Lights by the Lake 2025 at Jurong Lake Gardens
If you’ve already popped by the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, which reopened last year, you’ll know they’re now a go-to for chill walks, photo ops, and zen vibes. Well, the vibes there are about to get livelier, with the annual Lights by the Lake festival, happening from 27th September to 12th October 2025 at Jurong Lake Gardens.
This year’s edition is the largest lantern display to date, with over 1,200 lanterns scattered across the gardens. Apart from the pretty, lit displays, catch free light shows and cultural performances at the festival. Plus, there’s a tented food market to feast on Mid Autumn Festival goodies.
What are the highlights of the Lights by the Lake festival?
‘Under the Five Elements Mountain’ display at the Lakeside Field.
Image credit: NParks
Calling the festival “packed” would be an understatement – there are a total of 16 different lantern displays, programmes, and activities to check out. We’ve got you covered with all the highlights you need to know, along with their respective deets.
– Lakeside Garden –
Wings of Light
Image credit: NParks
Over at Lakeside Garden, you’ll spot the Wings of Light – a glowing butterfly wing emanating from the dark – creating the perfect IG-story backdrop.
This is also where the outdoor Food Market is located for you to grab local food and dine under the stars.
Location: Lakeside Field
Journey to the West Lantern Display
Image credit: NParks
Arguably the festival’s main attraction, the Journey to the West-themed Lantern Display lights up the garden with larger-than-life lanterns that bring Sun Wukong’s epic journey to becoming the Monkey King to life. The various displays depict the adventures told in the legend and introduce the many characters that play a part in the story.
Just in front of the Food Market, you’ll find a row of these displays, titled: Confined Under the Five Elements Mountain, Falming Mountain, and Three Battles with the White Bone Demon.
Location: Lakeside Field
Spider Demon Cave & Return with the Scriptures
Image credit: NParks
Depicting other scenes and encounters of the Journey to the West are 2 more displays further down at the Butterfly field. You’ll come across these if you’re walking the PCN route across the park.
Return with the Scriptures.
Image credit: NParks
Location: Butterfly Field
Cultural showcases & music performances
Image credit: Lights by the Lake
Support local artists by catching free cultural showcases and music performances on selected nights. These will be held at the stage at Wave Plaza, right next to the Chinese Garden Gate. Look forward to tunes by symphony orchestras and Chinese dances.
Dates: 3rd-5th & 10th-12th Oct 2025
Time: 6.30pm-9.30pm
Location: Wave Plaza
Lantern Riddles
If you’re the type of person who loves a challenge, the Lantern Riddles segment will be right up your alley. Simply tune in to LOVE972’s special riddles broadcast and stand a chance to score some prizes if you crack them all correctly.
Dates: 29th Sep-2nd Oct 2025 | 6th-9th Oct 2025
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
Location: Wave Plaza
Roving Art Studio by National Gallery Singapore
Image credit: NParks via Facebook
Get your creative juices flowing at the Roving Art Studio by the National Gallery Singapore. Try your hand at making your own artworks using traditional mooncake stamps – just like the ones featured in Georgette Chen’s iconic Still Life paintings – to decorate your activity sheets.
There’ll even be a miniature kampong installation inspired by Liu Kang’s Life by the River for you to explore too.
Dates: 4th, 5th, 11th & 12th Oct 2025
Time: 6.30pm-10.30pm
Location: Wave Plaza
– Chinese Garden –
Chang’e and the Moonlit Gardens
Image credit: NParks
Once you enter the gates of the Chinese Garden, your first encounter is with the beautiful White Rainbow Bridge, decorated with hanging lanterns.
Image credit: NParks
Head towards the Stoneboat and you’ll see a lantern display of the Moon Goddess amongst the lotus flowers – both real and lighted up props.
Location: Stoneboat
Cloud Pagoda Light Show
Image credit: Lights by the Lake
Sure, the colourful displays are a treat, but the Cloud Pagoda Light Show is where the gardens truly come alive. Stand back and watch as the mesmerising beams of light dance across the pagoda and illuminate the entire garden. The light show runs every 30 minutes from 7.30pm onwards.
