A taste of Singapore this weekend in San Mateo

The event celebrates Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, honoring the country’s development and milestones six decades ago, as well as the U.S.-Singapore relations. The festival’s theme nods to the “youthful energy” of the country with the theme “Still Shiok at 60” — a Singlish expression for admiration and excellence.

“The Singaporean identity as a unique nation has never felt stronger, and this is the energy, the vitality, the ‘it feels great’ — the essence of the Singlish phrase ‘Shiok.’” Mark Sin, the president of SingaporeConnect, said in an email.

Among the festival’s must-sees is a theater experience that retells the history of Singapore, with an ensemble performing as a granddaughter and grandchild guiding attendees on a journey through time. For the organizers, this immersive performance holds significance in celebrating one’s heritage.

Tabitha Chee explained that history and theater productions often struggle to find a home in spaces like this. As a co-chair for the festival, she believes that history should not be forgotten in events that call for celebration.

“It is a story that we are proud to share because our history made us who we are, and we are making history by sharing for the first time outside of Singapore what it took to make Singapore an independent, multiracial and resilient nation,” Chee wrote in an email.

Singapore Festival 2025 will not only showcase the arts and culture from the people of the Lion City, but also industry leaders in entertainment. 

Top Asian artists headlining the event include Cheryl K, who sang the opening track for the 2018 film “Crazy Rich Asians”; breakout artist and cultural shifter Linying, named to Dazed 100 for Music; and Singaporean-Tamil rap sensation Yung Raja, known for his Taglish bars and collaborations with artists across Asia. Elisha Tan from San Francisco and Ethel Tan from Los Angeles will be guest comedians.

The demographics site World Population Review reports that just over 3,300 Singaporeans lived in California in 2023. Despite their small numbers compared to the Asian American population in the state, many have made a name for themselves as leaders in their respective fields, such as technology and entrepreneurship. 

Among the trailblazers attending fireside chats during the festival are Nikhil Gupta, a startup founder and CEO of Hipster Inc., a Singaporean tech solutions company, and Jerene Yang, OpenAI’s head of runtime engineering, who oversees the team working behind the scenes to run ChatGPT.

“Our goal is to showcase Singapore’s cultural and industrial leaders based in the U.S. or otherwise, featuring their talents, their resilience, and their vibrancy in their crafts and in their fields. We have also carefully curated the program to show cultural diversity, which is a hallmark of Singapore,” Chee said.

Singaporean cuisine will be offered in a hawker-style setting, from satays to laksa, and there will be new goods, trinkets and services from vendors in the Pasar Malam Marketplace.

Passes for the Singapore Festival 2025 start at $21 for adults, while tickets for children aged 4-15 cost $11. Children under 4 years old attend for free. The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Go to singaporefest.com to learn more.