Singapore’s Five Footway Festival will take place from May 2 to 10 in Chinatown’s Smith Street. The festival celebrates the heritage of five-footways, covered pedestrian walkways extending five feet (1.52m) from traditional shophouses. This architectural style was introduced by Sir Stamford Raffles to provide shelter from tropical sun and rain.
Organised by the Chinatown Business Association, this year’s theme is “Our Living Heritage”. The festival will feature live stage performances, including lion dances by Chin Woo and a face-changing act by Tian Eng. Face-changing, or bian lian, is a 300-year-old dramatic art where performers instantaneously switch masks to depict shifting emotions.
Choy’s Brothers Opera Troupe will present Chinese opera and stunts. Visitors can also join ticketed cultural events such as paper folding, tea appreciation, opera appreciation, and a traditional wife-cake baking experience. Wife cakes, or lao po bing, are Cantonese pastries with a flaky crust and sweet winter melon and sesame paste filling.
Community storytelling sessions will feature artisans and elders sharing personal histories. Game booths will offer traditional childhood games like pick-up sticks, five stones, and glass marbles. The festival takes place against the backdrop of conserved shophouses in Chinatown.
A festival spokesperson said: “More than a festival, the event brings to life the historical significance of five-footways as communal spaces — offering visitors a deeper understanding of Singapore’s multicultural roots while engaging directly with its living traditions.” For Australians planning a May escape, the festival presents an opportunity to experience Singapore’s living culture.