Dates: 27th Sep-12th Oct 2025
Time: 7.30pm onwards
Location: Cloud Pagoda
Guided Tours of the Chinese Garden
If you’ve yet to properly experience the beauty of the Chinese Garden, but want an experienced guide to show you around, sign up for the free guided tour on the NParks website, where you’ll get to discover its lush greenery and landmarks.
On 28th September, as well as 5th and 12th October, selected stations will even have a trained sign language interpreter, so everyone gets to enjoy the fun facts and stories.
Dates: 27th-28th Sep 2025 | 3rd-12th Oct 2025
Time: 5pm-6.30pm
Location: Chinese Garden
Rockestra
Image credit: Lights by the Lake
A festival favourite, this year’s Rockestra takes place at a new venue, the Fiscus Lawn in the Chinese Garden. Themed “Dancing in the Moonlight”, it showcases a lineup of local talents, including LOVE972 presenter Lee Lian, belting out English and Mandarin songs that’ll have you grooving to the beat.
Date: 11th October 2025
Time: 6.30pm till late
Location: Fiscus Lawn
– Japanese Garden –
Blossoms Beneath the Moon
Now, cross over to the Japanese Garden if you want to catch a few more adorable lantern displays. Be warned, though, that these are a little further apart and require more walking.
Depending on which direction you come from, you might encounter these displays in a different order.
Image credit: NParks
However, closest to the entrance of the garden is a lantern scene featuring sakura blossoms and a full moon. You can get onto the bridge, by the way, to snap a few pics against the pretty backdrop.
Location: Floral Garden
The Lantern Dream of Little Mei
Image credit: NParks
Personally, we wouldn’t suggest missing this cute display of Little Mei atop a floating boat lantern. The story goes that she is sailing across the pond to reunite with her family on Mid Autumn Festival night.
Location: Resthouse Pond
Sunken Garden Illumination
Image credit: Aditi Kashyap
At night, the Sunken Garden Illumination comes alive with a bright, multicoloured light display, giving its usually zen vibes a lively, playful twist.
Location: Sunken Garden
Astronomy Open House by Science Centre Singapore
Image credit: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Step into the Water Lily Pavilion to experience the joy of creating your very own lantern based on the pattern of our night skies. It doesn’t end there, as you’ll also get to catch pretty views through the telescopes at both the pavilion and at The Observatory, Science Centre Singapore.
Date: 3rd & 4th Oct 2025
Time: 7pm-10pm
Location: Water Lily Pavilion
– F&B options-
Image credit: Lights by the Lake
All that walking is sure to leave you feeling a bit peckish, in which case you’ll have plenty of F&B establishments to choose from. Treat yourself to the yummy pasar malam fare available at the Food Market. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can check out the unique Starbucks near Lakeside Plaza or Fusion Spoon at Eco Pond.
Otherwise, the Eden Cafe serves fusion Singaporean dishes like Rendang Burger ($20), while Canopy is a pet-friendly cafe with an open view of the greenery outside.
Bonus: Programmes at PAssionWave@Jurong Lake Gardens
While not technically part of the Lights by the Lake festival, there’ll be a series of programmes each weekend at PAssionWave@Jurong Lake Gardens that are worth checking out too. Some noteworthy activities range from kayak and pedal boat try-outs to zumba classes.
Browse the full list of programmes at PAssionWave@Jurong Lake Gardens.
How to get to Jurong Lake Gardens?
Take the MRT and alight at Lakeside MRT Station on the East-West line, which is located close to the main entrance of Jurong Lake Gardens. Take Exit A from there.
Alternatively, you can alight at the Chinese Garden MRT Station. After that, it’s a 5-minute walk from Exit B to the Chinese Garden Bridge, the east entrance of the garden.
Either way, both stations will lead you straight to the festivities.
Visit the Lights by the Lake festival at Jurong Lake Gardens for an enchanting time
So, whether you’re running out of free date ideas or just looking for the perfect excuse to explore the West side of Singapore, swing by the Lights by the Lake festival at Jurong Lake Gardens for a fun time out.
Admission: Free
Date: 27th Sep-12th Oct 2025
Time: 6.30pm-10.30pm
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For other free attractions, check out:
- Singapore Odyssea at the National Museum of Singapore
- Sentosa Nature Discovery
- SG60 Heart&Soul experience at Orchard Library
Cover image adapted from: NParks
Last updated by Aditi Kashyap on 30th September 2025.