Our Top 10 Family-Friendly Events and Activities in Singapore (October 2026 Edition)
October is here, and Singapore is about to get very busy. From F1 excitement and Halloween fun to Deepavali celebrations, children's festivals and immersive experiences, there is plenty happening for families this month.
Photo by Happysurd Photography on Unsplash
October is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months of the year for families in Singapore. With Children's Day, Grand Prix Season Singapore, Halloween and the start of Deepavali celebrations, there is a lot happening across the city.
This month is also a great reminder that family activities don't always have to mean playgrounds or indoor attractions.
You can watch a LEGO F1 car come to life, explore more than 700 years of Singapore's history, wander through thousands of sunflowers, experience Korean pop culture or spend an evening exploring the colourful lights of Little India.
As always, we've focused on experiences that work particularly well for families with young children - activities that are fun for kids but interesting enough that parents won't be counting down the minutes until it's time to leave.
So if you're planning your October weekends, looking for something to do during the Children's Day school holiday or simply want to explore somewhere different, here are 10 family-friendly events and activities to check out in Singapore this October 2026.
#1 Grand Prix Season Singapore 2026
You don't have to buy a Formula 1 ticket to experience the excitement of race weekend.
Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) returns from 2nd to 11th October, turning different parts of Singapore into a race-themed playground in the lead-up to the Singapore Grand Prix.
There are pop-ups, show cars, racing-themed activities, entertainment and interactive experiences happening across the city.
For families, look out for the adidas Motorsport pop-ups at Funan and Raffles City, where you can see F1 show cars and try racing-related experiences.
There's also Orchard Paddock at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza from 8th to 10th October, with live music, food, interactive activities and outdoor movie screenings.
And if your kids are into cars, the race weekend atmosphere around Marina Bay is something to experience at least once.
📅 Fri, 2 Oct - Sun, 11 Oct 2026
📍 Various locations across Singapore
🎫 Many activities are free; selected experiences are ticketed
Pro Tip: You don't need to spend the whole day at the circuit. Pick one or two family-friendly GPSS activations and combine them with dinner or an evening walk. If you're heading out during the actual race weekend, expect larger crowds around Marina Bay.
Photo by Abhinand Venugopal on Unsplash
#2 LEGO F1® Experience The Thrill
Have a LEGO fan at home who is also obsessed with cars?
This one combines both.
LEGO F1® Experience The Thrill takes over Suntec City from 1st to 18th October, bringing together Formula 1 and LEGO in one large interactive experience.
One of the highlights is a life-sized LEGO F1 race car, alongside a huge race-themed LEGO mosaic.
Kids can also take part in hands-on racing challenges, including interactive activities inspired by the world of Formula 1.
There's even a LEGO 3D Racer Hunt around Suntec City, where you can look out for life-sized LEGO Minifigures and their racing crew.
📅 Thu, 1 Oct - Sun, 18 Oct 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
📍 Suntec City Atrium, Towers 3 & 4
🎫 Free admission
Pro Tip: This is an easy one to combine with lunch or dinner at Suntec City. If your kids want to complete the challenges and collect rewards, go earlier rather than leaving it until the final weekend.
#3 Universal Studios Singapore: Trick or Thrills
If your kids love Halloween but aren't quite ready for Halloween Horror Nights, this is the one to put on your list.
Trick or Thrills at Universal Studios Singapore is designed specifically to make Halloween fun for the whole family.
This year's celebration includes the new Belloween Ball, where the Minions get dressed up for a monstrous dance party, plus Kuromi's Halloween debut.
There are also Halloween-themed food and merchandise, trick-or-treating, candy giveaways and plenty of character Meet & Greets.
Look out for Cookie Monster and Count, as well as Shrek, Fiona and Fairy Godmother in their Halloween costumes.
📅 Now - Sun, 1 Nov 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM daily
📍 Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa
🎫 Universal Studios Singapore admission applies
Pro Tip: If you're visiting with younger children, choose the daytime Trick or Thrills experience rather than Halloween Horror Nights. The atmosphere is spooky without being designed to scare the life out of everyone.
#4 Octoburst! – A Children's Festival
Looking for something to do on Children's Day?
Head to Esplanade on Friday, 2nd October for Octoburst!, a full day of free activities created especially for children.
The festival brings together storytelling, crafts, music, movement and play across Esplanade.
Kids can explore The Story Keeper's Room, make paper flowers at the Color-Your-Mood Flower Studio, join non-competitive sports games and watch performances by the Joyful Voices Children's Choir.
There are also roving musicians and an evening family dance party to round off the day.
