With just a few weeks to go until Lunar New Year fever hits its peak in Singapore, the festive mood here is far from over. In fact, there are plenty of immersive and engaging activities on the horizon for everyone to enjoy. From parades and festivals to CNY-themed events, consider this your family outing plans for the CNY season sorted.
Be sure to bookmark this post as we’ll be updating it with more fun things to do, and check out our No-Stress CNY Guide too!
Ever wished Singapore had one of those cultural festivals you see in Japan? Our biggest CNY carnival, River Hongbao, might be your closest bet, with carnival games, street food and fireworks all in one place. Soak yourself in the festive buzz as you weave through lantern sculptures depicting Chinese myths and legends, and make sure to catch a performance by one of the international and local troupes before you go home. Held annually since 1987, this is one extravaganza you don’t want to miss out on!
When: 23 January – 1 February 2020
Where: The Float @ Marina Bay
Cost: Free! Click here for more information.
Pineapples symbolise good luck in Chinese culture, which is why we see various decorations featuring the fruit over Chinese New Year. Usher in even more prosperity by visiting Huat Huat Land, an installation with gigantic golden pineapples amongst huge, colourful mahjong tiles and piles of gold! At three metres in height, the pineapples stand as tall as Changi Airport’s Frozen 2 Wonderland’s Olaf!
Located at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), the installation casts a spotlight on our local award-winning illustrator Lee Xin Li in collaboration with local creative technology studio MeshMinds.
What’s more, you’ll also get the chance to redeem Asia’s first interactive Augmented Reality (AR) red packets when you post a photo of yourself at Huat Huat Land on Facebook, Instagram or WeChat and tag #HuatHuatLand. Red packets are limited edition only, so be quick if you want to get your hands on them.
When: 1 January – 8 February 2020
Where: SCCC Roof Garden, 1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906
Cost: Free! Click here for more information.
Celebrations are even more meaningful when you understand the heritage behind it. Explore and appreciate Chinese art across the decades by Chinese masters like Ren Bonian, Xu Beihong, Qi Baishi as well as Singaporean artists at the Living With Ink exhibition located in the Asian Civilisations Museum. It proudly showcases the extensive collection of renowed local art collector Dr Tan Tsze Chor, comprising more than 130 paintings, porcelains and scholars’ objects.
Then, stay until evening for the Light to Night Festival 2020 where you can experience a dazzling outdoor installation by local artist Vertical Submarine, before making your way around other spots around the Civic District like National Gallery to experience the rest of the festival.
Besides insta-worthy shots, you can look forward to activities like UV body painting, interactive tours in the dark, performances and various workshops on selected dates. Plan your trip to make the most out of your day there for a fulfilling and fun time!
When: Living With Ink until 22 March 2020; Light to Night Festival from 10 – 18 January 2020
Where: Living With Ink is at Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555; Light to Night Festival 2020 is at various locations around the Civic District
Cost: Living With Ink costs $20 per adult, free for children below six, family of five at $60; free admission for Light to Night Festival. Click here for more information.
Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect from this year’s Light to Night Festival:
At the Esplanade’s 18th edition of Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, pick from a whole range of entertaining and enriching activities in celebration of the Lunar New Year for both young and old. This year’s festival presents a slew of music programmes by renowned artists like David Tao and Cheryl Lee amongst other workshops, dance and theatre programmes. There are even parent-child workshops and storytelling sessions to keep young ones entertained.
When: 31 January – 9 February 2020
Where: Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Cost: Tickets required for selected programmes. Click here for more information.
Besides standard lion dance performances and a visit by the God of Fortune, AMK Hub and Jurong Point will be inviting extra special guests for the coming Lunar New Year. With a spend of $30 in a single same-day receipt (easily attainable with all the New Year goodies to get), you can redeem a special meet-and-greet pass to see and snap photos with Doraemon, Nobita and Shizuka!
As each pass admits up to a maximum of four, this makes for an interesting family activity if everyone is in love with the beloved cartoon character.
Doraemon EZ-Charms will also be available for purchase at $16.90, along with Doraemon snack containers and red packets for redemption with $180 spend ($270 at NTUC FairPrice / FairPrice Xtra) and $80 spend ($120 at NTUC FairPrice / FairPrice Xtra) respectively.
When: Meet-and-Greet on 10 – 12 January at AMK Hub (1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm) and 17 – 19 January at Jurong Point (1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm)
Where: AMK Hub and Jurong Point
Cost: Spend $30 in a single same-day receipt
While the street parade traditionally started in 1973 to embrace the coming of the Lunar New Year, the Chingay Parade has always been an event Singaporeans of all races and religions flock to annually. In 2020, the parade is celebrating 60 years of community building by the People’s Association, giving even more reason to join in on the fun this year!
With the theme ‘Colours in Harmony’, the parade will be marching in with elaborate new costumes, colours and choreography to symbolise Singapore’s cultural diversity and harmony.
Note-worthy attractions include a “Bridge of Harmony” float where Harmony Tiles drawn by 20,000 residents islandwide will be pieced together, and “Harmony in Motion”, a unique showcase that sees four different races performing in unison.
