The Qixi Festival is back in Chinatown, Singapore, promising a vibrant celebration of cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and community from 3 to 11 August 2024. This second edition of the festival continues the tradition of honouring the historical Qixi Festival, also known as the “wish upon the stars festival,” which was brought to Singapore by Chinese immigrant women in the 19th century and flourished until the 1970s.
Reviving the historical Qixi festival has been the passion of Singaporean heritage consultant Lynn Wong. Her quest began in the late 2010s, driven by a desire to uncover and document the festival’s rich history.
A grand kickoff at Keong Saik Road
The festivities will kick off with the Qixi Fest Street Party at Keong Saik Road on 3 August, from 5.00pm to 9.00pm. Once a major site for Qixi celebrations, Keong Saik Road is expected to host around 1,000 participants. The street party will feature events and workshops in three clan houses, along with a variety of fringe activities and stage programmes.
Dignitaries such as Minister Indranee Thurai Rajah, Minister Chan Chun Sing, Minister of State Alvin Tan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, Mr Melvin Yong, and Ms Joan Pereira will join residents and guests in celebrating this significant cultural event.
Expanding the festivities
Organised by heritage consultancy Bridging Generations Pte. Ltd. in partnership with Grassroots Organisations (GROs) of Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and National Heritage Board (NHB), the Qixi Fest aims to delve deeper into the theme of skilfulness (乞巧, qiqiao). Besides traditional crafts, the festival will include intellectual games, storytelling, pastry making, and songwriting mastery.
Ms Lim Shoo Ling, STB’s Director of Arts and Cultural Precincts, expressed her enthusiasm for the festival: “We are delighted to welcome back the Qixi Fest for its second edition, showcasing new and interactive experiences that people of all ages can actively participate in at Singapore’s Chinatown. Events like the Qixi Fest celebrate our distinctive cultural heritage, catering to the strong interest of both visitors and locals who want to experience Singapore’s rich traditions and customs. This also contributes to the vibrancy of our cultural precincts, further enhancing Singapore’s appeal as a destination.”
Engaging activities for all ages
The Qixi Fest Street Party will offer a mix of free and ticketed family-centric activities and performances suitable for all ages. Key highlights include open houses hosted by three clan associations, where participants can engage in ticketed poetry workshops by Cultural Medallion recipients Ling Gao and Xi Ni Er, a showcase of Qixi Fest creations, and hands-on making of the Mag-a-Wish DIY Qiao Guo (巧果). The Qiao Guo, a traditional pastry, symbolises the bridging of dreams and reality through mastery and is gifted among family and friends to strengthen bonds.
Melissa Tan, Director of Heritage Policy & Research at the National Heritage Board, highlighted the innovative aspect of the festival: “The Qixi Festival’s creative approach in developing the Mag-a-Wish DIY Qiao Guo Kit is a great example of the innovative efforts that NHB encourages amongst heritage organisations through the Organisation Transformation Grant. We hope that the pastry kit’s hands-on format will resonate with today’s audiences, and spark Singaporeans’ curiosity to better understand our traditions and cultural identity.”
Highlights and special guests at Qixi festival
Attendees can also enjoy free activities such as the Qiqi & Friends Exhibition, photo opportunities with a 4.9-meter LED inflatable Qiqi mascot, and urban sketching sessions by the great-granddaughter of Tan Keong Saik. A standout event is the Queen’s Gambit Spectacular, where Singapore’s 8-year-old chess prodigy, Ashwath Kaushik, will showcase his skills by simultaneously taking on 14 opponents from international chess interest groups within Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas SMC.
The Qixi Fest promises to be an enriching and engaging event that honours Singapore’s cultural heritage while providing fun and educational activities for the whole family. From traditional crafts to modern intellectual games, the festival offers a unique opportunity to celebrate and preserve the rich traditions of the Qixi Festival. Join the festivities from 3 to 11 August 2024 and be a part of this vibrant cultural celebration.
