Christmas Wonderland First Look: New Carnival Rides, Pirate Ship With Elves & Gingerbread Grove

Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay

You know it’s December when you hear Christmas jingles playing in shopping malls in Singapore and you see friends gallivanting around winter destinations like London or Germany. But Singapore has plenty of places to take in the festive vibes too, like the Orchard Road Christmas light-up and Changi Festive Village.

Here’s another one on the annual calendar: Christmas Wonderland, which just made its annual return from 1st December 2023 to 1st January 2024. With a myriad of photo ops, classic amusement rides, and a cool Gingerbread Grove, here’s all you can expect at the fair’s 10th anniversary.

Stunning light displays including a pirate ship & 20m-tall castle

What’s Christmas without Santa? Having decided to give his trusty reindeer a rest this year, Santa and his elves have made landfall on our sunny island aboard the Holly Roger pirate ship this festive season. So all aboard the 24m-long light installation for the best photo ops.

Don’t worry if you missed his appearance at Holly Roger, there’s also a booth where you can queue up to get photos. Santa himself will also be on hand, ready to tell you if you’ve been naughty or nice.

After which, head to this year’s Walk of Lights, a 65m-long kaleidoscopic tunnel made up of LED lights. Watch as the projections change to show the hues of the rainbow, candy cane, and snowflakes.

But of course, you can’t leave without checking out the centrepiece. The highlight of this year’s light installations is called Spalliera, a 20m-tall light display that’s inspired by Mesola Castle in northern Italy. Handbuilt by Italian craftsmen, the structure features 103,000 individual light bulbs, plenty to illuminate those lit IG shots.

After snapping your shots, don’t leave just yet. Catch the Garden Rhapsody and Blizzard Time daily at 7.45pm, 8.45pm, and 9.35pm. Watch the iconic Supertrees come alive as beloved tunes like Deck The Halls start playing. At the end of the light show, experience “snow fall” – but don’t worry about bringing your winter gear.

If you’re tired of walking, hop onboard the choo-choo train between Supertree Station and Meadow Station. Rides cost $8 for 1-way and $12 for 2-way.

Head to The Meadow for carnival games & amusement rides

For those wanting to relive their childhood memories, head over to The Meadow. This year’s edition features Frosty Playground, a carnival-style space with a range of classic amusement rides that will transport you back to more carefree days.

Plenty of photo backdrops for your IG.

Hop on the Flying Dumbo ($12/elephant), or go one round on the Carousel. The latter costs $8/horse, plus an additional $4 per accompanying adult.

A crowd favourite will be the Bumper Blitz ($12/car), a retro-style bumper car ride with old-school music playing a la Stranger Things. If your kids don’t want to drive on their own, don’t worry, 2 people can fit into a car.

Do note that there’s a minimum height of 0.9m for both Flying Dumbo and Bumper Blitz, and children between 0.9m-1.2m have to be accompanied by an adult.

You can also try your hand at a variety of carnival games including Balloon Burst, Fishy Fishy and Snowball Smash (from $6/game), where you might walk away with an early Christmas gift.

Parents can also take their kids to Lumiland, a charmingly lit playground complete with illuminated swings, seesaws, and LED decorations.

Gingerbread Grove.

And if you’re hungry, head to the Gingerbread Grove, a sugary-themed zone with vendors such as Churros Republic and Beverly Hills Cheesecake.

Munch on Christmas-themed food & beverages

Mexican grilled corn ($7.50) and butter beer ($8).

You don’t have to think about where to go for dinner before heading to Christmas Wonderland – because this year, there are over 20 F&B stalls. If you’re craving Mexican food, Mexi-Go has chicken or beef tacos ($12/3 pieces) and nachos served with guacamole, sour cream, and cheese ($10).

If the kids are craving something sweet, treat them to some cotton candy ($10) or a mug of butter beer ($8).

For some tipples, head to the Hendricks’ Christmas Cracker Bar, where you can get affordable drinks like Hendrick’s Cranberry Fizz highball ($12) and a Pumpkin Spice cocktail ($15). Then, sit on one of the benches as you listen to live musical acts that will be performing on stage.

Make plans to check out Christmas Wonderland

Even if you’re not travelling this December, there are plenty of things to do in Singapore that will transport you overseas. If you want to take in the festive vibes without getting on a flight to winter destinations, this dreamy wonderland is the next best thing.

Tickets this year cost from $8/adult and $6/child, not inclusive of entry to OCBC Skyway, Supertree Observatory, Floral Fantasy and Gardens by the Bay Conservatories. Now, all you have to do is mark your calendars and send this article to your friends and family.