Joo Chiat Goes Car-Free This Saturday: 80 Shops, Live Music and Pets on the Road From 3.30pm
Joo Chiat Road closes to cars from 3.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday 3 October. More than 80 merchants take over the street with live music, fitness classes, food, kids' crafts and a pet zone. Entry is free.
For six hours this Saturday, one of the prettiest roads in Singapore belongs to people on foot.
Joo Chiat Road closes to traffic between Dunman Road and East Coast Road from 3.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday 3 October. More than 80 local merchants, from eateries and cafés to boutiques and fitness studios, move out onto the road for a free street party. It runs under the Land Transport Authority's World Car-Free Day 2026, and the Katong-Joo Chiat Business Association calls it the Joo Chiat Street Social.
If you live in the east, or you have been meaning to show visiting family the colourful shophouses, this is the easy afternoon to do it.
What is on
The road splits into themed zones:
Music: live bands and performances on the street. The organisers list a live band slot at 6.30pm.
Picnic and food: benches and seating near the East Coast Road end, with food and drinks from Joo Chiat eateries.
Fitness and wellness: workout sessions and demos from the studios on the road, including yoga, boxing and dance fitness.
Pets: pet-friendly activities near the Dunman Road end. Bring your aso.
Kids' art: crafts and pottery for the little ones.
LTA's own line-up adds a cycling tour on sustainable city design, a heritage fitness challenge, pickleball, rollerblading and a kueh party. Joo Chiat Community Club runs cultural activities and a children's area. At Marine Parade MRT station, SMRT has a music performance from 4pm to 5pm.
Is it free?
Yes. You walk in, no ticket needed.
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There is also a community pass that comes with a free drink. The business association gave these out through participating shops before the event, with a limited number available on the day. Reports differ on what the pass includes, so check kjcba.sg/joochiatstreetsocial before you go if you want one.
You can also win $5 merchant vouchers through games and challenges across the zones.
How to get there
Leave the car at home. The road is closed and parking nearby will be tight.
MRT: Marine Parade station on the Thomson-East Coast Line is the closest. Eunos on the East-West Line works if you do not mind a longer walk.
Bus: services on Dunman Road and East Coast Road keep running, per the organisers. LTA said it would post any bus diversions closer to the day, so check the LTA website on Friday.
Bike or on foot: the organisers want you to arrive this way, and the whole point is a road without cars.
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A few tips before you go
Go early for the fitness and pet sessions. The organisers list 4pm for community yoga and the pet activities.
Stay for the evening. The shophouses light up after dark, and the live band plays at 6.30pm.
Bring a small towel and water. October afternoons in Singapore stay hot and humid until the sun drops.
Saturday, not Sunday. If your day off falls on Sunday, ask early whether you can swap, or catch the last few hours after work.
The festival closes at 9.30pm, and cars return to Joo Chiat Road after that.
For more Filipino-friendly things to do this month, see the FIS events calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is Joo Chiat car-free day 2026?+
Saturday 3 October 2026, from 3.30pm to 9.30pm. Joo Chiat Road is closed to traffic between Dunman Road and East Coast Road for those six hours.
Is the Joo Chiat street party free?+
Yes, entry is free. A limited community pass with a complimentary drink was given out through participating merchants, with some available on the day. Check kjcba.sg/joochiatstreetsocial for the latest details.
What is the nearest MRT to the Joo Chiat car-free day?+
Marine Parade station on the Thomson-East Coast Line. Eunos on the East-West Line is a longer walk. Bus services on Dunman Road and East Coast Road continue to run.
Can I bring my dog?+
Yes. There is a pet zone with pet-friendly activities, near the Dunman Road end of the closed stretch.
Who organises the Joo Chiat Street Social?+
The Katong-Joo Chiat Business Association, as part of the Land Transport Authority's World Car-Free Day 2026, with more than 80 local merchants taking part.
