New Bahru Open House: Two-Day Block Party In August

Photo Credit: New Bahru

New Bahru is marking a major milestone with its first-ever New Bahru open house, a free weekend block party celebrating the creative cluster’s completion. Held across 29 and 30 August 2026, the event turns the entire site at 46 and 58 Kim Yam Road into one big, car-lite festival of music, food, art, and community activities.

What is the New Bahru open house?

After two years of phased openings, New Bahru now houses more than 60 brands across its repurposed school and factory blocks. To mark this achievement, the lifestyle destination is hosting a block party-style open house that invites the public to rediscover the site’s mix of creativity, culture, and community.

The New Bahru open house is designed as a drop-in weekend event with mostly free activities, plus a few ticketed experiences for those who want deeper engagement with art, design, and heritage.

When and where is it happening?

• Dates: 29–30 August 2026 (Saturday and Sunday)
• Selected programmes: Some start from 28 August 2026 (e.g. exhibition marketplace, tea bar)
• Time: Generally 10am–8pm daily across the site
• Location: 46 & 58 Kim Yam Road, New Bahru, Singapore 239351
• Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (short walk)
• Note: The event is promoted as car-lite, so public transport or ride-hailing is encouraged.

Mini Lawn Festival: live music and outdoor vibes

The heart of the New Bahru open house is the Mini Lawn Festival on the Outdoor Lawn. This is where the main stage energy happens, with all-day bites, drinks, and a rotating line-up of live music and entertainment.

Saturday, 29 August

• Live music by Groovetop from 2pm to 8pm
• Genres include Funk, Soul, R&B, House, and Disco, creating a laid-back yet danceable soundtrack for the afternoon and early evening.

Sunday, 30 August

• Sing Song Social Club teams up with Wild Pearl for another groovy day-to-night outdoor session at the same time slot.
• Expect a similar vibe of easy-listening beats suited to lounging on the lawn with food and drinks in hand.

Food and beverage pop-ups such as Part Thai and Ahimsa will be open from 11am to 8pm on both days, alongside a central bar where visitors can purchase drinks. This setup makes the lawn area a natural hangout spot for friends, families, and creatives looking to spend a few hours soaking in the atmosphere.

IN-BETWEEN Exhibition Marketplace: art, design, and live showcases

Running for three days from 28 to 30 August 2026, the IN-BETWEEN Exhibition Marketplace takes over the School Hall on Level 2. This is a creative playground featuring over 50 designers, artists, and makers, but it is positioned as more than a standard art market.

Visitors can expect:

• Live performances and interactive experiences
• Experimental showcases that blend art, design, and craft
• A mix of ticketed and free elements, with some programmes requiring registration via the official event page.

For those interested in contemporary Singaporean creativity, the IN-BETWEEN marketplace is one of the key draws of the New Bahru open house weekend, offering a concentrated look at local talent under one roof.

Heritage tours, workshops, and special pop-ups

Beyond music and markets, the New Bahru open house includes several curated experiences that highlight the site’s history and its current community of brands.

Guided Heritage Tours by The Urbanist

• Time: Between 10am and 12pm during the open house days
• Focus: The transformation of the former school premises and garment factory into today’s creative lifestyle hub
• Format: Guided walking tour with storytelling about New Bahru’s past and present
• Tickets: Available via the official booking link; these are ticketed experiences.

These tours are ideal for visitors who want context before exploring the site, especially first-timers curious about how the architecture and history shape the current mix of tenants.

MORNING Tea Bar pop-up

At Level 1 of both the Factory Block and School Block, beverage brand MORNING will run a multi-concept pop-up from 28 to 30 August, 10am–8pm. Highlights include:

• Guided traditional tea tastings
• Iced teas and bubble tea-inspired creations
• A chance to sample different tea profiles in a casual setting.

This is a good pit stop for those who prefer a calmer, more sensory experience amid the busier festival activities.

Stamp Buffet Party with Tobyato and Jon Chan

Illustrator Toby Tan (@tobyato) and artist Jon Chan will host a Stamp Buffet Party across two locations:

• Beyond the Vines Design House
• The IN-BETWEEN space

Visitors can get their personal items live-stamped with original designs, turning everyday objects into custom keepsakes. This activity runs throughout the two main open house days and is a popular hands-on highlight for design lovers.

Community specials and limited-edition merchandise

Resident brands across New Bahru’s blocks will roll out exclusive experiences, special drops, and limited-time menus during the New Bahru open house. While specific offers vary by outlet, the overall idea is to encourage exploration of the entire cluster, not just the lawn and exhibition areas.

There is also a gachapon-style lucky draw for shoppers:

• Spend S$100 in a single receipt at any New Bahru store over the weekend
• Receive a spin at the gachapon station located at School Block Level 1
• Prizes include limited-edition merchandise such as sticker packs, fabric fans, caps, and bags.

This mechanic incentivises visitors to browse multiple stores and discover newer brands within the development.

Who should attend the New Bahru open house?

The New Bahru open house is well suited for:

• Creatives and designers looking for inspiration and networking opportunities
• Families and friends wanting a relaxed weekend outing with music and food
• Tourists and locals interested in Singapore’s adaptive reuse projects and lifestyle clusters
• Photography and content creators drawn to the site’s industrial-chic aesthetic and event energy.

Because many activities are free and drop-in, it works as a flexible plan: you can come for an hour or stay the whole day, moving between the lawn, marketplace, tours, and brand pop-ups at your own pace.

Practical tips for visiting

• Arrive early if you want to catch specific time slots for tours, performances, or workshops.
• Check the official programme before you go, as some experiences require prior registration or tickets.
• Dress for the weather: much of the action is outdoors or in semi-open spaces, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and an umbrella just in case.
• Use public transport: with the event promoted as car-lite and limited parking around Kim Yam Road, the MRT plus a short walk is the most convenient option.
• Budget for food, drinks, and shopping: while entry is free, you will likely want to try the F&B pop-ups, grab a drink at the central bar, and possibly pick up items from the marketplace or resident stores.

Why this New Bahru open house matters

The New Bahru open house is more than a one-off party; it signals the completion of a significant creative cluster in central Singapore. By opening its doors for a focused weekend of programmes, New Bahru is inviting the public to engage with its mix of heritage, design, and lifestyle in a concentrated, festival-like format.

For a blog audience interested in Singapore’s evolving cultural scene, this event offers a timely snapshot of how adaptive reuse projects can become living, breathing destinations rather than static developments. The blend of live music, art markets, heritage storytelling, and brand collaborations makes the New Bahru open house a strong case study in community-led placemaking.

If you are planning your weekend around 29–30 August 2026, the New Bahru open house is a compelling addition to your itinerary, especially if you enjoy creative clusters, local design, and outdoor events with a relaxed, festival vibe.