The highly anticipated Five Footway Festival comes to Chinatown Singapore from March 9 to 17, 2024, providing a fascinating assortment of activities ideal for guests of all ages. The Chinatown Business Association, in partnership with other partners, presents this festival to highlight Chinatown's colourful history and culture, taking spectators back to the busy streets of the 1900s.
The display "The Warmth and Bustle of The Five-Footways" is the festival's centrepiece, created in collaboration with the Sun Yat-Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and Hwa Chong Institution students. This exhibition takes visitors on a riveting trip through the history of the Five Footway, clans, and affiliations, shedding light on the lives and traditions of early immigrants in Singapore's Chinatown. Attendees can delve into the intricate tapestry of everyday life, from commerce and clan operations to cultural and recreational pastimes.
For individuals interested in learning more about Chinatown's history, the event provides informative walking trails such as "Conserved Buildings in Chinatown" by Do It SG. Participants can learn about the history of heritage buildings and the activities that thrived along the Five Footways. Furthermore, theatrical experiences such as "Tan Ah Huat in Chinatown" by Let's Go Tour offer immersive glimpses into the district's colourful history.
Smith Street, formerly known as Theatre Street or Hei Yuen Kai, promises cultural diversity with engaging theatre performances that include Cantonese opera, Teochew opera, Peking opera, and Hokkien puppet plays. Attendees can also participate in seminars and classes to master traditional skills, such as creating personalised idiom and slang colouring books and taking beginner Peking Opera courses.
Ms. Lim Yick Suan, Executive Director of the Chinatown Business Association, emphasises the festival's goal of connecting current visitors with the historical significance of Chinatown's Five Footways. The festival's interactive features and sensory experiences strive to connect the past and present, promoting a greater understanding of Singapore's cultural legacy.
As part of the festival's culinary offerings, participants can take a gastronomic adventure through Hakka Imperial Kitchen, where they will discover the subtle flavours of Hakka rice wine and traditional meals. Culinary enthusiasts can also develop their talents at Auntie Helen's culinary class, where they will learn to make Hainanese-style pineapple stir-fry with pig rind and fried preserved beans and chicken. Traditional Cantonese dessert fans can join Chef Colin's Put Chai Ko Making Classes, which promise an instructive and delectable experience.
Families, particularly those with children, can relive childhood memories by playing childhood games on Pagoda Street, indulging in traditional Singaporean foods, and interacting with stilt-walking Samsui ladies and khaki shorts police officers for great photo opportunities. The festival offers a wide range of activities, from movie screenings to dragon dances, to suit a variety of interests.
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