Braced with impressive plans to chase the Northern Lights or go skiing in Hokkaido, many Singaporeans are scrambling to get out of town this Christmas. But you’ll be glad you decided to stay, because spending the holidays at home – the sunny isles of Singapore – just got a lot more irresistible with these events happening around Harbourfront and Sentosa.
Be dazzled by world’s largest indoor light display, feast inside a cable car cabin or even meet a scuba-diving Santa. This December, these events will put childlike wonderment back into your Christmas experience and prove that elaborate travel itineraries aren’t always necessary for you to have a spanking good time with your friends and family.
Snap your best troll-fies at the designated photo points Source
If you didn’t get enough of their hair-raising adventures on cinema screens, head down to Sentosa’s Trollific Playcation – a vacation + play date with Dreamworks’ Poppy, Branch, and their technicolored Troll friends as they pop-up along Siloso Beach and Merlion Walk.
Let the kids run loose at the Trolls Playground at iFly Level 2, go crazy over the Troll wigs at the Trolls Toy Shop and catch the Trolls at their meet and greet, happening at 12PM, 2.30PM and 6PM* at Beach Plaza on 17 December.
Source: @stanley_chee
Come nightfall, watch the Merlion’s white exterior get a merry makeover, transforming into a colorful canvas for the Trollific Merlion Light Show. Screening at 30-minute intervals from 7.45PM to 9.15PM* You’ll be amazed how any white surface can make for a perfect projector screen. *Additional shows at 9.45PM and 10.15PM on weekends, eve of PH and PH
Trollific Playcation
When: 19 Nov 2016 to 2 Jan 2017
Where: Beach Plaza, Merlion Walk, Merlion Plaza, 50 Beach View, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098604
Price: Free. Island admission and carpark charges apply
Website
Breaking the Guinness Book of World Records in 2015 with a whopping 824,961 light bulbs, is the world’s largest light bulb display in an indoor venue at Universal Studios Singapore – The Universal Journey.
Two months of work in the making with eight distinct themes, prepare to be mesmerized by the luminescent tendrils of the Enchanted Pine Forest to the brightly-lit teddy bears of the Land of Great Gifts.
You’ll get pretty light-headed when you see the beauty of the Enchanted Pine Forest Source
If you can finally pull yourself away from the entrancing lights, don’t miss out on the new attractions – Visit Santa, talking reindeers and his helpful elves at Santa’s Village or catch the musical “Bah Humbug! A Christmas Spectacular”, featuring the cast of Sesame Street, the Minions, Gingerbread Man, the Snow Queen and more!
When: Now till 2 Jan 17
Where: Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
Price: Standard from $74
Website
You’ll see a hundred thousand different sea critters at any given day at the S.E.A. Aquarium, but this December catch a glimpse of exotic creatures you normally wouldn’t see – Scuba Santa and bright yellow Pikachus.
Take to the Aquarium’s Enchanted Sea Trail and catch Santa out of his regular elements of snow and sleighs for the Fishmas Feeding Sessions, happening at various habitats at 11AM, 3PM and 4.30PM.
Mrs Claus is skipping the feeding action, because she’ll be at the Ocean Dome telling her Christmas stories at 2PM, 3.30PM, 4PM on dry land, from 17 Dec – 2 Jan. Rest assured her stories won’t be the least bit dry – it’s S.E.A. Aquarium’s way of reeling in you hungry few craving for some entertainment this Fishmas season.
Get your hands on a PokéBall and embark on a mission uncovering the identities of the Pokémon within, as you live out your Professor Oak aspirations as a Pokémon researcher at the Pokémon Research Exhibition.
Appearing for the first time outside of Japan, these interactive stations are here to level up your Pokémon experience. Just place your PokéBall into any of the four machines and generate clues like the Pokémon’s characteristics and silhouettes.
With varying levels of difficulty* – Poké Ball (Regular), Great Ball (Difficult), Ultra Ball (Extra Difficult) – odds are you’ll be staying till closing time. The best part is you’ll be playing in air-conditioned bliss and you’re spared walking miles under the sun like you’d need to for Po-Go.
*Admission comes with one ball, charges apply for additional balls.
Merry Fishmas & Pokémon Research Exhibition
When: Various dates up till 2 Jan ‘17
Where: S.E.A. Aquarium, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Resorts World Sentosa, 098269
Price: Standard S.E.A. Aquarium admission charges apply
Singaporean Residents | $22 (Child) | $34 (Adult)
General Admission | $28 (Child) | $38 (Adult)
Website
The peak of Mount Faber is a destination high-ly worth considering if you’re looking for a new place to wine and dine this Christmas and NYE.
