Make crunchy squishies, race mini cars, and more at the VivoCity birthday pop-up
Believe it or not, it’s been two whole decades since VivoCity first opened its doors and became one of southern Singapore’s go-to spots for shopping, family outings, and quick bites before heading to Sentosa.
To celebrate its 20th birthday, the mall is going all out with VC20, featuring a slew of fun activities, shopping deals, and special rewards.
The highlight is the VC20 Birthday Playground, a week-long pop-up happening at the Central Court from now till 18 Oct, with hands-on activities for the whole family.
And there’s more to look forward to beyond the playground, including limited-time deals, mystery prizes, and exclusive collectibles over the following weekends, with celebrations running till 1 Nov 2026.
Make your own crunchy squishy
If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok lately, chances are you’ve come across videos of people squeezing adorable little toys that make oddly satisfying sounds.
Regular squishies first took social media by storm with their soft, slow-rising textures, but crunchy squishies have since taken the trend to a whole new level, adding an extra layer of ASMR goodness.
Think of them as the cooler cousins of traditional stress balls. These trendy toys typically feature a soft, flexible casing filled with tiny plastic pieces that rub against one another, producing satisfying crackling sounds with every knead.
Now, you can get in on the craze by making your own at VivoCity’s Crunchy Squishy Workshop by SPLATTIFY, happening at the Birthday Playground till 16 Oct.
Start by picking from an assortment of colourful fillings in different shapes and sizes, then scoop your favourites into a bag.
Next, choose between a creamy or slimy base to complete your creation before sealing it all up. And voilà, you’ve got your very own crunchy squishy to knead and squeeze to your heart’s content.
Each hands-on session lasts around 15 minutes and is open to children aged three and above, with parental supervision recommended for younger participants. Workshops run from 12pm to 8pm, with walk-in tickets priced at S$29 nett.
Race tiny cars around a VivoCity-inspired track
The F1 season in Singapore may be over for the year, but if you’re still itching for some high-speed action, you can channel your inner Verstappen, Leclerc, or Antonelli at the VC20 Mini Grand Prix.
It looks like your regular racing simulator, but with a twist. You’ll take the wheel at a gaming-style rig to remotely steer an actual miniature car around a 6m by 4m circuit inspired by VivoCity, watching the action unfold live on the physical track as friends and family cheer you on from the sidelines.
Races cost S$15 nett each from now till 16 Oct, with five-race and 10-race bundles available at S$65 and S$120 respectively. Participants must be at least 1.2m tall to be allowed in the driver’s seat.
Things get a little more competitive on 17 and 18 Oct, when racers can battle for a spot at the top of the leaderboard. The overall champion will walk away with S$2,000 worth of VivoCity and mystery eVouchers.
To join the races over these two days, you’ll need to spend at least S$80 in up to two same-day receipts, which gets you a five-minute race.
And while we’re on the subject of speed, you can also test your reflexes at Hit The Perfect 20, a challenge that sounds ridiculously easy until you actually try it: stop a running timer at exactly 20 seconds.
Get it spot-on and you’ll walk away with a prize, plus bragging rights over your impeccable sense of timing.
Participation requires a minimum S$80 spend in up to two same-day receipts, and the challenge runs at selected times from now till 18 Oct.
Get creative with digital colouring and make memories at a newspaper photobooth
If you’d rather flex your creative muscles instead, there are a couple of activities to check out, too.
First up is Make the VC20 Headlines, a free newspaper-style photobooth by Solace Studios where you can pose for your very own front-page feature and take home a printout as a cool keepsake.
Meanwhile, budding artists can head over to Colour Our 20, an interactive digital colouring activity featuring artworks by artists from The Art Faculty.
Pick an artwork, give it your own splash of colour, and watch your creation come to life on a digital display alongside everyone else’s masterpieces. Together, they’ll form one big, colourful artwork celebrating VivoCity’s 20th birthday.
And yes, both activities are free and available from now till 18 Oct.
Score shopping deals, mystery prizes, and exclusive collectibles
The party doesn’t end at the Birthday Playground, as VivoCity will continue treating shoppers to more deals and rewards over the next few weekends.
Keep your eyes peeled for the VC20 Power Hour deals on 17, 18, 24, and 25 Oct, when brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, OSIM, and Burberry will be rolling out exclusive one-hour offers at 2pm and 5.20pm. The deals will be revealed on VivoCity’s social media channels.
If you’re planning to splurge a little and feeling lucky, spend at least S$120 in up to two same-day receipts for a chance to try the VC20 Rewards Capsule, where qualifying VivoRewards members can win mystery prizes, including a weekly grand prize of S$2,000 in VivoCity eVouchers.
The capsule machine will be at West Boulevard, Level 1, from 4pm to 8pm over three weekends, from 17 Oct to 1 Nov.
There are also limited-edition VC20 x The Art Faculty collectibles to redeem, including a pouch with a minimum S$150 spend and an additional tote bag with a minimum S$300 spend.
Image courtesy of VivoCity
Better yet, for every item redeemed, Mapletree and VivoCity will donate S$2 to Autism Resource Centre (Singapore).
In the meantime, here are the details if you’re planning to check out the Birthday Playground:
VivoCity VC20 Birthday Playground
Venue: Central Court, Level 1, VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585
Dates: Now till 18 Oct 2026
Time: 10am to 10pm daily
Nearest MRT station: HarbourFront
For more details on the activities and anniversary promotions, visit VivoCity’s website.
Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.
Featured image by MS News and courtesy of VivoCity.
