Step Into a Floral Wonderland, Orchid Extravaganza 2025
- Singapore Expats Association
- Aug 5
- 5 min read
This August, Singapore’s Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay opens its doors to Orchid Extravaganza 2025, a month-long celebration of the city-state’s beloved national flower. Running from 1 August to 31 August 2025, daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the cool conservatory will blossom into a vibrant tribute to orchids and Singapore’s heritage.
A Tribute to Singapore’s Orchid Legacy
Orchid Extravaganza 2025 is more than a floral exhibition; it is a horticultural love letter to Singapore. The show pays homage to the nation's heritage through creative orchid interpretations of iconic local symbols. Visitors will be greeted by magnificent installations such as orchid versions of Supertrees, a nod to the majestic vertical gardens that define Singapore’s skyline.
Equally evocative are the floral representations of Peranakan culture, reflecting the intricate patterns and colours of the community’s rich artistic traditions. The exhibition also features reinterpretations of orchid paintings by Cultural Medallion recipient Lee Hock Moh, seamlessly blending botanical artistry with the painter’s signature style.
Beyond these showpieces, the display honours the role of orchids in Singapore’s social and environmental history. Through floral storytelling, visitors gain insight into how orchids have shaped local identity, horticultural practices and even diplomatic gestures over the decades.
Floral Highlights and Design Creativity
Walking through Flower Dome during Orchid Extravaganza is a sensory journey. Pathways wind past themed gardens where clusters of orchids are shaped into cultural symbols. The orchid’d Supertrees tower overhead, while other floral arrangements echo local motifs such as traditional Peranakan tiles or batik patterns.
Each display uses diverse orchid taxa to evoke texture, colour and form. The sculptural approach combines living plants with overhead lighting, subtle misting and carefully curated backdrops to create immersive scenes. The horticultural team has put exceptional effort into staging installations that feel organic rather than contrived, which results in an experience both cohesive and emotionally resonant.
Take your time to pause before the orchid paintings inspired by Lee Hock Moh, where blooms are arranged in gentle gradations that recall his brush strokes. It’s both an artistic and botanical homage that blurs the boundary between canvas and conservatory.
Special Programmes and Interactive Stations
Orchid Extravaganza 2025 includes thoughtfully curated programmes to deepen visitor engagement. One standout event is Sensory Moments – Orchid Extravaganza, held on 16 August 2025 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This experience invites guests to see, touch, smell and marvel at the diverse orchid family by moving through three interactive stations.
Each station offers a short ten-minute sharing session that reveals fascinating facts about orchid fragrance, textures and forms. It’s free for Flower Dome visitors, though entry to the conservatory requires a ticket.
Schools and families may be interested in Our Singapore!, a seasonal programme available from 4 August to 29 August. Designed especially for young learners aged four to six, the guided experience explores national symbols and the orchid’s role as Singapore’s national flower. Children receive activity sheets, stickers and a craft to take home. Educators can also accompany classes for a digital resource kit. Admission to Flower Dome is required separately.
For hands-on creativity, Get Crafty – Wellness with Orchids takes place on weekends of 9 and 10 August, and allows participants to blend orchid-inspired essential oils into personalised scents. This activity costs S$15 per person, or S$13.50 for Friends of the Gardens, and requires Flower Dome entry.
Planning Your Visit
Flower Dome is open daily during the festival from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with last admission typically around one hour before closing. Admission ticket prices vary: standard Flower Dome entry is S$12 for adults, S$8 for seniors (60+) and children aged 3–12. For combined access to Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, non-residents pay S$46, while Singapore residents enjoy a discounted rate of S$34 for adults, and reduced rates for seniors and children.
Tips and Local Notices
On certain dates around the National Day period events (notably 3 August), large crowds and restricted access to Bayfront Plaza carpark and some Gardens amenities are expected. Public transport is highly recommended. Additionally, shows like Garden Rhapsody and Borealis are cancelled on 31 July to 3 August due to National Day Celebrations.
Why This Exhibition Is Unique
This year’s Orchid Extravaganza stands out for its cultural resonance. 2025 marks SG60, the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s diplomatic relations with key nations. While earlier in the year seasonal floral shows like Orchids from the Land of Smiles celebrated ties with Thailand through Thai orchid species and artistic installations, Orchid Extravaganza turns the lens inward to celebrate Singapore’s own floral heritage in a deeply local, visual narrative.
Unlike typical flower shows which highlight sheer botanical diversity or exotic rarity, this exhibition interweaves flora and identity. It invites visitors to appreciate orchids not only for their form or colour but also as living symbols of place, art and memory.
What to See and Do, Day by Day
To make the most of your visit, here’s a suggested itinerary:
Early morning or late afternoon: begin with Flower Dome entry to avoid peak crowding and to capture the best light for photos
First hour: wander through orchid-sculpted Supertrees and cultural tableau
Mid-exhibition: locate the Lee Hock Moh-inspired flower art and appreciate the blend of botanical arrangement and painterly flow
On 16 August: join one of the Sensory Moments sessions (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.) to explore scent, touch and orchid lore
Weekend families: older kids may enjoy Get Crafty, while younger children and preschools benefit from Our Singapore! guided experiences
Throughout: pause to admire smaller themed corners featuring orchids in combinations that riff on local traditions or contemporary design.
Bring your camera or smartphone, especially around the Peranakan-inspired displays and orchid trees. The lighting has been carefully designed for visual effect, so even simple arrangements can produce dramatic shots.
Accessibility and Experience
Flower Dome is fully air-conditioned, making it comfortable for tropical weather outside. The walkways are wheelchair accessible, with gentle ramps and rest areas. Do note that on 3 August, a large National Day concert will occupy parts of the Gardens and some services like audio tours may be suspended temporarily.
Tickets can be pre-purchased online for added convenience, and special discounts are available to SAFRA and NTUC Link cardholders providing 10% off Flower Dome tickets until April 2026.
A Blooming Conclusion
If you are enchanted by orchids or captivated by design, Orchid Extravaganza 2025 promises a rich, layered experience. It blends Singapore’s cultural identity, botanical beauty, artistic homage and sensory discovery into one cohesive floral celebration. There is something here for everyone, whether you come for stunning displays, creative workshops or a quiet moment in nature.
Plan your visit, explore the sensory stations, engage in hands-on fragrance craft, and allow the orchid-inspired installations to tell a story of national heritage. A summer visit to the Flower Dome this August transforms into a journey through colour, scent and memory. Don’t miss this chance to step into a floral wonderland that feels deeply Singaporean and thoroughly unforgettable.
Ready to get involved? Email us today at members@expatassociation.com or join us now at https://www.expatassociation.com/join-us and be part of something meaningful.
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