Not only are Faber Peak’s Faber Bistro and Spuds and Aprons rolling out special a la-carte dishes and set menus for the season, you can even dine inside cable car cabins for the unobstructed viewing of celebratory fireworks.
As much as we tell ourselves Christmas calories don’t count, they do. But with Faber Bistro’s 4-course Christmas spread ($95++/pax) that comes with a sparkling cocktail, you’ll want to hold off the dieting till the holidays are over. Check out Faber Bistro’s full Christmas dinner menu here and make your bookings for the 24th or 25th of December.
Faber Bistro
When: 24 -25, 31 December 2016
Where: Faber Peak, 109 Mount Faber Road, Singapore 099203
Book Here
Spuds and Aprons’ NYE set menu ($95++/pax) – Mushroom Tart with Pan Seared Foie Gras, Crab Bisque, Char Grilled US Beef Striploin and a decadent Manjari Chocolate Mousse. Source
If you’ve a weakness for Christmas ham, be sure to try Spuds and Aprons’ Gammon Ham, baked true to their Executive Chef’s secret recipe. If ham’s not your thing, treat yourself with their other offerings like Chilli Crab in a Tux to Stress-Free Angus Beef. For a taste of all this deliciousness, you better make reservations ASAP, because we hear they’re already booked out for Christmas!
Spuds and Aprons
When: 24 -25, 31 December 2016
Where: Faber Peak, 109 Mount Faber Road, Singapore 099203
Book Here
Wait who scrubbed up the kids and let them into the operating theatre? Source
If you thought KidZania was one of those massive kid playgrounds with tunnels, slides and ball pits, you’ll be taken by surprise. Popularizing the concept of role-playing, KidZania gets kids curious about various jobs, exposing them to over 80 different roles like roasting bakwa to piloting a Boeing 737.
Source: @_collywobbles
This December, expect to see the mini versions of KFC, Paddle Pop Factory and even KISS92FM studios, some of them even taking a festive twist for KidZania’s Christmas event Memories Through Time. Don’t be shy now, grab the kiddos and join the Christmas City Parade, sing along with the carollers or groove to the Christmas Dance sessions.
Don’t forget to take the kids to visit Santa or watch them unleash their Christmas creativity making crafts and snow globes at the Christmas Workshops.
Source: @thisisshannongoh Credit: Wendy Goh
Swing by the KidZania Christmas tree, for a chance to win a pair of return air tickets to London by Qatar Airways when you share your best KidZania memories captured at the tree! Now that’s one present you weren’t expecting to find!
KidZania Singapore
When: 10AM – 5PM daily
Where: 31 Beach View, #01-01/02, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098008
Website
Book Here*
*Get your tickets online before heading down to get 5% off or use a Maybank credit card for 10% off.
You’d expect to find the most impressive Christmas trees at Orchard Road, Vivocity has outdone the trees in town, because the one here is 107 feet tall with a built-in musical carousel! Watch the tree spring to life in a dazzling light show happening 7.30PM, 8.30PM and 9.30PM nightly.
The light show on the weekends features falling snow! So if you’re hoping for a White Christmas in sunny Singapore, Vivocity’s rooftop is the place to go.
Source: @vivocitysingapore
If you need to take a breather after all your Christmas shopping, go hunting for reindeer instead, by snapping a photo with Rudolph. You’ll stand a chance to win a set of “Best of Body Butter Festive Dome” (worth $35) from The Body Shop.
Simply follow Vivocity (@vivocitySingapore) post your photo with Rudolph and tag @thebodyshopsg and #VivoCityReindeer. Contest ends 11 December, so quickly get snappin’!
Vivocity Singapore
When: 10AM – 10PM daily
Where: 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
Website
It’s funny how the closer we live to a place of interest, the less likely we are to check it out – we think these attractions are too “touristy” but whip out our selfie sticks instantly, the moment we leave homeground.
If you aren’t heading out for international adventures this holiday, you don’t have to settle for a quiet Christmas at home, with with tons of activities sprawled out throughout Singapore’s south pole. We’ll bet even the homebodies of Woodlands and Pasir Ris will leave their enclaves just to get their dose of Christmas fun and the out of Singapore feels at Sentosa and Harbourfront.
This post was brought to you by Sentosa Harbourfront Business Association.
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