No holiday plans for Christmas this year? Don’t worry, there’s still plenty to do in Singapore. Here are some cool festive events to check out this holiday season.
1. Christmas Wonderland 2016
The highly-lauded Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay returns for its second installment this year, with an amazing array of Luminarie light sculptures, lighting displays and of course, (fake) snow. With plenty of festive activities in the line up – such as carolling, a skating rink and Christmas performances – the event truly has something for everyone. Still not convinced? Here are 10 reasons why you should visit Christmas Wonderland 2016.
Dates: 2 December 2016 to 2 January 2017
Time: 3.30pm to 11pm
Venue: Gardens by the Bay Singapore
Admission: From $4. See here for more details.
(Source: Christmas Wonderland)
2. Christmas at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
This Christmas, the Singapore Botanic Gardens transforms its lush grounds into a festive wonderland for all to enjoy. In the spirit of Christmas, friends and partners of the Singapore Botanic Gardens have come together to decorate 200 trees around the Nassim Gate Visitor Centre and Heritage Core at Tanglin Gate – resulting in a magical experience that is bound to put you in a festive mood. The grounds are open from 5am to 12am daily, but head down in the evening to experience the full effects of the Christmas light-up.
Dates: 1 December 2016 to 2 January 2017
Time: 5am – 12am daily (Christmas light-up is between 7pm to 12am daily, until 2 January 2017.)
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens
Admission: Free
(Source: Singapore Botanic Gardens Facebook)
3. Santa’s All-Star Christmas
Be enchanted by the world’s largest light bulb display in an indoor setting (as verified by Guinness World Records), with 8 themed zones featuring plenty of beautiful light sculptures and displays. At Santa’s All-Star Christmas in Resorts World Sentosa, visitors can explore Santa’s Village (full of his trusty elves and reindeer, of course), take in twinkly dreamscapes full of dazzling lights, and even enjoy magnificent displays of fireworks on selected nights. While you are there, don’t forget to check out Bah Humbug! A Christmas Spectacular, a festive musical featuring all your favourite characters like the Minions, Gingerbread Man and cast of Sesame Street.
Dates: 1 December 2016 to 2 January 2017
Time: 10am till late. See here for daily timings .
Location: Universal Studios Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa
Admission: From $74 (for Adults). See here for more details.
(Source: Resorts World Sentosa)
4. Christmas On A Great Street
And by “Great Street” we mean Orchard Road, of course. As per annual tradition, the entire 2.88km stretch of Orchard Road will get a Christmas makeover in the weeks leading up to the big day, with fairy lights, dazzling displays and Christmas sculptures taking over Singapore’s most prominent shopping street. Besides unique interactive installations and Christmas music, participating malls in the area have also put up amazing decorations for all visitors to enjoy. Some of our favourites include ION Orchard, Paragon and Centrepoint, which have truly outdone themselves this year.
Dates: 12 November 2016 to 2 January 2017
Time: Varies. See here for more details.
Location: Orchard Road
Admission: Free
(Source: Orchard Road Facebook)
5. Pony Magical City
Relive your childhood and meet your favourite My Little Pony characters at Suntec City, where parents and children alike can meet Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and other friends, as well as participate in My Little Pony-themed craft workshops. If you want to do some Christmas shopping, head over to the Festive Market in the East Atrium of Suntec City, where you can get gift inspiration, Christmas tree decorations and more. For more details on the Christmas events and promotions at Suntec City, see here.
Dates: 18 November to 25 December 2016
Time: Varies. See here for more details.
Location: Suntec City Singapore
Admission: Varies – certain activities may require a minimum spend. See here for more details.
(Source: Suntec City Facebook)
6. Christmas Carolling at Raffles Hotel
Love belting out your favourite Christmas songs? Join the carollers from the National University of Singapore and Victoria Junior College Choir, as they perform a repertoire of classic holiday tunes at Raffles Hotel. Admission is free, so take the opportunity to revisit seasonal classics like Silent Night, Silver Bells and many more.
Dates: Weekends, between 10 to 25 December 2016
Time: Varies. See here for more details.
Location: Raffles Hotel Singapore
Admission: Free. However, certain sessions are reserved for hotel and restaurant patrons only. See here for more details.
(Source: Raffles Hotel Singapore)
7. Public Garden Christmas 2016
Known for bringing together a curated collection of quality and independent brands, Public Garden returns this month for its Christmas edition. With products ranging from stationery and art to apparel and beauty, the popular consumer trade show is the perfect place to check off some items on your Christmas shopping list. Vendors this year include Chirashi Bomb from Singapore, Catmadecom from Russia and Wallflowers from Hong Kong.
Dates: 10 to 11 December 2016, 17 to 18 December 2016
Time: 1pm to 7pm
Location: F1 Pit Building
Admission: Free
8. Merry Fishmas at the S.E.A. Aquarium
Punny titles aside, Merry Fishmas at the S.E.A Aquarium promises plenty of festive fun for every member in the family. Visitors can look forward to catching Scuba Santa (and his elf) in action, as the jolly pair feed marine life from a giant gift box of treats. Carollers will also be putting on performances around the Aquarium, alongside mascots like Mr and Mrs Santa, Mai the Manta and even Pikachu.
Dates: 1 December 2016 to 2 January 2017
Time: Varies. See here for more details
Location: S.E.A. Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa
Admission: From $35 (for Adults). See here for more details.
(Source: Resorts World Sentosa Blog)
9. Singapore Symphony Orchestra Christmas Concert
Led by Associate Conductor Joshua Tan, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra will be presenting an array of classic favorites this Christmas season. Besides renditions of White Christmas, It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year and many more, the Christmas concert will also feature a sing-along segment for the audience to get involved.
Dates: 16 to 18 December 2016
Time: 4pm or 7.30pm, depending on the session. See here for more details.
Location: Victoria Concert Hall
Admission: Tickets start from $28; visit their ticketing website for more details
(Source: Singapore Symphony Orchestra)
