Pesta Ubin is a kampung-style Open House at Singapore’s last rustic island, Pulau Ubin!
Pesta Ubin is the highlight of each year of 'Celebrating Ubin', which is made possible by the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN). FUN brings together those who are committed to working together for Ubin.
Pronounced ‘Pays-ta’, Pesta is Malay for festival or party. Pesta often describes festivities that bring a community together, such as a wedding; or a cultural celebration. (It is NOT an Italian dish: which is ‘pasta’.)
What's special about Pesta Ubin?
Once a year, people who love Ubin step up to share with the public their special slice of Pulau Ubin. Pesta Ubin activities are heartfelt, organic and led by the community.
Ubin's unique charms are passionately highlighted in Pesta Ubin activities. Its culture, kampung life, nature and wildlife, Ubin land and sea. From sports and nature, to heritage and arts, for families and youths. From Ubin Town to the quarries, and the waters around Pulau Ubin. Morning, noon and night! These activities celebrate Ubin, and shows how everyone can make a difference for Ubin. Get a taste of the kinder, gentler way of life on Ubin during Pesta Ubin. Leave the city attitude behind, and get with The Ubin Way.
Want to contribute a Pesta Ubin activity?
Everyone is welcomed to contribute suitable activities for Pesta Ubin! More about what activities are suitable for Pesta Ubin and and how to contribute a Pesta Ubin activity in this form.
Activities suitable for Pesta Ubin should:
The Ubin Way
Pesta Ubin is a great opportunity for visitors to experience and practice the kinder, gentler way of life on Ubin. Hopefully, visitors will practice the Ubin Way beyond Pesta Ubin. With this in mind, please consider incorporating these elements of the Ubin Way in your activity:
More about what activities are suitable for Pesta Ubin and and how to contribute a Pesta Ubin activity in this form.
History of Pesta Ubin
The first Ubin Open House was for one day and called Ubin Day. The first Ubin Day was held in April 2002 organised by Grant Pereira with the Singapore Environment Council. There was a second Ubin Day in 2003.
Ubin Day 2014
More than a decade later, Ubin Day was revived in 2014 as part of the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN). Thanks to the support of 31 organising groups who contributed activities to make Ubin Day a success. The day was officially opened by PM Lee who spent the day engaging in various activities around the island! Here's the Ubin Day 2014 report.
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| Community coming together for Pesta Ubin 2017. Photo by MJ Mohammad |
Pronounced ‘Pays-ta’, Pesta is Malay for festival or party. Pesta often describes festivities that bring a community together, such as a wedding; or a cultural celebration. (It is NOT an Italian dish: which is ‘pasta’.)
What's special about Pesta Ubin?
Once a year, people who love Ubin step up to share with the public their special slice of Pulau Ubin. Pesta Ubin activities are heartfelt, organic and led by the community.
 |
| The community who cares of Chek Jawa coming together for Balik Chek Jawa 2017. |
Ubin's unique charms are passionately highlighted in Pesta Ubin activities. Its culture, kampung life, nature and wildlife, Ubin land and sea. From sports and nature, to heritage and arts, for families and youths. From Ubin Town to the quarries, and the waters around Pulau Ubin. Morning, noon and night! These activities celebrate Ubin, and shows how everyone can make a difference for Ubin. Get a taste of the kinder, gentler way of life on Ubin during Pesta Ubin. Leave the city attitude behind, and get with The Ubin Way.
 |
| Upon arriving at Pulau Ubin, leave all your cares behind! |
Want to contribute a Pesta Ubin activity?
Everyone is welcomed to contribute suitable activities for Pesta Ubin! More about what activities are suitable for Pesta Ubin and and how to contribute a Pesta Ubin activity in this form.
Activities suitable for Pesta Ubin should:
- Highlight Ubin's unique charms. Its culture, kampung life, nature and wildlife, Ubin land and sea.
- Raise awareness of Pulau Ubin and issues on Pulau Ubin.
- Abide by the Ubin Way, see below.
- Activities must be open to the public, i.e., should not be open only to a selected group.
- Free activities without registration are the most popular. Such activities are encouraged. But activities with registration or those which charge fees to cover costs are also welcomed.
The Ubin Way
Pesta Ubin is a great opportunity for visitors to experience and practice the kinder, gentler way of life on Ubin. Hopefully, visitors will practice the Ubin Way beyond Pesta Ubin. With this in mind, please consider incorporating these elements of the Ubin Way in your activity:
- On Ubin, we greet others we meet. With a smile, a "Hello", "How was your day on Pulau Ubin?" Leave the city attitude behind! Respect the culture and get to know the people of Ubin.
- On Ubin, we do not litter. We pick up litter that we see. And bring litter back to the mainland.
- On Ubin, we are gentle with wildlife that we share the island with. So no balloons please, they kill marine life and wild life. Avoid noisy activities near wild places. Practice gentle nature photography. Don't pluck plants or harm animals. At night, use torchlight gently to avoid disturbing animals.
- On Ubin, we try to minimise our footprint. Avoid or minimise bottled water, styrofoam, plastic bags, useless freebies, pamphlets and other one-time use articles.
- Ubin has a wide variety of fun things to see and do. Tell your participants about these.
- Encourage participants to patronise local businesses.
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| More details http://bit.ly/greeneventsg |
More about what activities are suitable for Pesta Ubin and and how to contribute a Pesta Ubin activity in this form.
History of Pesta Ubin
The first Ubin Open House was for one day and called Ubin Day. The first Ubin Day was held in April 2002 organised by Grant Pereira with the Singapore Environment Council. There was a second Ubin Day in 2003.
Ubin Day 2014
More than a decade later, Ubin Day was revived in 2014 as part of the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN). Thanks to the support of 31 organising groups who contributed activities to make Ubin Day a success. The day was officially opened by PM Lee who spent the day engaging in various activities around the island! Here's the Ubin Day 2014 report.
 |
| PM engaging in conversation with the founder of Ubin Day 2002, Grant Pereira from the Green Volunteers Photo by Sumita Thiagarajan |
Ubin Day 2015
Ubin Day 2015 was held over a weekend, with even more activities offered by 34 Organising Groups. Here's the Ubin Day 2015 Report.
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| The Kampung Photo Booth was a popular spot to get into the kampung spirit at Ubin Open House! |
Pesta Ubin 2016
Ubin Day 2015 was such a success that in 2016, Ubin Open House was held for five weeks! And it was called Pesta Ubin 2016. Here's the Pesta Ubin 2016 report.
Pesta Ubin 2017
The second Pesta Ubin was held over 10 weeks with even more fun and community happenings! Here's the Pesta Ubin 2017 report.
What happened to Ubin Day?
Ubin Day is still celebrated, as a special day during Pesta Ubin.
MORE about Pesta Ubin
Keep up with the latest on Pesta Ubin also on our Facebook page.
Writing about Pesta Ubin?
If you would like to write about Pesta Ubin, here is our press release (it will be updated as activities are announced). Photos for media use are in this flickr group. Thank you!
More about Ubin
Here's more about what to see and do on Pulau Ubin.
