CNY 2024 events in Singapore
Chinese New Year is just around the corner – and the streets are hustling and bustling with red, gold, and classic CNY songs. Almost everywhere you turn, from big malls to your local mama shops, you’ll find wonderful decor that reminds you that it’s the year of the dragon.
Here are some spots in Singapore with the most chio CNY decorations and events that radiate big dragon energy. Table of Contents
– CNY decorations –
1. Funan – Giant animated dragon with LED lights
Image credit: Zula
It’s hard to miss the Dance of the Dragon installation, given its central location in Funan’s level 1 atrium. Running from now till 4th February 2024, it features a 8m-wide dragon sculpture as its centrepiece. The mythical creature sports colourful LED lights that run down its body, seemingly allowing it to come to life every 30 minutes during the light and sound show.
That’s not the only CNY themed installation at the mall, though, with Stitch and Pinocchio prominently featuring at the mall’s exterior. Other Disney characters can be found at CapitaLand malls around the island for even more photo ops.
Image credit: Funan
Westgate, Junction 8, and Bugis+ even have Disney pop-up stores where you can pick up plushies donning a dragon onesie. Even if not to display for CNY, these would also make great baby gifts for anyone born this year.
Venue: 107 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179105
Dates: Now till 24th February 2024
Time: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6970 1668 | Funan website
2. Changi Airport – Aesthetic plant displays & dragon dances
Image credit: Changi Airport Group
Some of us might be thinking of flying off during the long CNY weekend. If you do, make sure you check out the dragon-themed displays at Changi Airport. Each terminal has its own unique dragon sculpture and floral arrangement, so be sure to hit all of ‘em including Terminal 4 and the recently reopened Terminal 2.
Image credit: Jewel Changi
If you’ve got more time before your flight, drop by Jewel Changi to check out their animated dragon display at the Canopy Park. From 9th-12th February 2024, there’ll also be lion dance performances throughout the day. Check the Jewel Changi website for specific timings.
Venue: 60 Airport Boulevard, Changi Airport, Singapore 819643
Dates: Now till 24th February 2024
Time: 24 hours, Daily
Contact: Changi Airport website
3. Gardens by the Bay – 15m-long dragons & colourful dahlias
You can always count on Gardens By The Bay to deliver on gorg CNY displays. This year is no different with its 8 dragon sculptures surrounded by a thousand dahlias at the Flower Dome. One of which is a driftwood sculpture that stands at 5.5m tall to welcome the year of the Wood Dragon.
Image credit: @gardensbythebay via Instagram
The centrepiece of the whole display is the 2-storey-high, 15m-long gold dragon, whose scales have been replaced by 30 different floral arrangements.
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Opening hours: 9am-8pm, Daily
Contact: 6420 6848 | Gardens by the Bay website
– CNY events –
4. Chinatown street – Festive fair stretching 5 streets
Image credit: MustShareNews
No CNY event list is complete without a mention of the Chinatown 2024 CNY Street Light Up. This year’s iteration features majestic dragon lanterns lighting up the streets of New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, and Upper Cross Street.
Image credit: MustShareNews
Those looking to do some last-minute shopping can head down to the Chinatown Festive Fair. Running from now till 9th February, it straddles 5 streets and boasts vendors hawking a variety of wares, with everything from CNY decor to pineapple tarts up for grabs.
If you can’t catch it irl, fret not, the event’s broadcasted live on Channel 8 too.
Chinese New Year Light Up
Venue: Along New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street, and Upper Cross Street
Dates: Now till 9th March 2024
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 7pm-12am (Until 6am on CNY eve)
Contact: Chinatown Festivals website
Chinese New Year Festive Fair
Venue: Along Seah Street, Smith Street, Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, and Temple Street
Dates: Now till 9th February 2024
Time: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Chinatown Festivals website
5. River Hongbao – Giant CNY lanterns & firecrackers
Image credit: River Hongbao
River Hongbao at Gardens by the Bay is back this year with an extravagant display featuring a massive 140m-long dragon lantern, as well as a massive sculpture of the God of Fortune. Firecracker displays are also set to return. Last fired in 2009, the ones here are 18m long, or about 1.5 times the length of a public bus.