📅 Fri, 2 Oct - Sun, 4 Oct 2026
⏰ From 10:00 AM
📍 Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
🎫 Free admission
Pro Tip: You don't have to stay all day. Pick two or three programmes that your kids will enjoy and build your Children's Day around them. Some activities have limited capacity, so arriving early is a good idea.
#5 Sunflower Surprise: Garden by the Ocean
If you're looking for something colourful, easy and very Instagram-friendly, head to the Flower Dome.
Sunflower Surprise: Garden by the Ocean transforms the Flower Dome into a Portuguese-inspired landscape filled with more than 5,000 sunflowers across 20 varieties.
The display takes visitors through different parts of Portugal, from Lisbon's Alfama neighbourhood to the colourful fishing houses of Costa Nova.
There's also a 6-metre-tall Farol de Belém lighthouse, a traditional Portuguese carrack, vineyards, olive groves and recreated Portuguese shopfronts.
Some of the sunflowers can grow up to 1.8 metres tall, making this one of those displays where the kids can actually feel like they're walking through a giant garden.
📅 Fri, 9 Oct - Mon, 9 Nov 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily
📍 Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
🎫 Flower Dome admission applies
Pro Tip: Pair this with Cloud Forest or Disney Garden of Wonder at Floral Fantasy for a full Gardens by the Bay day. The Flower Dome is also a good option when you want an indoor, air-conditioned activity.
#6 HallyuCon 2026
Have a K-pop fan at home?
Then save this weekend.
HallyuCon Vol. 3 returns to Suntec Convention Centre on 17th and 18th October, bringing together K-pop, K-drama, Korean beauty, fashion and Korean pop culture.
Expect 100+ Korean lifestyle booths, K-pop performances, random play dance sessions, community activities and interactive experiences.
There will also be HallyuCon IDOL, where local dancers compete in solo and group categories.
For kids and teens who love K-pop, the dance masterclasses could be particularly fun, although these require separate tickets.
📅 Sat, 17 Oct - Sun, 18 Oct 2026
⏰ 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍 Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hall 405
🎫 Free visitor entry
Pro Tip: If you're going with kids or teens who want to participate in the dance activities, check the programme before visiting. The masterclasses have separate admission and limited slots.
Photo by Maria Lupan on Unsplash
#7 Takashimaya SJ60 Japan Fair
If your family loves all things Japanese, add this one to your October plans.
To celebrate 60 years of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations, Takashimaya is bringing Japan to Orchard Road with its SJ60 event, featuring Japanese food, fashion, beauty, lifestyle products and plenty of fun activities.
The fair brings together a mix of Japanese brands and Singapore-born brands inspired by Japanese culture. You'll find everything from Sanrio, Godzilla, Digimon and Tamagotchi to Hario, Zojirushi, Casio, Sony and Japanese food brands.
There's also a Digital Stamp Rally from 30th September to 4th October. Collect two digital stamps at participating locations and you can redeem a $10 SJ60 event voucher with no minimum spend, subject to the event's terms and daily redemption limits.
The event also includes special activities and performances, making it more than just a shopping trip.
📅 Tue, 29 Sep - Sun, 11 Oct 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM - 9:30 PM daily
📍 Takashimaya Square, Basement 2, 391A Orchard Road
🎫 Free admission
Pro Tip: If you're going with kids, don't just browse the shops. Check the event programme before you go for the activities and performances. And if you're visiting before 4th October, try the Digital Stamp Rally while it's running.
#8 Reopening of the Singapore History Gallery
Here's one for families who want to do something educational without it feeling like a school trip.
The Singapore History Gallery at the National Museum of Singapore reopens on 10th October after its first full revamp in 20 years.
The refreshed gallery takes visitors through more than 700 years of Singapore's history, from 14th-century Temasek to present-day Singapore.
But this isn't simply a collection of old objects behind glass.
The new experience brings together immersive installations, interactive elements, previously unseen artefacts and personal perspectives from people who experienced Singapore's history.
The reopening celebrations, Stories of Everyday, run from 10th to 18th October and include special installations, performances, workshops and more.
📅 Gallery reopens Sat, 10 Oct 2026
📅 Stories of Everyday: 10 - 18 Oct 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
📍 National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road
🎫 Free admission for Singapore Citizens & PRs
Pro Tip: If you haven't taken the kids to the National Museum in a while, October is a good time to revisit. The new gallery is designed around stories and experiences rather than simply presenting a chronological list of historical events.
#9 World Post Day Celebration
When was the last time your child actually sent a postcard?
World Post Day might be a good excuse to change that.
Singapore Post is celebrating World Post Day 2026 with a free exhibition and philatelic activities at SingPost Centre from 8th to 11th October.
One of the highlights is Singapore's first lenticular stamp collection, called Then & Now, created in collaboration with The Straits Times.
