Sober socialisation, wellness initiatives at 10th edition of Singapore River Festival a boon for nighttime businesses

Think a night out along the Singapore River only means partying and alcohol? 

Think again. 

From matcha and wellness events to games and interactive experiences, this year's Singapore River Festival (SRF) is tapping into changing social habits as it marks its 10th edition from Sept 11 to Sept 20. 

Titled The Quay Collective, this year's edition divides Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay into three themed zones with differing line-ups for the first time — some of which AsiaOne got to experience during a media preview on Thursday (Sept 10). 

What to expect

At the Entertainment Zone at Boat Quay, visitors can expect a series of performances and shared experiences. 

A highlight here is The River Echo Chambers, an eight-minute projection show across the heritage shophouse facades of the area exploring the past, present and future of the Singapore River. 

What's most interesting about the experience is its location, an alleyway, a space where most will usually just walk past without much thought. 

In contrast with the bustling crowds on the main streets, I felt that being able to enjoy a visual story — with narrations told through headphones — in a "quiet" area like this was really refreshing. 

Also in the zone is The River Emergence, where visitors can enjoy live performances by the river alongside community sing-alongs and live music featuring local artists Ann Siang Sounds, Leandra Lane and Omar Kenobi. 

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There's also The River Song Parade by Singapore Management University's Samba Masala, which sees the ensemble take its musical procession across the water before continuing ashore with a roving performance. 

Over at Clarke Quay, the Expression Zone is more centred on creative and interactive experiences.

One of them is The River Rhapsody at Read Bridge, an immersive experience where festivalgoers can shape the bridge's lighting and accompanying soundtrack through movements. 

This was another installation I got to try during the preview.

While it was engaging to be able to control the lights and sounds of the bridge, what stood out to me the most was how mesmerising the bridge looked against the nighttime and river backdrop.

As a fun bonus, there was also a virtual DJ projected onto the surrounding trees — which I felt made the experience very capture-worthy. 

Other happenings in the zone include The River Rhythm, which features dynamic performances of flash mobs, street dances and acrobatic stunts at Clarke Quay Fountain Square. 

For matcha lovers, there's also Matcha Central at Clarke Quay Central — where visitors can immerse themselves in a line-up of matcha-inspired experiences including a hands-on appreciation masterclass to learn the art of matcha whisking, a curated lifestyle market and live DJ sets while interacting with fellow matcha fans. 

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Not a fan of matcha? 

The zone also houses Acai Social, where festivalgoers can meet like-minded people, dance to their favourite Top 20 hits and enjoy a good bowl of acai at Yang Club located within The Riverhouse. 

Things slow down a little at Robertson Quay's Lifestyle and Wellness Zone. 

Here, I experienced The Flow of Serenity, a riverside guided meditation session — something I now know I definitely needed after a long week. 

Listening to the words of affirmation by the meditation guide while watching the soft lighting sequences ripple across the river and trees was really therapeutic, and really helped me slow down so I could truly take in the surroundings of the area. 

Though it's not as fanciful or flashy, I found that this was my favourite part of the festival. 

Other activities in the area include Riverside Cinema, where families can catch a screening of the popular animated movie How To Train Your Dragon under the stars, and Riverview Social Market at Four Points by Sheraton Singapore, featuring free workshops, handcrafted and artisanal goods, as well as bites from local makers. 

Monopoly and other fringe activities

Beyond the three themed zones, SRF also includes several other ticketed fringe activities and experiences that span the wider precinct. 

One of them is a special SRF edition of Monopoly by Hidden Singapore, a self-guided gamified trail taking festivalgoers through Boat Quay and Clarke Quay where they can uncover hidden local spots, solve interactive puzzles and unlock exclusive perks and festival merchandise. 

Participants will also be able to enjoy a scenic Singapore River boat ride as part of an exclusive festival bundle. 

History buffs can opt for Whispers of the Twin Quays — SRF Edition, a curated boat ride and guided heritage walk led by Yong from The Urbanist Singapore. 

During the tour, attendees will journey through Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay, delving into the Singapore River's rich trading past, hidden stories and urban transformation. 

There will also be exclusive access to the conserved Jiak Kim Street godowns, which are typically not open to the public. 

Adapting to changes

The wider range of offerings reflect how the Singapore River precinct itself has evolved over the years. 

Speaking to AsiaOne during the preview, Singapore River One executive director Michelle Koh said the organisation had moved from simply encouraging people to visit the river to giving them more reasons to stay. 

"We feel that heritage gives the river its soul, but it is the relevance that keeps the people coming back through technology, storytelling and public art," she said.

"We did this because we feel there's a real shift towards participatory personal experiences over passive ones. People don't just want to look at the river anymore, they want to take part in it." 

Evolving social habits

Changing social habits are also shaping the festival's programming. 

Pointing to Matcha Central and Acai Social in this year's line-up, Michelle said they reflect "two different but related" trends — rising interest in matcha, lifestyle and cafe culture, and the growing popularity of sober socialising. 

This is especially so among the younger demographic, who "want to connect without it centering on alcohol". 

The diversified programming is also proving beneficial for businesses along the precinct. 

According to Michelle, participating merchants typically see a 10 to 15 per cent revenue uplift during the festival compared to non-festival periods. 

Visitor numbers have grown too. 

Last year's festival drew more than 120,000 visitors over two weekends, and organisers are targeting a further 10 per cent increase this year. 

But for Michelle, footfall is only part of the picture. 

"As a business improvement district, what really matters is whether it translates into value," she said, adding that what's driving the growth is also better precinct connectivity, more sustained programming and installations specifically designed to make people linger rather than pass through. 

"Dwell time is measured, not just footfall. This is the real metric that we chase," she said. 

That push to keep visitors around longer also comes as the Singapore River precinct continues to evolve. 

Michelle noted that recent rejuvenation efforts at Boat Quay have also changed the mix of businesses in the area, with new bars, pubs and restaurants entering the precinct alongside extended alcohol trading hours. 

"What ties all this together is we are not trying to define one right way to enjoy the river anymore," she explained. 

"Whether someone wants entertainment, a quiet reflection, or heritage dive, there's now a distinct offering for them." 

Admission to SRF is free, with the exception of the ticketed fringe activities. 

More information is available on SRF's website.

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carol.ong@asiaone.com

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