Even more community outreach is promised for this year’s Chinatown Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore, from January 16 to March 8.
One of the main additions to the annual celebration is Harmony Night, in which various Chinese clan associations, religious groups and voluntary welfare organisations will put together a special celebration for 500 residents of Jalan Besar GRC and Potong Pasir SMC. Another addition is a special exhibition at the rejuvenated Chinatown Heritage Centre featuring the customs and traditions of various Chinese dialect groups in Singapore.
Organised by the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee, the celebrations have as their theme “Year of Prosperity and Success”. It all starts with the official light-up and opening ceremony at which Singapore’s president, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, will be guest of honour. Local and foreign performers, including acrobats and musicians, along with LED light displays will feature in the Chinese folk story Journey to the West at the opening ceremony.
A record 2668 handcrafted lanterns will light up the Chinese precinct. In various shapes, such as monkeys, peaches, spring blossoms and gold zodiac coins, the lanterns will decorate Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road. These are being produced for the fifth time by final-year students from the SIngapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD). A feature will be 28 mechanical monkey lanterns.
Other event highlights include a street bazaar and carnival with 440 stalls selling traditional and modern festive items. There will also be stage shows every night featuring cultural, musical and entertainment performances, and a free walking tour through the Chinese enclave.
For the first time, visitors will be able to interact with the street lighting through the “Mother Tree”, designed by SUTD students. Every 18 social media posts of photos and videos of the lighting using the hashtag #CNY2016SG will trigger an 18-second light show at the tree, on the Garden Bridge above Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road
In the lead-up to the countdown party on February 7, the 9th International Lion Dance Competition will involve 14 troupes from eight countries, including China, at the new venue of Hong Lim Park on January 23 and 24.
