Welcome to the Year of the Rat! Look forward to a variety of activities lining up for the young and old to enjoy the festive celebrations at Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2020 from 4th January 2020 till 22 February 2020!
Dr Lily Neo (梁莉莉医生), Adviser to Jalan Besar GRC GRO (Kreta Ayer – Kim Seng) (惹兰勿刹集选区基层组织顾问(牛车水–金声)) shared that “The Year of the Rat heralds a brand new start to the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac calendar, and Chinatown is set to celebrate with bright lights, exciting programmes and a deep appreciation of our tradition and culture. This year, we hope to strengthen Cantonese culture by giving Cantonese performing arts and cuisine a platform for the community to enjoy. In the company of family and friends, we hope the festive season brings renewed blessings and positivity for the year ahead.”
The spectacular display of handcrafted lanterns made with 4,000m-long LED strip lights illuminate Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2020, themed “Ushering in a Great Year” (金鼠当先迎新春 万象更新福满城). Kreta Ayer – Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee invites all Singaporeans and overseas visitors to join in the festive revelry to kick start a prosperous year ahead. Here’s the key highlights for the Chinatown CNY Celebrations 2020 as follows:
Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony 牛车水农历新年庆祝活动开幕典礼与亮灯仪式
The Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony marks the start of Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2020. The grand ceremony continues to dazzle visitors with entertaining performances by leading local and overseas performing troupes. There will be a high-spirited display of Chinese ethnic dance, Chinese Orchestra and Cantonese Opera performances which will lead up to an electrifying lion dance performance with 21 Plum Blossom Poles (meihuazhuang) on stage for a festival first. The stakes are raised for the most exciting lion dance performance yet! Together with rousing firecrackers and fireworks, the stage is set for an unforgettable Opening Ceremony that will illuminate Chinatown to welcome Chinese New Year!
Date: 4 January 2020
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Venue: New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street
Street Light-Up 牛车水农历新年亮灯
One of the most anticipated highlights of the annual Chinatown Chinese New Year celebrations, this year’s Street Light-Up is a visual storytelling of the Chinese Zodiac race, where the quick-witted and resourceful Rat leads the pack to become the first animal featured in the Chinese Zodiac calendar. 2020 marks a brand new start to the 12-year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac.
The spectacular display, together with brilliant overhanging lanterns bearing festive greetings and in the shape of gold coins, fresh blooms and traditional lanterns, comprises a total of 1,388 handcrafted lanterns that illuminate Chinatown. This is the ninth year that the Street Light-Up is designed in collaboration with students from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
Date: 4 January to 22 February 2020
Time:
7pm – 12mn (Daily)
7pm – 6am (Chinese New Year Eve)
Venue: Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road and Garden Bridge
Chinatown Chinese New Year Countdown Party 牛车水农历新年除夕夜派对
Usher in the Year of the Rat with live performances and a rousing countdown celebration with MediaCorp artistes at the heart of the bustling Chinatown. Enjoy a medley of festive songs, skits and interactive games as the countdown party culminates in a spectacular display of firecrackers and fireworks to ring in the new year.
Date: 24 January 2020
Time: 9.30pm – 12.30am
Venue: New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street
Mass Reunion Dinner (千人团圆宴) (Not open to public)
An annual community initiative organised by the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee, the Mass Reunion Dinner brings together a thousand residents from underprivileged families and needy elderly who are residing in Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Constituency, as well as volunteers to enjoy a cheery start to the Year of the Rat by coming together to eat and enjoy the festivities as one big family.
Date: 19 January 2020
Time: 7.00pm – 11.00pm
Venue: Field opposite Kim Seng CC
13th International Lion Dance Competition 第十三届牛车水新春国际狮王争霸邀请赛
Get ready for heart-stopping moments as top international troupes pit their skills on Plum Blossom Poles (meihuazhuang) and compete for the champion title of “King of the Lions”. This is the first time that the International Lion Dance Competition will be held indoors with an increased seating capacity and air-conditioned comfort for the audience to enjoy.
Dates: 11 & 12 January 2020
Time: 6pm till late
Venue: Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre
Ticket Price
• Single Show ticket on 11 OR 12 January 2020: S$15/-
• Two Shows ticket on BOTH 11 & 12 January 2020: S$25/-
To purchase tickets, please visit: Kreta Ayer Community Club 28A Kreta Ayer Road Singapore 088995
For enquiries or to book, please call 6222 3597 Enquiry & Booking Hotline: Daily from 9.00am to 9.00pm
OR
Purchase Tickets Online
Enjoy a 10% discount when purchasing tickets online at www.onepa.sg using the links below:
11 Jan: https://go.gov.sg/liondance11jan2020
12 Jan: https://go.gov.sg/liondance12jan2020
11-12 Jan: https://go.gov.sg/liondance11-12jan2020
Festive Street Bazaar 年货市场
The Festive Street Bazaar is a one-stop market for local visitors stocking up and preparing for the most important Chinese festival on the calendar. For overseas tourists, the Festive Street Bazaar is a lively market of sounds, tastes and colours with stalls selling the widest range of Chinese New Year-themed delicacies, traditional goodies, decorative items, apparel and more.
