LIGHTS, LANTERNS AND LEGENDARY SPIRIT

Slither into Year of the Snake with fun festivities

- Chin Soo Fang

Chinese New Year (CNY) festivities are in full swing to welcome the Year of the Snake that starts on Jan 29, with events ongoing and more to come until February.

From crowd favourites such as light displays and bazaars to a floral rendition of a "snake spirit" and star reptiles at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, there is something for everyone to enjoy as Singapore ushers in a special CNY.

At the Chinatown Chinese New Year 2025 light-up and opening ceremony on Jan 8, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said: "This is a very special year. It's not just welcoming the Year of the Snake, but also celebrating as one big family the SG60 edition of our Chinese New Year celebrations."

Mrs Teo attended the event with her fellow Jalan Besar GRC MPs Heng Chee How, Denise Phua and Wan Rizal. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong was also at the event.

Other iconic CNY events include River Hongbao 2025, which will feature SG60-themed lantern displays and firecrackers to mark Singapore's diamond jubilee at Gardens by the Bay from Jan 27 to Feb 5. There is also Chingay Parade 2025, a multicultural street parade with food-inspired floats and costumes, on Feb 7 and 8 at the F1 Pit Building.

Chinatown Celebrations

This year's festivities are themed Ushering Fortune and Unity for a Prosperous New Year. Lantern displays will illuminate New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, Upper Cross Street and South Bridge Road till Feb 27, from 7pm to midnight daily. On the first day of CNY on Jan 29, the dazzling displays will be lit till 6am.

Visitors can also view the lights at Chinatown Complex, which joins the light-up for the first time.