Amusement rides that have been present in previous editions of River Hongbao.
Image credit: River Hongbao
You already know River Hongbao isn’t just for checking out CNY decorations. Beloved parts of the carnival are slated to return, like getai performances and amusement rides. There’s even a food street planned for this year where you can get pasar malam bites like satay, vadai, and ramly burgers.
Venue: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
Dates: 8th-17th February 2024
Time: 8th February 6.30pm -10.30pm | 9th February 6.30pm -12.15am | 10th-17th February 2.30pm-10.30pm
Contact: 6420 6848 | River Hong Bao website
6. Capitol Singapore – Guzheng performances & plant fairs
Capitol’s 2023 CNY decor.
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Getting plants is one of the easiest ways to spruce up your home for CNY. But it’s not just about picking up a random air-purifying plant for the celebration. You’ll actually want to get celebratory ones like pussy willows, bonsai trees, and money plants.
If you want to get your hands on one, consider heading over to Capitol Singapore from 26th January to 9th February 2024. There’ll be a Planters’ Market at the Outdoor Plaza for aspiring plant parents to snag their festive blooms. For even more huat, there’ll even be an in-house calligrapher to write out a custom spring couplet for you with a minimum spend of $28 on a single receipt.
Venue: 13 Stamford Road, Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905
Dates: 26th January to 9th February 2024
Time: 10.30am-10.30pm, Daily
Contact: 6973 2608 | Capitol Singapore website
7. Takashimaya Shopping Centre – Food festival with over 70 vendors
If Singaporeans aren’t shopping, we’re eating – and what a perfect way to meld both pastimes at Takashimaya Shopping Centre as part of their Lunar New Year Festive Celebration? The festive fair hosts over 70 different food vendors like Baker’s Brew, Bake Inc, and Butter Studio – selling all sorts of delectable treats from plant-based bakkwa to animal-themed mini buns.
Pick up some hampers and snacks for your reunion dinner at the fair.
Image adapted from: @takashimayasg via Instagram
Venue: 391 Orchard Road, Level B2, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872
Dates: Now till 8th February 2024
Time: 10am-9.30pm, Daily
Contact: 6738 1111 | Takashimaya Singapore website
8. Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre – Floral arrangements & folk tales
There’s also a bazaar where you can snap up a variety of CNY goodies, trinkets, and art pieces.
Image credit: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Those looking to learn more about Chinese culture can head over to the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, which plays host to the CNY Family Fun festival. Running from 26th-28th January 2024, activities here include Bloom Up Your Spring, a floral arrangement workshop where you can get to learn more about the symbolism of various flowers during CNY.
Those looking to snap new family portraits can head over to A Spring Portrait, where the fam can dress up in traditional garb and snap some pics.
Admission: Free, with some ticketed events
Venue: 1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906
Time: Mon 2pm-8pm | Tue-Sun 10am-8pm
Contact: 6812 7222 | Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre website
9. Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall – Giant dragon inflatables
Image adapted from Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall via Facebook
It’s hard to miss the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, especially with the 2 huge inflatable dragons on its front lawn for the Wan Qing Festival Of Spring 2024. You can make this your next stop if you’re looking for a fun family day out while learning more about Chinese mythology.
Like previous years, the best way to dip your toes into learning more about Chinese culture is through crafting workshops. This year, there’s a Dragon’s Beard Candy Making Workshop as homage to the zodiac animal of 2024. Parents and kids can also bond together over making a bag for angbaos with the Parent-Child Mythical Creatures Bag Making Workshop.
If Junior prefers expressing themselves in more artistic ways, there’re also avenues for that too. Parents with more active kids can consider the Children Lion Dance Workshop or the Children Festive Chinese Drums Workshop, while those to brush up on their CNY greetings can pay the CNY Mini Games station a visit.
