Published Date: 26 November 2019
Singapore teems with numerous unique festivities that ring in the New Year. Introduce your guests to the immense breadth and depth of Singaporean culture, through a diverse spread of annual celebrations and events, which will return with even more one-of-a-kind experiences. At these multisensory affairs, visitors will discover budding local artists, enjoy compelling performances, experience local gastronomy, marvel at spectacular pyrotechnic displays and forge unforgettable memories.
The holiday season’s best highlights include Christmas Wonderland, which transforms iconic Gardens by the Bay into a tropical version of a white Christmas, complete with a festive market, lavish decorations, carnival rides and games, and musicians performing yuletide tunes. Visitors to Orchard Road can enjoy unique keepsakes, attractive discounts, whimsical street decorations and a variety of games and performances at Christmas on A Great Street. Resorts World™ Sentosa (RWS) will be celebrating a very special RWS Christmas, where guests can meet their favourite Universal Studios Singapore™ characters, tuck into special menus by celebrity chef restaurants and enjoy Christmas-themed activities in the S.E.A. Aquarium™ and Adventure Cove Waterpark™.
In the weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve, a wide range of fringe activities will spring up along our iconic bay. Visitors can mingle with street performers and even take photos with them, which will make for great keepsakes. Your guests are welcome to play games at interactive booths, take their pick from an array of merchandise and indulge in a variety of food and drinks sold at pop-up booths. On New Year’s Eve, this countdown event culminates with outdoor concerts by local and international artists, followed by pyrotechnics that will light up our city’s skyline at the stroke of midnight. Consider booking your guests seats in a restaurant or bar in the Marina Bay area or into hotels in the vicinity, from which they can watch the lavish fireworks. Many of these establishments will be holding New Year’s Eve parties and rolling out special menus and promotions. Alternatively, bring your guests to public venues like Gardens by the Bay, the Marina Barrage, the Esplanade or the Promontory, which are popular venues for catching the fireworks.
Duration: December 2019
Cost: General admission is free, charges may apply for some programmes
Address: Marina Bay
Website: marinabaycountdown.sg
Expect the 13th edition of the Siloso Beach Party to be bigger and better than ever. Every New Year’s Eve, Sentosa’s famous beach countdown party carries on till dawn, driven by music from live performers and fuelled by delicious food and drinks. Your clients will enjoy exciting fireworks, laser shows and musical performances, as they tuck into refreshments provided by beachside bars and food carts.
Duration: 31 December 2019
Cost: From $24
Address: Siloso Beach, Sentosa
Website: sentosa.com.sg/silosobeachparty
Art lovers can dive into an array of local and international works at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival. Themed ‘My Country and My People’ (from the poem of the same title by Anne Lee Tzu Pheng), this year’s festival will shine the spotlight on original works by artists of different backgrounds. Guests will enjoy discovering the underlying narratives of thought-provoking artworks, presented in a variety of media.
Duration: 8-19 January 2020
Cost: Varies for different venues and events
Address: Various locations
Website: singaporefringe.com
For eight years running, this multifaceted art festival has been kick-starting Singapore’s vibrant calendar with a stellar line-up of programmes, held at various locations across the island. At several participating venues, your clients can admire pop-up art installations, purchase art pieces of different genres and price points, and enjoy visual art projected on historic landmarks in the Civic District. Singapore Art Week also comprises outdoor parties, which will ply guests with sumptuous food, drinks, live music and visual spectacles.
Duration: 11-19 January 2020
Cost: Varies for different venues and events
Address: Various locations
Website: artweek.sg
Save your clients a spot in the grandstands of the Chingay parade, so that they’ll have a clear view of this festival that showcases the cultural diversity of Singapore. The Chingay Parade marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore. This parade is known for its many colourful floats that celebrate the country’s four main races—Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian. Spectators will love the stilt walkers, gymnasts and variety of other performance artists, who will dance their way through this annual extravaganza. Held over two nights, this longstanding tradition is complemented by parades held in the heartlands on subsequent weekends after the main parade.
Duration: 31 Jan & 1 Feb 2020
Cost: TBA
Address: F1 Pit Building, Republic Boulevard
Website: chingay.org.sg
Marina Bay will be decked in colourful lanterns during the Chinese New Year season and host live performers from around the world. This event is bound to be an eye-opener for visitors who want a taste of Chinese culture and heritage. Over the course of several nights, this lively affair will be lit up by pyrotechnic displays, curated by award-winning artists from around the world. Food stalls, amusement rides, carnival games and cultural performances that pop up across the precinct will treat one and all to fun and memorable experiences.
Duration: February 2020
Cost: Free entry
Address: The Float @ Marina Bay, 20 Raffles Avenue
Website: riverhongbao.sg
Watch street performers like acrobats, buskers, clowns, jugglers, magicians and stilt-walkers compete for the public’s attention by pulling off incredible stunts and impossible tricks. Both young and old can have a roaring good time with the world’s best comedians during the Singapore Festival of Fun. Exclusive merchandise of famous TV and movie franchises will be sold at the temporary booths of this festival village too.
Duration: March 2020
Cost: Free entry
Address: Clarke Quay
Website: festivaloffun.sg