Singapore HeritageFest 2026 Maritime Edition — Last 10 Days (Till 24 May), Programmes Worth Catching Before It Closes

A Bump Through Time — the theatrical bumboat experience on the Singapore River. SHF 2026's first-ever scripted-performance bumboat journey, sailing 9, 16, 23 May at multiple slots from 3:30pm-8:30pm. Actors-in-character lead you through Clarke Quay + Marina Bay segments with interactive encounters, while you sit in a heritage bumboat. Visually it's the festival's hero piece — golden-hour and post-sunset slots are the most photogenic. Tickets typically S$25-35 per pax, book 3-5 days ahead via heritage.sg. The 5pm and 6:30pm slots are the visual sweet spots.

Yes — it's a rare access experience. Singapore's only remaining fishery port (Jurong Fishery Port, JFP) is normally closed to the public; HeritageFest brings 90-min behind-the-scenes tours where you watch the early-morning fish auction + see how seafood gets from boat to plate. Tour times: 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23 May at 2am (yes, 2am — that's when the auction actually happens, this is real working-port access not a tourist staging). Free but registration-required via heritage.sg, capped at small group sizes. Best for: foodies, photography enthusiasts, anyone who's curious where their next plate of nasi lemak's ikan kuning came from.

Mixed — some yes, some no. Best for kids 5+: HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green has hands-on workshops + performances on Fridays and Saturdays, kid-pace timing. The fishery port tour at 2am is obviously not for kids. The bumboat experience is suitable for ages 8+ (younger kids may not engage with the scripted-performance format and sitting still for 60-75 mins). Pulau Ubin folklore tours are best for ages 10+ (some walking required, content involves ghost stories some young kids find unsettling). For families with under-5s: stick to HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green and any of the museum-based programmes.

Most programmes are free — that's the festival's deliberate design. Free + walk-up: HOMEGROUND @ ACM Green every Fri/Sat, the Singapore River walking trails (self-guided maps available on heritage.sg, no registration needed), free heritage walks linked to maritime deities at various locations, and the spice-making workshop drop-in sessions at HOMEGROUND. Free but registration-required: fishery port tours, Maritime Heritage Trail walking tour. The only paid programmes are the bumboat theatrical experience (~S$25-35), some Pulau Ubin operator-led tours (~S$30-60), and the bigger ticketed productions. You can do a comprehensive HeritageFest weekend for under S$10 in transport + drinks.