When: 31 January – 1 February 2020, 8pm – 9.45pm
Where: F1 Pit Building
Cost: From $28.50 (Singaporeans and PRs are entitled to 10 per cent discount, Passion Card Holders to 20 per cent). Click here for more information.
Flowers, especially in full bloom, signify new growth and prosperity during the Lunar New Year – so usher in this new beginning with a dome full of bountiful flora at Gardens by the Bay. In true celebratory spirit, the garden is displaying an abundance of Narcissus, Chrysanthemum, Azalea and Celosia on top of the Dahlias taking centre stage.
Go on a free guided tour once you enter the Flower Dome, where you will take sight of giant topiary-like sculptures, Fu medallions and picturesque Chinese landscapes that’ll make you feel like you’re in a magical Chinese garden. Remember to say hello to the two golden rats and the Jade Emperor!
When: 17 January – 23 February 2020
Where: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Cost: Admission fee to Flower Dome applies, from $18 per adult. Click here for more information.
As part of Gardens By The Bay’s Lunar New Year festivities, visitors can expect to be catch a captivating Golden Pyro Dragon Dance at the Supertree Grove, the first of its kind in Singapore. The pyrotechnic display of sparkles that resemble fireworks will be sure to take your breath away!
The Spring Surprise festival encompasses a variety of exciting activities, including acrobatic lion dance stunts, music performances, shadow puppetry, a food and crafts bazaar and even meet-and-greet sessions with the God of Fortune.
When: Gardens By The Bay’s Spring Surprise festival takes place 27 January – 9 February 2020. The Golden Pyro Dragon Dance will occur 31 January – 2 February, at 9.10pm every night.
Where: The Golden Pyro Dragon Dance will take place at Supertree Grove, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953.
Cost: Admission fee to Flower Dome applies, from $18 per adult. Click here for more information.
Universal Studios Singapore is feeling the festive occasion as they welcome Chinese New Year with cheer. From January 11, visitors can hop on The Auspicious Dragon Trail and even say hello to the much-loved Sesame Street monsters and Despicable Me minions dressed in their New Year’s best. Last year’s edition also saw a Monster Lo-Hei, so you can expect exciting things this year aside from their thrilling rides and attractions.
When: 11 January — 9 February 2020
Where: Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
Cost: Charges to Universal Studios apply. Click here for more information.
The ultimate place to celebrate the Year of the Rat is none other than Chinatown, where the main stage of Singapore’s Lunar New Year celebrations lie. Amongst all the bak kwa, ang baos and decorations, the big celebration will be held in the heart of Chinatown featuring live performances, interactive games and a countdown led by MediaCorp artistes. End your night with the event’s awe-inspiring firecrackers and fireworks display to kick start the new year!
When: 24 January 2020, 9.30pm – 12.30pm
Where: New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street
Cost: Free!
The new year means it’s primetime for getting your zodiac reading for the rest of the year. Instead of getting it on television between shows this year, find out what 2020 has in store for you from Singapore’s renowned Geomancer and Numerologist Master Bro Alec Chia. Known as the God of Fortune, he will be spreading good luck to everyone with a forecast of the zodiacs’ fortune, so make sure you don’t miss him.
From 7 to 24 January, One Raffles Place will be donning The Beauty of Spring, so pop over for incredible sights and their other showcases and performances. This includes traditional lion dance performances, a Chinese paper cutting demontration and a pressed plant workshop.
When: Meet the God of Fortune at 12pm — 2pm on 13 Jan (Rat, Ox and Tiger), 15 Jan (Rabbit, Dragon, and Snake), 20 Jan (Horse, Goat and Monkey) & 22 Jan (Rooster, Dog and Pig) Jan 2020.
Where: 1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616
Cost: Free!
Celebrate the new year with a weekend filled with family-friendly activities at Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall’s Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2020. Occurring on the first weekend of February, visitors can anticipate no less than 32 fun and engaging activities that highlight Lunar New Year customs and heritage, sure to thrill the entire family.
In addition to the ubiquitous lion and dragon dance performances, highlights include Chinese painting and drumming workshops, the Balestier Heritage Trail, a lion dance workshop and various craft activities that will keep the kids meaningfully occupied this festive season.
You can also toss to good luck and propseity in the Memorial Hall’s signature mass lo hei on February 1.
When: 1 & 2 February, timings vary for different activities
Where: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
Cost: Free admission, fees apply for selected events! Click here for more information.
Even though this technically isn’t a Chinese New Year activity, those who aren’t visiting on the second day of CNY can consider heading down for some fun family time. Explore the Istana’s main building in a guided tour to take a peep at function rooms and State Gifts to Singapore’s President and Prime Ministers — or simply admire the abundant nature that grows around the residence. If you want, you can even get a quick crash course on the rich history and heritage of the Istana at the Istana Heritage Gallery.
When: 26 January, 1 May, 24 May, 26 July, 14 November 2020, 8.30am — 6pm
Where: The Istana, 35 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238823
Cost: Free! Click here for more information.
Read Next
Text: Cherrie Lim & Elizabeth Liew