Singapore

• Chinese New Year · Jan 29 – Jan 25 · religious

  Chinatown lit end-to-end with lanterns; lion dances at every mall, the city's biggest festival - but many small businesses close for three days.

• Ramadan · Feb 12 – Feb 18 · religious

  The month of daytime fasting - quieter daylight hours, then streets and tables come alive after sunset for iftar.

• Holi · Feb 26-Mar 4 · festival

  The festival of colours - a riotous, joyful spring rite of coloured powder, water and street celebration.

• Eid al-Fitr · Mar 19 – Mar 15 · religious

  The joyful close of Ramadan - new clothes, feasting and visiting; one of the warmest, busiest weeks of the year.

• Hari Raya Puasa (variable) · Mar 26-Apr 1 · religious

  End-of-Ramadan celebrations - Geylang Serai bazaar buzzes for a month, then a quieter public holiday.

• Easter · Mar 26 – Mar 8 · religious

  Holy Week into Easter - processions and quiet reflection give way to a celebratory weekend.

• Eid al-Adha · May 21 – May 17 · religious

  The festival of sacrifice - a major public holiday of communal prayers and shared feasts.

• Vesak · May 21 – Jun 3 · religious

  Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing marked in one day - temple visits, lantern-lit processions and acts of merit.

• Great Singapore Sale · Jun 18 – Jun 8 · festival

  Six weeks of nationwide discounts and pop-ups - Orchard Road heaving on weekends.

• Singapore Food Festival · Jul 9 – Jul 22 · festival

  Hawker centres and chefs collaborating across the city for two weeks of pop-ups and tastings.

• National Day · Aug 6-12 · holiday

  August 9 - parades, jets over Marina Bay, fireworks twice in one night. The most patriotic day of the year.

• Haze season (variable) · Sep 3 – Sep 7 · holiday

  Forest-fire smoke drifts from Indonesia - air quality can swing from clear to hazardous within a day.

• Singapore Grand Prix · Sep 17-23 · sport

  Marina Bay turned into a Formula 1 circuit at night - hotels triple in price, the city throws a long party.

• Deepavali · Oct 29 – Oct 11 · religious

  Little India lit end-to-end for weeks - flower garlands, sweets, oil-lamp displays.

• Orchard Road Christmas · Dec 10 – Dec 31 · religious

  The city's most photographed street lit for two months - Gardens by the Bay matching it.

a reason to go mixed worth knowing about