night celebration with live music, a gourmet pop-up market and community stalls, running 5pm to 11pm each night with free admission and no registration required.
Now in its 12th year, the festival has raised more than $45 million for local causes since 2013. This year’s proceeds support AWWA’s Enabled Living @ Bedok programme, which helps persons with disabilities live more independently.
What’s Happening Each Night
Opening night on 28 August is the biggest draw, headlined by Singaporean artist RRILEY, who first broke through as a founding member of local pop quartet The Sam Willows. The 7.30pm opening ceremony also features the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities Brave Hearts Ensemble, an inclusive performing arts group formed by residents at THK Home for the Disabled, alongside rapper WHEELSMITH.
- 28 Aug (Fri): RRILEY at 8.15pm, 53A at 6.30pm and 9.15pm, plus the opening ceremony at 7.30pm
- 29 Aug (Sat): The Vibes performing at 8.15pm and 9.15pm, plus the Community Chest Heartstrings Walk flag-off at 7pm
- 30 Aug (Sun): Dance performances from LitefeetSG, ITE West and NTU from 6.30pm, SuperSonic at 8.15pm and 9.15pm
Spectra, the Light & Water Show, still runs on its usual schedule each night, so the festival’s line-up slots neatly around it rather than competing for attention.
The Good Bites Market and Giving Marketplace
Food-wise, the Good Bites Market brings five pop-up experiences to Event Plaza: Black Tap, Bread Street Kitchen, RISE, Café Nesuto and Roberta’s Pizza, all with proceeds going to AWWA’s programme. Alcohol is available for purchase with valid ID, and last orders for food and drinks are at 10pm.
Alongside the food, the Giving Marketplace showcases 12 local non-profits, social enterprises and small businesses selling handcrafted goods and baked treats, including APSN, ART:DIS Studio, MINDS and the Cat Welfare Society. All sales proceeds go directly to the participating organisations, and cash, PayNow and PayLah are accepted there specifically.
Getting In
The festival is rain or shine, and pets on a leash are welcome at the outdoor Event Plaza. There are no road closures planned, and the nearest restrooms are inside The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. With three different headline acts across three nights and no ticket required, it is worth treating this as a proper weekend plan rather than a quick pop-in.
