Joanna James
When the Lunar New Year is just around the corner, Singapore gets busy with loads of parades, festivals and life-size lantern displays that never fail to impress. Here's how you join the festivities.
This riverside festival is one of the country's most iconic celebrations and offers an all-out extravaganza of fireworks and impressive performances that last a total of 10 days. No discerning tourist should miss out on this huge party, which promises a bevy of amusement rides, displays of utterly stunning lanterns at every corner, traditional dance and song troupe performances, and, of course, a display of mouth-watering food, which the foodie in you will love with relish. If you are visiting Singapore from 26th January to 4th February, do head over to the Marina Bay Floating Platform, just 11 minutes for guests at Park Hotel Farrer Park. Each day the skies light up with a spectacular fireworks display, taking place at midnight on New Year's Eve and 9 pm on all other days.
A brilliant spectacle of dance, light, acrobats and fiery dragons, the Chingay Parade offers one of the most vibrant experiences of all. Over 11,000 performers vie for your attention, as parades take place along the street. Enjoy the extravagant costumes, the impressive floats and performers that include wushu masters, lithe acrobats, dragon dancers and much more. Ideal entertainment for the entire family, the parade is a combination of pyrotechnics, music and dance. Held between the 10th and 11th of February, the parade takes place along F1 Pit Building, Republic Boulevard. Catch the pre-parade at 7 pm and the main event at 8 pm; tickets must be bought. Republic Boulevard is less than 10 minutes from hotels in Serangoon Road, Singapore, also, a convenient location for catching various New Year celebrations.
Come Chinese New Year and foodies are at a loss about which buffet to grace. Many of the top restaurants and hotels in Singapore offer tantalizing buffet spreads that leave most travellers stuck for choice. You certainly won't feel any hunger pangs during this time of year treats such as fresh seafood, traditional suckling pig, crispy roasted pig belly, Pecking duck, longevity buns, desserts such as nian go and sweet pineapple buns up for grabs.
Chinatown most certainly cannot be overlooked during Chinese New Year; the bustling streets, exotic food and colourful decorations never fail to impress. Enjoy a marvellous holiday shopping fiesta at the Festive Street Bazaar and stock up on all those delicious festive goodies such as peanut cookies, waxed duck meat and pineapple tarts. Make sure to catch the International Lions Dance Competition which takes place on the 14th and 15th of January and try and make it for the New Year's Eve countdown party held between 6 pm to 1 am.
Lovers of arts and culture should not miss out on this spectacular show, featuring the works of traditional and modern Chinese artists. You are stuck for choice with the variety of entertainment on offer, choose from dance, music, theatre and others with popular performances being 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' given a Cantonese twist and performed by the Dionysus Contemporary Theatre.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
