Annual Christmas vacations might not be on our holiday list this festive season but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Christmas has been cancelled.
After deciding on where to go for your festive meal, it’s about time to plan some pre/post-meal activities to celebrate the Yuletide spirit. This 2020, busk in the festivities as we present you 8 Christmas events in Singapore for a joyous time with your loved ones.
1. Christmas Wonderland
Drawing crowds in the thousands every year since its launch, Christmas Wonderland is undeniably one of Singapore’s biggest year-end Christmas events happening at Gardens by the Bay. In light of the current situation, the seventh edition of Christmas Wonderland will be making its debut in the form of a semi-virtual event, decking your computer screens with good tidings.
The good news is, whilst most of the festivities will be carried out online, fans of Christmas Wonderland will still get a chance to head down to Gardens by the Bay and enjoy the Walk of Lights from 4 to 27 December 2020. To safely appreciate all eight light installations illuminating the Supertree Grove, you will need to pre-book a 30-minute session (S$5) and purchase your ticket up to an hour before your visit. Social distancing rule of five persons per group will be in place and on-site sale of tickets will not be available to ensure the safety of all event-goers.
Unlock a host of benefits to the virtual Christmas Wonderland with three tiers of membership starting from S$8. Apart from unlimited access to the hyper-realistic wonderland on the members-only area, your Comet (S$15) and Rudolph (S$25) membership will also allow you to meet with Santa over a private three-minute video chat and get a limited edition Christmas Wonderland plush bear (worth S$8) respectively.
Interactive games, gleeful performances and shopping perks aside, you can also stand a chance to win more than S$50,000 in cash and fantastic prices via games, contests and lucky draws this season of giving. To find out more about all the fun-filled activities happening during this Christmas event, check out Christmas Wonderland’s official website now.
2. Poinsettia Wishes 2020
After a hiatus since circuit breaker, the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay will be making its return this holiday season with the well-loved Christmas event, Poinsettia Wishes 2020.
Soak in the Yuletide cheers as you will be transported immediately to Gouda City, an iconic landmark in the Netherlands visited by many for its dazzling luminarie installations and candle light-up.
Spectacular decorations aside, you will be also treated to a beautiful display of festive plants such as poinsettias, cyclamens, pansies and hellebores. There will also be real Christmas trees scattered around the dome, completing the festive look and feel of a Christmas wonderland.
During your visit, don’t forget to check out their amazing list of programs specially brought to you by the four Nordic Embassies in Singapore. Besides a traditional Swedish Lucia Procession, you might even be able to catch Santa during his meet-and-greet event to request for that present you’ve been eyeing for the entire year.
Poinsettia Wishes will be taking place from 27 November 2020 to 3 January 2021. Get your tickets here.
3. Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express
A subject of fascination made famous by Agatha Christie’s novel Murder on the Orient Express, the Orient Express has been a symbol of luxury travel and timeless refinement since the train was created in 1883.
This holiday season, making its virgin appearance outside France, Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express (from S$25) will be unveiling a universe of historic travel, culture and gastronomy to fans of the exhibit in Singapore.
For the period from 12 December 2020 to 13 June 2021, the West Lawn at Gardens by the Bay will be transformed to a reconstructed train platform with exhibits showcasing all the incredible collections from a bygone era summarising the history of the Orient Express with its display of posters, cutleries, stained glass windows and furnitures.
Otherwise, for those of you who are in for an adventure, immerse yourself in the Escape Room experience, Here, take on the role of Hercule Poirot and put in your detective hats to uncover all the mysteries that have happened in the Orient Express.
Intriguing, isn’t it? Then book your trip onto the Orient Express Christmas event here.
4. A SEAASON of Rediscovery
A brand-new underwater experience awaits you at the newly revamped S.E.A. Aquarium. Re-zoned into nine distinct areas, the aquarium now features a new tropical rainforest, intertidal coastal terrains and underwater cities of coral reefs home to over 100,000 marine animals.
Explore and re-discover the S.E.A. Aquarium with an expanded and immersive experience featuring new habitats and fascinating marine animals.
During this SEAASON of Rediscovery (from S$23), head to their brand new zone—‘Shipwrecked!’, a thriving new habitat housing the aquarium’s majestic sharks amongst a wrecked ship’s end. Besides that, you will also be amazed by the marvellous sight at the Coral-ful wall, an exhibit where you can not only learn about coral reefs but also take that stunning picture which you have been dying to upload on Instagram.