The stamps use changing images to show Singapore's postal story - including the transformation of the Fullerton Building and the role of the Singapore postman.
There's also a Tiny Windows into Singapore exhibition, which tells stories about Singapore through stamps.
📅 Thu, 8 Oct - Sun, 11 Oct 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM
📍 SingPost Centre, Level 1 Atrium
🎫 Free admission
Pro Tip: This could be a surprisingly fun activity for school-age kids who are learning about Singapore's history. Let them choose a postcard, write to a family member and actually post it. It's a small activity, but one they'll probably remember.
Photo by Tolga deniz Aran on Unsplash
#10 Deepavali Street Light-Up
October also marks the beginning of one of Singapore's most colourful festive seasons.
The Deepavali Street Light-Up Ceremony takes place on 3rd October at Birch Road, officially kicking off the Deepavali celebrations in Little India.
The decorations stretch across more than 2km of Serangoon Road, with the lights switched on every evening from 7pm.
But don't just come for the lights.
The Deepavali Festival Village at Campbell Lane starts on 10th October, bringing festive shopping, food and cultural activities to Little India.
There are also workshops and cultural performances throughout the month, making this a great opportunity to introduce children to the traditions and heritage behind Deepavali.
📅 Street Light-Up: Sat, 3 Oct 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Birch Road, Little India
🎫 Free
📅 Festival Village: 10 Oct - 8 Nov 2026
📍 Campbell Lane
Pro Tip: Visit after sunset and combine the light-up with dinner in Little India. Take the MRT rather than driving, especially on weekend evenings when the area can get very busy.
Pro Tips for Parents
Make the Most of Children's Day
Children's Day falls on Friday, 2nd October 2026, giving primary school children a weekday break.
If you're looking for something to do that day, consider:
LEGO F1 Experience The Thrill
Universal Studios Singapore: Trick or Thrills
Grand Prix Season Singapore
If you want to keep costs down, Octoburst! is the obvious place to start, with free activities throughout the day.
October Is F1 Season
Singapore will be buzzing during the first half of October.
If you don't have Grand Prix tickets, you can still get into the atmosphere through GPSS pop-ups, show cars, racing challenges and family-friendly activations around the city.
And if you have a LEGO fan at home, don't miss the LEGO F1 experience at Suntec City.
Get Ready for Halloween
October is also the month to start getting into the Halloween mood.
For younger children, we'd look at:
🎃 Trick or Thrills at Universal Studios Singapore
🎃 The Great Pumpkin Trail at Downtown East
Both offer Halloween fun without the intensity of a haunted house.
And if your kids are older and actually enjoy being scared, there are other Halloween options around Singapore too.
Don't Miss Deepavali
Deepavali falls on 8th November this year, but you don't need to wait until November to experience the celebrations.
The Little India light-up begins in early October, followed by the Festival Village and other cultural activities.
It's a great opportunity to turn an evening in Little India into a mini cultural adventure - walk through the lights, browse the festive stalls and introduce the kids to some of the traditions behind the Festival of Lights.
October Weather Still Means Heat
Don't let the cooler-looking calendar fool you. Singapore can still be hot and humid in October.
For outdoor activities, pack:
💧 Refillable water bottles
💨 Portable handheld fans
🧢 Hats
☀️ Sunscreen
☔ Umbrellas
👟 Comfortable walking shoes
And if you're planning evening activities, remember that popular areas can get crowded quickly.
Put These Dates on Your Calendar
Some of October's activities are very date-specific:
Octoburst! - 2 Oct
GPSS - 2 to 11 Oct
Deepavali Street Light-Up - 3 Oct
World Post Day - 8 to 11 Oct
Singapore History Gallery reopening - 10 Oct
Sunflower Surprise - from 9 Oct
HallyuCon - 17 & 18 Oct
Great Pumpkin Trail - 3 to 31 Oct
Halloween - 31 Oct
So if there's something your family really wants to do, don't leave everything until the last weekend.
Make This October One to Remember
October might just be one of the busiest months on Singapore's family calendar - but that's also what makes it fun.
You can start the month with Children's Day, get swept up in the F1 excitement, wander through thousands of sunflowers, explore Singapore's history, dance to K-pop and slowly ease into Halloween.
And then there are the colourful Deepavali lights waiting to transform Little India.
The best part?
You don't need to travel far or spend a fortune to find something different to do with the kids.
Sometimes, the most memorable family days are simply about exploring a part of Singapore you've never really stopped to look at.
Which of these October activities are you adding to your family calendar? Let us know in the comments below - and don't forget to follow us on social media and tag @TheSingaporeCollective in your family adventures!