Singapore Feature

The annual Singapore River Buskers' Festival, in mid-November, brings together all manner of street performers, from musical buskers to stiltwalkers and sword-swallowers. The weeklong festival gets underway after sunset and happens in various locations: along the riverbank (especially at Clarke and Robertson Quays), on Orchard Road, and even in Changi Airport. www.singapore-buskers.com.

The biennial Singapore Writers' Festival celebrates literature in Singapore's four main languages: English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil (from India). The festival happens in August and attracts international writers. Its talks, forums, breakfasts, and similar events are spread throughout several venues, including the Asian Civilisations Museum. www.singaporewritersfest.com.sg.

The annual, weeklong Singapore International Comedy Festival in March and April lures global talents, handpicked from such events as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 6250-3347.

The 17-year-old Singapore International Film Festival, held in April and May, screens films from more than 40 countries, paying special attention to movies from Asia and the developing world. 45A Keong Saik Rd., Chinatown, Singapore. 6738-7567 or 6225-7417. www.filmfest.org.sg.

Staged annually for three weeks from May through June, the Singapore Arts Festival has a kaleidoscope of international and local acts. Tickets for individual events range from S$15 to S$80. The festival is coordinated out of the NAC offices;

you can also get information from the ArtsFest Hotline. 6837-9589. www.singaporeartsfest.com.

Starlight Cinema is a month-long series of outdoor screenings (of mostly mainstream films) with surround sound on Ft. Canning Green in June and July. For more information contact the Singapore Tourism Board. 6296-2929. www.starlightcinema.com.sg. S$90 for a comprehensive season pass; S$10-S$15 per ticket.

WOMAD organizes a spectacular, international ethnic arts showcase on historical Ft. Canning Hill, in Ft. Canning Park. The three-day event usually takes place on the first weekend of September, sometimes the last weekend of August. A one-day ticket costs S$33, but the package ticket (S$82) for all three days is your best bet; it allows you to wander from one showto another. 35A Duxton Rd., Chinatown, Singapore. 6220-2676. www.womadsingapore.com.

The National University of Singapore's Centre for the Arts stages its annual Dance Reflections festival of Asian and Western dance in September.

The annual Asian Film Symposium showcases the best Asian cinema over five days in mid-September and is part of The Substation arts center's ongoing Moving Images program with screenings, workshops, and seminars. The Substation, 45 Armenian St., Singapore. 6337-7535; 6337-7800 for tickets. www.sfs.org.sg. S$5 per show.

Colorful Indian music, drama, and dance performances are staged during major festivals at several prominent temples. For information on such Indian cultural events, contact the Hindu Endowments Board. 397 Serangoon Rd., Little India, Singapore. 6296-3469.