Family-Friendly Events in Singapore, 7–13 September 2026
Lanterns go up at Gardens by the Bay, the river festival opens along the quays, a weekend of remembrance at Changi and Bukit Chandu, and the CDA First Step grant explained.
Things to do with kids this weekend
Liberation of Singapore weekend
Talks, performances and daily craft stations at both sites — a songkok to make at Bukit Chandu, cardboard binoculars at Changi — plus guided heritage-tree walks with NParks at Pasir Panjang. Better for seven and up.
Singapore River Festival opens
The 10th edition, themed The Quay Collective, runs ten days along the three quays. The walk from Boat Quay to Robertson Quay with the lights on is the family version; programme details are on the festival site.
Heritage Festival, final weekend
Last two days of the festival's programme; the three exhibitions stay open after it ends, the Fort Canning ones to 31 March 2027.
Mid-Autumn Festival opens at Gardens by the Bay
Opening weekend of the lantern sets around the lake and under the Supertrees. Free to walk through; some Craft Corner activities charge. Go after 7pm when it is cooler and everything is lit.
Deadlines in September
All good — no nationwide deadlines for September. Still worth a look at the Coparent app for the personal ones tied to your child's date of birth.
On the horizon
One thing, explained
What is the CDA First Step grant, and do I have to put money in first?
No. The First Step grant is paid into your child's Child Development Account by the government with no deposit from you — S$5,000 for a first or second child, and S$10,000 for a third or later child born on or after 18 February 2025, under the Large Families Scheme. The child has to be a Singapore Citizen.
The trigger is opening the account, not registering the birth. The CDA is offered in the same LifeSG flow as birth registration and the Baby Bonus, and the grant lands within two weeks of the account being opened, excluding public holidays.
It can be spent only at Baby Bonus Approved Institutions — childcare and kindergarten fees, and healthcare — and the account stays usable until 31 December of the year your child turns 12. Anything unspent moves to your child's Post-Secondary Education Account when the CDA closes.
One thing the Large Families uplift does not change: how much the government will match. Co-matching of your own deposits runs on its own cap, by birth order, and is a separate scheme.
Source: MSF, 2026-08-24 · official page
Family deals this week
Flower Dome free for children 12 and under
Kids aged 12 and below enter the Flower Dome free from 5 to 27 Sep. Singapore residents only — bring ID. Adults pay the usual admission.
Kids dine free on weekdays at Vineyard, HortPark
A complimentary kids' meal for a child under 10 with every main course, Monday to Thursday all day, dine-in only, through 30 September.
Coparent is a personal assistant for parents in Singapore. Give it one date and it lays out every benefit, deadline and decision from pregnancy to the end of primary school — dated and sourced. It never touches your money, your accounts or your signature.
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Every government scheme above carries its official source and the date we read it. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Singapore Government or any agency. We never recommend insurance or investment products. This is not financial advice and does not replace an agency's own guidance. Full disclaimer.