Free entertainment is hard to beat, and one of the best shows of the year costs nothing at all. Between 21st and 22nd October 2026, Singaporeans can catch the Orionid meteor shower — up to 20 shooting stars an hour if the sky cooperates, no telescope or binoculars required.

The Orionids are debris from Halley's Comet, the most famous comet in the sky, burning up as they slam into our atmosphere at speed. They get their name because the streaks appear to radiate from a point near the Orion constellation, though you don't need to find Orion to enjoy the show. The shower has a reputation for bright, fast meteors, and lucky watchers occasionally spot a fireball — a dramatically bright meteor that appears to explode as it burns up.

Timing matters. The best window is after midnight, with peak chances around 2am on the nights of 21st to 22nd October. There's a catch this year: a full moon falls on 25th to 26th October, and its brightness near the peak dates could wash out some of the fainter meteors. And, as ever in Singapore, everything depends on the haze and cloud clearing.

Location is the other half of the equation. Light pollution is the enemy of meteor watching, so darker corners of the island are your best bet — East Coast Park, Springleaf Nature Park and Labrador Nature Reserve are all solid picks. But you don't need to trek far. Any open field, rooftop or playground in an HDB estate with a clear view of the sky will do the job.

A few tricks improve your odds. Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and resist the urge to check your phone — one glance can reset that adjustment clock. Don't stare at Orion itself; the best meteors tend to appear slightly away from the constellation, so take in as much sky as possible. Mostly, though, bring patience. Meteor watching is a waiting game, so a picnic mat, a friend and some snacks make the hours pass pleasantly.

It's a rare chance for city dwellers to witness something genuinely wild — fragments of a comet that visits our neighbourhood only once every 76 years, burning up overhead. Set an alarm, pack a mat and look up.

Story first covered by The Smart Local.