Admission: Free, with some ticketed events
Venue: 12 Tai Gin Road, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall
Dates: Now till 25th February 2024
Time: 10am-7pm, Daily
Contact: 6256 7377 | Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall website
10. Esplanade – Catch a play on a familiar CNY tradition
Image credit: @nineyearstheatre via Instagram
If you’re in need from all the festivities, all just want to understand what all the fuss is about with this holiday, then check out the Everything For You play at the Esplanade. Starring familiar names like Sharon Au and Roystan Tan, the play follows the reunion dinner of 3 sisters facing issues that could potentially tear the family apart.
Admission: From $30
Venue: 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Dates: 16th-17th February 2024
Showtime: 8pm
Contact: Esplanade website
11. i12 Katong – Poetry recitals & pipa performances
Easties can consider heading over to i12 Katong to soak in the CNY vibe. Running from now till 25th February 2024, the mall has a lineup of performances for the occasion, including lion dancfes, poetry readings, and pipa performances.
Pipa show performers by students of Fang Cao Yuan at i12 Katong.
Image credit: @synpuramusic via Instagram
Those wanting keepsakes can redeem an auspicious piece of handwritten Chinese calligraphy with a minimum of $20 spend. There’s also a kids’ craft workshop, so Junior can get to create their own CNY decor as well.
Venue: 112 East Coast Road, Singapore 428802
Dates: Now till 25th February 2024
Time: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6306 3272 | i12 Katong website
12. Old Chang Kee festive bazaar – Curry puff plushies
Image credit: Old Chang Kee via Facebook
Over in Woodlands, cute inflatable characters like the God of Wealth and zodiac animals are seen popping out of food packets. It’s part of Old Chang Kee’s festive bazaar where their famous snacks and meals like Curry’O and Nasi Lemak will be available to the public.
In addition to them serving special CNY snacks and meals, this year’s edition has exclusive merch like massage sticks ($8), curry puff shopping bags ($25) and even cutesy curry puff plushies ($9). Alternatively, you can pop by the flea market if you’re looking to snag some new clothes on the cheap.
Take this op to stock up on CNY snacks made by OCK too. The Golden Crispy Prawn Rolls and Mao Shan Wang Luv Letter are must-haves for your snack table this year, if you want twists on classics. These are available from $20.80/bottle.
Venue: 2 Woodlands Terrace, Singapore 738427
Dates: Now till 23rd February 2024 (Closed from 9th-12th, 17th-18th, 18th-20th February)
Time: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm | Sat-Sun 7am-5pm (Closed on Public Holidays)
Contact: 6555 0055 | Old Chang Kee website
13. VivoCity – 6m-tall dragon display
Image credit: Vivocity
If the zodiac animal of the year has slipped your mind, you can head over to VivoCity to jog your memory. Singapore’s biggest shopping mall features a 6m-tall inflatable dragon that towers over the zodiac fortunes at its outdoor plaza.
If you need to do some last-minute shopping, Vivocity is also having a Tangs Chinese New Year Fair where you can score festive goodies like lanterns, mooncakes, and CNY decor from over 48 brands. There’ll also be performances like the boisterous dragon dance, as well as roving God of Fortune mascots from now till 4th February 2024.
Venue: 1 HarbourFront Walk, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Dates: Now till 9th February 2024
Time: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6377 6870 | VivoCity website
Check out these CNY decorations and events
From 140m long dragons to opera shows, Singapore is nothing short of CNY activities this year. Head over to one of the many spots basking in CNY festivities and huat together with your loved ones.
Here are more Chinese New Year articles to check out:
- Rent new dresses for your CNY OOTDs
- 9 best CNY hampers to gift your loved ones
- A-paw-rable CNY outfits for your dogs
Cover image adapted from: MustShareNews, Old Chang Kee via Facebook, River Hongbao
Originally published on 15th January 2023. Last updated by Mattias Tan on 22nd January 2024