Yes it’s possible to celebrate a magical Christmas in tropical Singapore – in Gardens by the Bay that is!
Singapore’s biggest yuletide fair, Christmas Wonderland, returns to Gardens by the Bay from 28 November 2015 to 3 January 2016. The fair will showcase more Italian Luminarie light sculptures, an expanded event ground, a European-style Festive Market, traditional rides and games, and a comprehensive repertoire of new attractions and entertainment for visitors of all ages.
Riding high on a successful inaugural year in 2014, this year’s Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay will be nearly doubled in size at 35,000 square metres. Visitors can embark on an experiential journey through four main areas – the spellbinding Luminaries which begin at the Golden Garden and extend throughout the festival site; the Festive Market at the Supertree Grove; The Fairground near The Meadow; and the Christmas Toyland floral display in the Flower Dome.
Jointly organised by Blue Sky Events and Gardens by the Bay, Christmas Wonderland announced new partners this year – AIA Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board.
Ms Sarah Martin, Director of Blue Sky Events, said, “We introduced Christmas Wonderland in 2014 to create a new tradition to celebrate the festive season with a spectacular sensory experience right here in Singapore. The response blew our expectations away with over 900,000 visitors attending the inaugural event. This year, we have brought back crowd favourites and introduced a lot more activities for visitors to indulge, play and be merry in.”
Ms Peggy Chong, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Gardens by the Bay, said, “Following the success of last year’s festival, the Gardens will transform once again into a Christmas Wonderland this holidays. Adding to that, it will play host to the capstone of Singapore’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, The Future of Us exhibition. With a suite of events and programmes for everyone, we hope Gardens by the Bay will become the place to be this festive season.”
Kaleidoscopic Festive Treats
Lending a festive air to the Gardens, visitors will be greeted by a resplendent display of Luminarie light sculptures, a returning crowd favourite, from the moment they step into the grounds. Handmade by Italian craftsmen using white-wood from the south of Italy, these picturesque masterpieces feature an all-new architectural design reminiscent of the medieval period. 56 enchanting sculptures – the tallest towering over 20 metres – will nestle amidst the greenery within the Supertree Grove, Dragonfly Bridge and Flower Dome.
Visitors can also soak in the enchanting atmosphere and enjoy performances that will be held regularly. These include choral sessions at the stunning Cassa Armonica gazebo, theatrical performances and parades.
A brand-new Christmas Toyland floral display will be showcased at the Flower Dome. This year, toys reign supreme amidst yuletide floral favourites like the poinsettia, Christmas rose, winter heather and holly. The centerpiece of Christmas Toyland – an 11-metre-tall Christmas Pyramid decked with toys – will tower over the enchanting floral display. In addition, this multi-tiered traditional German wooden carousel will transform into a ‘live’ stage, hosting a series of festive performances for the very first time in the Flower Field.
Believe in the Christmas Magic of Play
Based on feedback, Christmas Wonderland has curated a series of new attractions for visitors.
The Fairground offers a delightful array of traditional carnival rides for the first time in Singapore. They include the Helter Skelter – the tallest slide in Singapore, a vintage style carousel and a trackless train. Apart from rides, visitors can also pit their skills at game stalls such as Extreme Basketball, Can Smash and Roll-a-ball. Prizes include memorabilia from Disney and Warner Bros.
An entirely different experience awaits at the Ice Palace over at the Supertree Grove, which offers a cool and refreshing wintry Christmas in the tropics. Visitors can make snow angels, build their very own Olaf at the Snow Playground or choose to unleash their inner Michelle Kwan and glide on ice at the Ice Skating Rink.
Visitors will also be able to hop onto the Swinging Chairs and enjoy the rush of air on their faces while they take in the panoramic sights of the festival grounds.
In addition, visitors can experience ‘snow’ in Singapore during Blizzard Time at the Spalliera, the largest Luminarie light sculpture, or have Fun With Bubbles at The Fairground.
Feast, Shop and Have a Merry Christmas
Complete the festive experience with a feast for the senses and partake in a spot of Christmas shopping along the way too. The fair will see the charming European-style Festive Market make its comeback at the Supertree Grove with more to indulge in. Featuring traditional wooden huts specially brought in from the United Kingdom, visitors can enjoy a greater selection of international cuisine and wines from renowned food and beverage operators such as Brewerkz, Sebastian, Café Iguana, Shabestan, The Diner by the Travelling C.O.W. and Paul’s. Apart from festive nibbles, the market will also offer a wide variety of Christmas gifts, including new craft items. More details of the participating vendors will be available in the coming weeks.
Blending festive cheer with carnival tradition, the ornate Spiegeltent, a spectacular rare fairground attraction, returns with a one-of-a-kind dining experience where visitors can indulge in a specially curated festive menu as well as a weekend brunch experience by Singapore’s most well-established bar and dining chain Harry’s. Dishes on the menu include Harry’s Merry Wings, Cajun Spice-rubbed Turkey, Smoked Duck Breast with Marmalade Glaze, Rudolph’s Gingerbread and Raspberry Sundae. The century-old travelling ‘mirror tent’ from the Netherlands is made up of 1,000 pieces of brocade draperies, stained glass, wood and intricate artwork.
