S'pore Botanic Gardens to have 1st-ever light shows daily from Jul. 19 to Aug. 10

The Singapore Botanic Gardens will host its first-ever light show and various other family-friendly activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is also celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Herbarium and the Singapore Botanic Gardens Library of Botany and Horticulture, as well as the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden, all of which are located at the Botanic Gardens.

These anniversaries also coincide with Singapore's 60th year of independence.

To celebrate these milestones, the Gardens will be holding the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival and the Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) Orchid Show from Jul. 19 to 27, 2025.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, who spoke at the launch event of the Gardens’ celebration on Jul. 18, said that "the histories of the Gardens and Singapore are closely intertwined".

"...The Gardens is a national treasure close to the hearts of many Singaporeans."

The light shows

The botanic gardens is Singapore’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is also the only tropical botanical garden among three on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

As part of the annual Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival, the light shows will be held at Swan Lake and Tanglin Gate daily between 7:30pm to 10pm, from Jul. 19 to Aug. 10.

It will be set to orchestral pieces by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

There will also be light installations at the Bandstand, Clock Tower at Orchid Plaza, and Palm Court near Nassim Visitor Services Centre to complement the light show.

Other festival line-ups include musical performances, outdoor movie screenings, guided tours, and hands-on workshops.

A first-ever, specially curated workshop will offer visitors an opportunity to conduct practical laboratory tasks, such as DNA extraction using bananas and cell staining with onion roots, providing a glimpse into the plant conservation work that takes place behind the scenes in the Gardens.

Singapore Garden Festival Orchid Show

The Singapore Garden Festival Orchid Show, co-organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA), will have over 650 orchids on display.

All competition entries from the orchid competition this year can also be viewed at the Burkill Hall and Tropical Montane Orchidetum at the National Orchid Garden. The winning orchids will also be located there.

Meanwhile, non-competitive orchid displays by NParks, OSSEA, and the Singapore Gardening Society will be showcased at the Clock Tower at Orchid Plaza.

Local residents can enjoy free entry to the National Orchid Garden during the Orchid Show from Jul. 19 to 27, with free guided tours available daily.

Entry typically costs S$5 for local adults.

15 vendors at a MarketPlace near the National Orchid Garden entrance will also be selling orchids, plants, and lifestyle products.

Special set of medallions and a new book on Gardens’ history and legacy

The Singapore Mint will also be launching a special set of medallions in collaboration with the Botanic Gardens.

The medallions feature three iconic landmarks — the Bandstand, the Singapore Herbarium, and Burkill Hall at the National Orchid Garden—to commemorate each of the Gardens’ key milestones this year.

They will be available for purchase at all Singapore Mint retail shops and online from Jul. 19.

The Gardens also released the second edition of "Gardens of Perpetual Summer", a publication that traces its history and legacy since it was established in 1859.

It will be available for purchase at the Gardens Shop at various locations around Singapore Botanic Gardens or online from Jul. 19.

Event details

Location: Singapore Botanic Gardens

Date: Jul. 19 to 27, 2025.

More details

• Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival
• Singapore Garden Festival Orchid Show

Top cover photos courtesy of NParks