Istana Open House Is Happening This Feb With Food Stalls, Guided Tours & Performances For CNY

Istana Open House 2024

As we approach the cusp of Chinese New Year, I’m sure many of us who’re looking forward to the long weekend have already planned out the usual home visits. But if you’ve got time to spare in between gorging on CNY snacks from house to house, consider swinging by the Istana Open House 2024.

It promises even more festive fare to pig out on, accompanied by live performances. But the best part? It’s free entry for Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs), so there’s no reason not to visit to burn an hour or 2. Especially when you’re looking for a reprieve from your relatives’ unwarranted jabs at your singlehood this CNY.

Look forward to live performances & activities like calligraphy

2022’s Istana Open House performance.
Image credit: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Similar to last year’s open house, visitors can expect to be captivated by a slew of musical and dance numbers. Some headliners include ensembles consisting of the talented students of LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts – just to name a few.

If you’ve still got some artistic inspiration lingering from Singapore Art Week 2024, you can expend your creative juices at activity booths that host calligraphy sessions.

For those arriving on an empty stomach, you won’t have to go hungry for long as there’ll be food stalls as well as a food truck on the Istana grounds. We don’t have much info on the food they’ll be serving, but take note that only cashless payments will be accepted.

Image credit: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr

Apart from the nosh, you can also purchase limited-edition Istana souvenirs such as mugs, keychains, postcards and the like at the pop-up merchandise stands here too. The proceeds here will go to benefitting agencies supported by the President’s Challenge 2024, so consider this a good opportunity to rack up some good karma over the new year.

Explore the Istana by going on guided tours

Image credit: @through.sam.eyes via Instagram

It’s not often that we get to set foot into the Istana’s exclusive premises, so do take this opportunity to tour the area if this is your first time on these storied grounds. The place is huge, so should you need someone to point you in the right direction, there are guided tours you can sign up for. These are going for $4/pax for Singapore citizens and PRs.

Image credit: The Istana

There’ll be 2 types of guided tours available: those who prefer to get closer to the fauna and flora of the Istana can opt for the Nature Guided Tour, while the tour of the Istana Main Building is just the thing if you’d like to sneak a peek of areas like the various function rooms.

Of course, you’ll also be able to roam about on your own; the Istana Heritage Gallery is free to enter for all visitors.

Check out the Istana Open House 2024 this CNY

In case you’re looking for something to do during the long weekend aside from staking your angbao money in rounds of Blackjack, consider taking a trip to this year’s Istana CNY open house. Who knows, you might even get to rub shoulders with the president herself; she’s been a regular attendee of these open houses throughout the years.