By: Cheryl Lim

If you are among those who did not get your hands on the tickets for the Formula One Grand Prix on Sept 28, fret not. No one will be left out of the ensuing festive spirit.

A series of activities called The Singapore GP Season will be held downtown from Singapore River waterfront to Orchard Road and Fort Canning Park.

Comprising more than 10 events ranging from a beer festival to a Diana Krall gig to a sculpture exhibition boasting the works of masters such as Fernando Botero and Arman Fernandez, it will run from Sept 20 to Oct 5 to complement the world's first night F1 race.

Organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the event aims to entice tourists to swing by before or hang around after the race. Ms Margaret Teo, assistant chief executive (leisure) of the STB, said the event hopes to 'enhance the experience of visitors' and make them 'stay an extra day or two' after the race.

Ms Lynette Pang, director of the leisure group, events and entertainment cluster development at the STB said the event is aimed at 'both locals and visitors'.

She added: 'A host of enriching lifestyle offerings has also been lined up including dining and retail promotions and late night shopping opportunities to ensure that is something for everyone.'

The Season's anchor event is the week-long Singapore River Festival in Clarke Quay to be held from Sept 19 to 28.

Its lineup ranges from outdoor dance parties to an illusory act by local magician JC Sum to the second Timbre Music Festival featuring rock and blues acts.

As for car fanatics, they should not miss the car and accessories show, Singapore Motorshow, to be held at Suntec City from Sept 25 to Oct 5. Arts aficionados can also look out for the 10-week-long Singapore Biennale, which runs from Sept 11 to Nov 15.

With this much happening, one would expect food-and-beverage operators in the vicinity to be smiling from ear to ear.

Some, like the Indochine Group, which has at least two outlets in the Clarke Quay and three outlets at Empress Place, are revved up for the race.

Ms Clementine Rogers, its group marketing manager, said they are 'gearing up for F1 with the annual jet-set event, the IndoChine Festival, an almost 10-day long fiesta of events' which will run from Sept 20 to 28. The events line-up includes a yacht party, a panel discussion, the IndoChine Festival Gala Dinner and a host of international DJ acts, she added.

However, not all welcome the announcement of the GP Season so warmly.

Mr Kelvin Ong, 52, manager of Japanese ramen restaurant Tampopo at Liang Court, said: 'As it is, there are long queues every day at dinner and even lunch. I don't think I can cope with more.

'My restaurant's capacity is about 200 and we can only take 1,000 diners a day.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 24 June, 2008