Events
12
Dear Story Keeper (For Schools Only)
Pen an original story and drop it into the M.A.I.L for the Story Keeper, in time for Children’s Day.
Come and Play – Sports Day!
Zig-zag around cones, make new friends and dive into fun games! Friendly challenges and non-stop excitement await at Sports Day!
PIP's Arts Adventure (For Schools Only)
Celebrate PIP’s birthday through fun activities that spark creativity and introduce students to the performing and visual arts.
The Color-Your-Mood Flower Studio!
Every colour is a feeling! Pick a mood, choose the colours and craft a paper flower that brings feelings to life.
The Story Keeper’s Room
The Story Keeper’s Room is an interactive installation that celebrates the voices of young children and their imagination through the art of story-creation.
Meet the Joyful Voices!
The Joyful Voices Children’s Choir brings Disney and musical favourites to the stage for Octoburst!, celebrating music, friendship, and performance.
Riff Raff Glitter Noise
Three roving musicians invite passers-by to share their wildest moves, sounds and rhythms. Together, they transform playful ideas into music, creating a joyful adventure shaped by everyone.
Sing, Strum and Giggle
A pocketful of songs, stories and a whole lot of fun!
From Page to Stage
From Page to Stage brings beloved children’s stories to life through captivating narration, expressive singing and live music in a whimsical journey for the entire family.
The Feelings Farm: Live in Concert!
Join actors Ethel Yap, Shafiqhah Efandi, Nadya Zaheer & Marcus Cheong to celebrate The Feelings Farm Original Soundtrack release on Spotify!
Groovers 645
Report to the dancefloor for a music party with the family and still make it home in time for bedtime!
A Universe In Sounds
Step into the world of Pangu, where ripples, winds, stars and silence come alive through an immersive soundscape and gentle movements.
About
Producer's Message
Welcome back to Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, young friends!
Octoburst! returns to Esplanade on 2 Oct 2026 as we come together to celebrate Children’s Day. This year, the festival invites children of all ages and abilities to play, create, listen, sing, dance and share stories. Featuring two new commissions, Dear Story Keeper and The Story Keeper’s Room, alongside music, movement, storytelling, craft activities and more, Octoburst! is a day of inclusive and accessible arts experiences for children and their families.
While Octoburst! could not take place at Esplanade last year due to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, the festival continued its journey into schools, bringing arts experiences to children and encouraging them to explore their creativity. This year, we are delighted to welcome children and families back to the arts centre with programmes that invite young ones to see themselves as storytellers, creators and participants in the arts.
In Dear Story Keeper, a new commission created in collaboration with Zip Zap Zoom Collective, children are encouraged to create and share their own stories. Step into The Story Keeper’s Room, a free installation featuring stories created by children from across Singapore, and meet the Story Keeper in a live storytelling session. Singapore artists Tan Weiying and Cheryl Ho will also bring pop-up storytelling and mass games to spaces around Esplanade.
There will be plenty of music and movement to enjoy as a family. The Joyful Voices Children’s Choir will open the festival with a celebratory performance by children, for children. Akiko Otao and The Voice Company will bring popular musical theatre songs to life, with opportunities for everyone to sing along. Safuan will get both little ones and grown-ups moving with music that crosses generations, cultures and worlds.
Get creative at The Color-Your-Mood Flower Studio! with WahSoSimple, where children can craft colourful “feeling flowers”. To round off the day, The Feelings Farm: Live in Concert! brings the much-loved songs and poetry of The Feelings Farm to the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre. Led by composer Julian Wong and featuring musicians Ethel Yap, Shafiqhah Efandi, Nadya Zaheer and Marcus Cheong, the concert celebrates the music from the Esplanade production, originally commissioned for the first edition of March On in 2021 and later restaged as part of the Feed Your Imagination (F.Y.I) series in 2024.
Most of all, Octoburst! is a celebration of the child within us. Whether they are big or small, new to the arts or already budding creators, we welcome children and their families to come and play, make, listen, sing, dance and create with us in a space where everyone can join in. October is a special month for PIP, and PIP’s Club members can join in the fun at the festival booth to redeem a special gift!
Happy Children’s Day, and we look forward to seeing you at Esplanade!
Rachel Lim
Senior Producer
The Esplanade Co Ltd
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Contact
The Esplanade Co Ltd
1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
+65 6828 8377
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Join Esplanade&Me
A free Esplanade&Me membership, with a PIP's Club badge for those with kids ages 12 and below. Enjoy exclusive ticket specials and create unforgettable family moments at Esplanade!
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PIP’s PLAYbox
A dedicated space for children and families to discover, imagine and play!
This children’s arts space includes a cosy loft, a roomy arts and craft area, a reading corner filled with books by Singapore writers and illustrators, as well as an outdoor play area.
Admission is free and for PIP’s Club members only.