*All details are correct as at time of publish. Readers are advised to check with the respective event organisers/venues for the most updated schedules and details.
1. Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2017
*Image credits: Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee
When we think of explosive celebrations for Chinese New Year, there’s no doubt that the first place that comes to mind is Chinatown – and this year is no different. The celebrations promise the usual pomp and grandeur, with additional line-up of youth-oriented events for the young and the young at heart! Aside from being mesmerized by the largest handcrafted lantern display (think 5,500 lanterns!) in the Street Light Up, be prepared to eat your way through YouthEATS @ Temple Street.
Other exciting events you can look out for include the International Lion Dance Competition, and a whopping 440 stalls to explore and poke around at the Festive Street Bazaar and Festive Carnival.
Date: 7th January – 25th February 2017
Time: Events very
Venue: Chinatown
Admission: Free for selected events
More info: Chinatown Festivals
2. Spring in the City
Afraid of missing out on the festive cheer while you’re stuck at work? Check out the exhilarating performances and activities at One Raffles Place shopping mall, located right in the heart of the CBD! Take a peek into your future with esteemed Feng Shui Master Alec Chia who will present the fortunes of the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs, and soak in familiar live tunes by Strings! Quartet. And of course, be sure to catch the heart-stopping, high-pole stunts of the Lion Dance, performed by 2016 National Lion Dance Champions.
Date: 5th January – 3rd February
Time: Timings for different events vary
Venue: One Raffles Place shopping centre
Admission: Free
More info: One Raffles Place
3. Festive Floral Fair at AMK Hub
Image credits: AMK Hub
It might be eternal summer in Singapore, but you can bask in spring blooms in all their colourful glory at AMK Hub this January. Shoppers will be spoilt for choice with the array of festive plants to beautify your home this lunar season.
READ: Feng Shui decorating your house this CNY
Date: 3rd – 27th January 2017
Time: 9am – 6pm
Venue: Level 1 Open Plaza Entrance, AMK Hub
Admission: Free
More info: AMK Hub
4. Chinese Garden at ION Orchard
Image credits: ION Orchard
The festivities at ION Orchard take on a unique blend of the traditional and the modern as they usher in the Year of the Rooster. Amidst the classic Lunar New Year decorations splashed across the shopping centre, shoppers and visitors can look forward to the one-of-a-kind Chinese Garden at the Level 1 Atrium. 12 wooden panels portray the outlook for each of the 12 zodiac animals for the year. Your kids will also love playing with the novel digital touch-screen fishpond, and you will love winning shopping vouchers from it! It’s a win-win, really. And don’t forget the other cool activities, including the LEGO® Batman interactive Escape Room, and traditional lion dance performances and Chinese arts!
Date: 4th January – 12th February
Time: 10am – 6pm
Venue: ION Orchard
Admission: Free
More info: ION Orchard
5. PlayLAH! Let’s Celebrate Chinese New Year 2017
Image credits: youtube.com
If you’re looking for an exhilarating day of fun with the family and community at large, look no further than SingEX’s PlayLAH! Let’s Celebrate Chinese New Year 2017 carnival. Your kids will be able to run amok and crow (yes, bad pun totally intended) in glee at the nine-metre rooster slide and the 18-metre bouncy obstacle course! Other highlights include learning how to fly a drone and even creating your very own 3D hologram.
And when the kids need to cool down, they can visit the cultural booths, where they will have the opportunity to bond and share knowledge with elderly members of the community, including learning how Chinese New Year is celebrated differently based on their own dialect groups! This way, the event also aims to foster greater family bonding and meaningful interactions amongst different ethnic and social groups, and thus reinforce some traits at the heart of the Lunar New Year – family and togetherness.
READ: 8 ways to bond with your kids this Chinese New Year
Date: 19th – 22nd January 2017
Time: 12pm – 9pm
Admission: Free; register online and receive a complimentary $5 worth of credits for use at the carnival!
Venue: Singapore EXPO Hall 5
More info: PlayLAH! Festival
Have any other plans for this weekend? You know what they say; sharing is caring! Let us know of any other events for families going on this long weekend in the comments section below.