Besides the traditional offerings, browse through an array of merchandise by Disney’s authorised dealer, Goldwood Singapore, and enjoy a digital bazaar experience at the Shopee booth where shoppers get to go on an online shopping spree with next-day delivery, courtesy of Shopee24!
Date: 3 to 24 January 2020
Time:
6pm – 10.30pm (Daily)
6pm – 1am (Chinese New Year’s Eve)
Venue: Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street and Trengganu Street
Chinatown Wishing Tree 牛车水许愿树
Make your New Year wishes come true at the Chinatown Wishing Tree! Besides, you can do charity to help the needy elderly. Write wishes for yourself and your loved ones on the “Make a Wish” card and hang them on the banyan tree. Each wishing card costs $2/- and all proceeds will be donated to the Kreta Ayer Seniors’ Activity Centre. Through this meaningful community event, you can bring festive cheers to the less fortunate and reaching out to them with your helping hands.
Date: 3 to 24 January 2020
Time: 11am – 9pm
Venue: Chinatown Point
Nightly Stage Shows 综艺晚会
The festive mood is particularly infectious here; immerse in entertaining nightly performances of festive songs, cultural music and lively dance performances each night at Kreta Ayer Square! No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without some music and dance!
A perennial crowd-pleaser, get a nightly dose of Lion Dance from 8.00pm – 8.30pm (except on 24 Jan where the segment begins at 9.00pm) for an exciting display of athleticism and skill coupled with thumping drums and crashing cymbals.
Date: 4 to 24 January 2020
Time: 8pm – 10.30pm
Venue: Kreta Ayer Square
Heritage & Food Trail (Cantonese Chapter) 文化与美食之旅（广东篇）
On this guided tour along the culturally-rich streets of Chinatown and the Kreta Ayer Heritage Gallery, experience the vibrancy of the Chinese enclave and learn about its colourful past while taking in the many sights and sounds of the Chinese New Year celebrations. After working up an appetite during the heritage trail, indulge in delectable Cantonese cuisine from five famous hawker stalls in Chinatown Complex Food Centre and Tai Thong Cake Shop for Cantonese pastry.
Slots are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. Tickets are at S$15/- each (inclusive of food tasting) and can be purchased at Kreta Ayer Community Club, 28A Kreta Ayer Road, Singapore 088995.
Enjoy a 10% discount when purchasing tickets online using the links below:
5 Jan : http://go.gov.sg/heritagefoodtrail05012020
11 Jan: http://go.gov.sg/heritagefoodtrail11012020
12 Jan: http://go.gov.sg/heritagefoodtrail12012020
18 Jan: http://go.gov.sg/heritagefoodtrail18012020
19 Jan: http://go.gov.sg/heritagefoodtrail19012020
Each trail is conducted either in English or Mandarin and participants will be divided into smaller groups according to language preference.
For enquiries, please contact [email protected] or call 6222 3597.
Traditional Cantonese Opera (狮城粤剧曲艺迎春展缤纷)
Be taken back in time to experience the nostalgic and timeless art form of Cantonese Opera with a specially-curated programme featuring Ms Lou Mee Wah, a local veteran professional Cantonese opera artist and Ms Tina Wong, a successful entrepreneur who has become a disciple of renowned opera artist from Guangzhou, Ms Wei Pei Yi, and has performed in recent years in Singapore, China and Hong Kong. They will be performing alongside a cast of local and international artists. The highlight of the evening is a performance by Mr Ho Wah Jan from China, a renowned opera singer who is well-loved by many for his powerful vocals and flawless enunciation. Expect a medley of famous opera songs and excerpts from classic operas which will enthrall audience members, young and old, with its signature drama, artistry and performance.
This event is organised in partnership with Tanjong Pagar Community Club and Tung On Opera, and is part of the festival’s efforts to provide a platform to showcase the rich art form of Cantonese Opera to celebrate local culture across generations of Singaporeans and tourists.
With Chinese and English subtitles.
Date: 5 January 2020
Time: 7.00pm – 10.30pm
Venue: Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre
To purchase tickets, please visit: Kreta Ayer Community Club 28A Kreta Ayer Road Singapore 088995
For enquiries or ticket purchase, please call 6222 3597.
Ticket price S$50, S$30, S$20
Chingay 2020 @ Chinatown 牛车水2020妆艺夜间嘉年华
The Chingay Parade, the largest annual street performance and float parade in Asia, will make an appearance in Chinatown, ending the 2020 Chinese New Year celebrations on a high note. Join in for a colourful night that includes special performances by local and overseas performers, while marvelling at the nine beautifully decorated and lighted floats.
Date: 2 February 2020
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Venue: New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street
For more information on these activities, members of the public can call Kreta Ayer CC at +65 6222 3597 or email [email protected] or visit its official website at https://chinatownfestivals.sg/
