In case you’ve not had the chance to saunter through the city centre recently, the Orchard Road Christmas light-up is already in full force, and we’ve just barely scraped past the beginning of November. However, the light installations in the CBD are not by their lonesome, as another one down south is also giving you reasons to celebrate the holidays prematurely.
That’s right, we’re talking about Garden by the Bay’s Christmas Wonderland 2024, and this year’s merry affairs are gearing up to be quite the spectacle. From its iconic Spalliera structure to other light installations to serve as IG-worthy backdrops, here’s all you need to know before you plan your photoshoots.
The Spalliera’s design is inspired by Italian architecture; last year’s one was an ode to the Mesola Castle in northern Italy.
Christmas Wonderland is an annual Christmas-themed event that takes place at Gardens by the Bay. Often accompanied by various carnival rides and games, Christmas Wonderland features a variety of light installations that shine beautifully at night, and a recurring display that makes an appearance every year is its iconic Spalliera structure.
Christmas Wonderland 2024 will be taking place at Gardens by the Bay, and will be held from 29th November 2024 to 1st January 2025, from 6.30pm till 10.15pm. If you’re planning to head down, do purchase your tickets on Trip.com’s website in advance, in order to enjoy a slight discount; here’s a quick glance of the ticket prices:
| Dates | Adult (Advance purchase) | Adult (Same-day purchase) | Child (3-12 years old) |
| 29th Nov-5 Dec 2024 | $9 | $11 | $7 |
| 6th-19th Dec 2024 | $11 | $13 | |
| 20th-26th Dec 2024 | $13 | $15 | |
| 27th Dec 2024-1st Jan 2025 | $11 | $13 |
As usual, visitors to Christmas Wonderland 2024 can expect to immerse themselves in a variety of holiday-themed activities, as well as pose beside stunning light installations. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect when you head down.
Image credit: Blue Sky Events
Undoubtedly, one attraction you can’t miss both literally and figuratively at Christmas Wonderland 2024 is the 20m-tall Spalliera that’s fronting a brand new design. This time, it draws Gothic inspiration from the Orvieto Cathedral in Umbria, Italy, and is illuminated by a whopping 100,000 bulbs.
Additionally, stick around for the fan favourite Blizzard Time, which is a shower of faux snow that takes place within the Spalliera. You’ll want to get your cameras poised to shoot once the Garden Rhapsody music and light show ends at 7.45pm, 8.45pm, and 9.35pm daily, as that’s when the snowflakes will start fluttering down from above.
Also at the Supertree Grove are other impressive light displays that surely warrant a snap or 2. Manifest your most Christmas desired gifts at a huge, glowing present wrapped in hues of gold and yellow, or share a moment by the oversized ornament balls that glimmer magically
Another attraction that’s definitely worth heading down to experience for yourself is the Walk of Lights. It’s a 50m-long tunnel adorned with LED lights which pulse in a kaleidoscope of colours that you can wow your SO with.
We’ll leave it to you to discover the rest of the dazzling displays you can find at Christmas Wonderland 2024. We’ve heard that there’ll be an enchanted forest to explore, an adorable trio of bears to wave hello to, as well as an installation that’s a nod to the world renowned Swan Lake ballet.
You wouldn’t even have to leave Christmas Wonderland 2024 to quell your rumbling bellies, as there’ll be food booths set up on-site to fuel up at. Visitors can look forward to munching on nosh by F&B joints such as Brewerkz, Harry’s, and Churros Republic, just to name a few.
You can also pair your food and drinks with the live performances taking place in the vicinity. Prepare to get serenaded by local artistes as well as festive flash mobs raising the holiday vibes to a fever pitch.
Don’t forget to swing by the nearby carnival too, to try your hand at its games and rides. The little ones will have a blast as they take on the double-storey Venetian horse carousel or chug along with the CDG Zig Express Christmas Train. Meanwhile, impress your dates by snagging a plush at the various booths hosting games like ring toss.
Finally, pay a visit to Santa’s Village to meet Father Christmas himself, and have a gander at the wares sold at Mistletoe Alley. It’s filled with vendors coming in clutch for some last-minute gift shopping; there are even cheerful elves stationed here, welcoming you to perhaps bring home a memento or 2.
For those not jetting overseas for a winter getaway this year-end, a family trip to Christmas Wonderland is a great alternative when it comes to celebrating the holiday season. Although we can’t quite promise sub-zero temperatures when you swing by, we can guarantee that you’ll get to walk away with your phone’s gallery filled with plenty of fodder for your IG stories with its pretty light displays.
For more exciting things to do to get you into the festive mood:
Cover image adapted from: Blue Sky Events
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