Saturday night and I like the way you move! (Whigfield – if you know, you know)
A rare treat — a Saturday date night! With a family holiday coming up next week, we decided to make the most of our weekend and switch things up. Rockestra, an NParks outdoor concert, was happening for one night only at Fort Canning Park. It sounded like the perfect excuse to trade our usual Wednesday date for a Saturday date night.
Where?
- Newton Food Centre – right next to Newton MRT
- Rockestra – Fort Canning Green at Fort Canning Park
What?
We kicked off the evening with dinner at Newton Food Centre—a classic hawker spot we visit all the time. There’s something special about the vibrant energy here: the sizzling sounds from food stalls, the buzz of conversation, and the clinking of beer glasses. No wonder it featured in the Crazy Rich Asians movie!
Although Newton has so many food options, we were craving Indian food and so headed straight to Indian Palace. We ordered their creamy butter chicken (yes, very British of us, but no regrets), fluffy garlic naan bread, fragrant rice and crispy onion pakoras. Everything was delicious and hit the spot.
Lucky for us, a downpour just before we arrived kept the usual Saturday crowds at bay. We paired our feast with a bucket of ice-cold Tigers — the ultimate hawker food combo.
If Indian isn’t your thing, Newton has plenty more to offer, including:
- Satay skewers
- Hainanese chicken rice
- BBQ stingray
- Chilli crab
- Carrot cake
- Oyster omelette
- Hokkien mee
- Chicken wings
- Char siew (but can it beat Fook Kin?)
Plus, Newton is home to a few Michelin-recommended stalls such as:
- Alliance Seafood – famous for its signature Chilli Crab and other classic seafood dishes.
- Heng Carrot Cake – a must for black carrot cake
- R&B Express – top-notch BBQ chicken wings
After food, we made our way to Fort Canning Park for the NParks music concert under the stars, Rockestra. The best part? It was completely free!
The moment we arrived, we could feel the buzz. The crowd was the perfect size — lively but not packed — leaving plenty of room to dance. And dance we did, thanks to some great tunes!
The grassy hill next to Fort Canning Centre was filled with people lounging on picnic blankets, surrounded by lush greenery, all facing a huge stage with vibrant lights, screens, and smoke effects. The post-rain coolness and gentle breeze made the night even more perfect.
We arrived just in time for The Jukuleles, who played fun, upbeat covers that had people dancing from the start. The sound quality was excellent — and that’s not just me saying it. My husband, a music teacher and former sound engineer (aka a total sound snob), had nothing but praise. So it really must have been good!
The event was well-organised too. The food and drink area behind the stage was surprisingly quiet, with no queues. We grabbed a deal—five Heinekens for $45—and they even let us store the extras behind the bar to collect later. Great service!
A big shout out to the host who kept the energy high between sets, hyping the crowd and cracking jokes. He had everyone smiling.
The final act, Supersonic, closed the night with a bang, playing crowd-pleasing covers that kept everyone on their feet until the very end!
WOW Tips:
- Head to Newton if you haven’t — it’s iconic, and you can’t go wrong.
- Don’t miss Rockestra next year! (I’ll certainly be going again)
When you go:
- Bring a picnic blanket for comfy seating.
- Arrive early to snag a good spot.
- Wear comfy clothes—you’ll be dancing!
- Dance your heart out and enjoy the atmosphere.
- Check out NParks’ website for more free events.
Worth it?
Absolutely! 10/10.
Newton never disappoints – it is an iconic hawker with everything I want in a casual but delicious meal.
And Rockestra? It blew me away! From the professional setup to the quality bands, it was the perfect mix of food, music, drinks, and dancing — all in a beautiful outdoor setting, under the stars.
The relaxed vibe, perfect weather, and easy access to cold beer had my husband and me dancing, laughing, and having genuine moments of connection. It was the ultimate date night!
What HE said…
About Newton: “Classic Newton. Indian Palace is an institution.”
About Rockestra: “Surprisingly awesome festival—massive stage, great sound, and the shortest beer queues in Singapore! Would love more original songs and fewer covers next time though.”
His rating? 9/10! (Clearly – we both had a blast!)
Wanna see?
For more photos, check out Instagram.
Wrap-Up
Newton is one of our favourite hawkers, and once again, it didn’t fail to deliver. As for Rockestra, we didn’t really know what to expect, but it turned out to be such a fun and vibrant event. We’ll definitely be going back next year—and now I’m excited to explore more NParks events.
While we love our usual Wednesday date nights, it’s worth mixing it up now and then, especially for special events like this. I’m so glad we took advantage of the weekend and enjoyed an evening filled with good food, great music, and plenty of dancing.
Have you been to Rockestra or any NParks events? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to check out our “holiday” date night next week!
