Katong merchants launch evening heritage trail with Peranakan craft demos

A merchant association along Joo Chiat Road debuted a self-guided heritage trail that opens every Friday evening through December. Participating shophouses display archival photographs in their windows and offer short craft demonstrations—beadwork, tile painting, and kueh wrapping—without mandatory purchase.

Trail maps are printed on recycled paper at the community club and available as a plain HTML page for visitors who prefer not to install apps. Audio descriptions were recorded by longtime residents in English, Mandarin, and Malay to reflect neighbourhood history accurately.

Local cafés agreed to keep outdoor seating lit at moderate levels so the walk remains comfortable for older participants. The National Heritage Board provided curatorial review but does not operate the event commercially.

Organisers expect four hundred weekly visitors and will cap workshop groups at twelve people to keep footpaths clear for residents.

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