To tie in with the season of giving, all Singapore residents will get a free exclusive aquarium-themed face mask with every one day ticket purchased. These face masks are available in both child and adult sizes so don’t miss your chance to collect all seven designs for your family!
Wait no longer and book your SEAASON of Rediscovery tickets happening from 7 November 2020 to 5 January 2020 here right now.
5. A Universal Christmas
Our list of Christmas events will never be complete without the mention of Universal Studios Singapore’s A Universal Christmas. Join our adorable friends Kevin, Dave, Bob, Stuart, Jerry and Tom as they prance around the area bringing you joyous festive cheers with The Merry Minions of Christmas.
Other meaningful meet-and-greet appearances also include Gru and his beautiful family, Sesame Street’s cast of characters as well as the king and queen of Madagascar, Alex and Gloria.
While waiting for your chance to say hi to Santa, busk in the glamorous streets of New York with Lights, Camera, Christmas—Santa’s very own magical movie land. Adorned with interactive movie sets, get ready to be teleported into your favourite movie world such as the hot-air balloon house in the movie Up.
A kaleidoscope of mouth-watering Yuletide delights will also be awaiting for you at all the diners around the amusement park so do drop by for a bite to have your energy replenished before you carry on with your magical journey and move onto the thrilling rides! Get your tickets to A Universal Christmas event here.
6. Changi Festive Village
Experience a getaway suited for the entire family like no other at the Changi Festive Village, a one-stop activity-filled Christmas event happening from 20 November 2020 to 3 January 2021 around Changi Airport.
With adventures taking place across Jewel, Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, get ready to be entertained with all the festivities, attractions and interactive games catered to both the young and old.
Continuing the Jurassic theme along Changi Park Connector, get up close and personal with majestic, life-like dinosaurs for a roaring good time indoors at Dino Wanderland. Otherwise, challenge your friends and family to an adrenaline pumping go-kart race at Dino Kart or let your kids jump and bounce to their heart’s content at Dino Bounce.
If winter and snow is what you have been dying to experience, head to Tokidoki Snow Holiday. Dig up those winter coats buried deep in your wardrobe and don it for a ride on a snow luge or snow slide and even build a snowman around the Tokidoki characters placed all around you for a winter-themed photoshoot here in sunny Singapore.
Checkout the entire list of activities happening around Changi Festive Village here!
7. Santa Run for Wishes
Burn off those festive calories by participating in one of the most meaningful annual Christmas events, Santa Run for Wishes (S$20).
Organised by Make-A-Wish Singapore, this year’s Santa Run for Wishes is back in the form of a virtual run happening from 2 to 19 December 2020. With the aim to accumulate a total of 21,517km—the distance from Singapore to North Pole—participants of this virtual run will be able to register for the 2km, 5km, 20km or 50km (accumulative) to help out in the mileage contribution.
All proceeds earned from this Christmas event will be put to good use towards granting the wishes of children with critical illnesses. So why not accumulate some good karma points this season of giving?
Not only is this beneficial to your health and to society, you will also stand a chance to win shopping vouchers of up to S$100 if you take part in the mini activities happening throughout the race period. This is surely a win-win-win situation to end your year in the most meaningful way ever.
8. LEGO Festive Carnival
Fans of these colourful building blocks? Then be sure not to miss out on Southeast Asia’s largest LEGO Festive Carnival happening this holiday season at all 13 CapitaLand malls across Singapore.
Expect to create wonderful memories as you soak up the fun and playful festive atmosphere with LEGO’s thematic installations and immersive experiences. Must-visits include the largest LEGO Christmas tree carousel at Bugis Junction, a breath-taking Ferris Wheel overflowing with gifts at Tampines Mall, Funan and JCube as well as an enchanting animals lining on an elongated carousel at IMM Mall.
Our favourite Santa and his crew, the Jester and the ringmaster, will be running the show at LEGO circus display. If you want to catch them in action, head down to Bedok Mall, Bukit Panjang Plaza, and Junction 8.
With all the gigantic and colour displays of LEGO characters, this will surely make for a great christmas event that will keep you kids entertained during your shopping sprees. They are also the perfect spot to take a Christmas photo for the ‘gram to bid 2020 goodbye, so hurry head to your nearest CapitaLand mall now.
