Very soon, we will all band together, draped in red and white, to celebrate Singapore’s 59th birthday. Whether you’re at home listening to National Day songs or outside at the best NDP fireworks spots, we will be celebrating together, as one united people. That’s also the theme for this year’s NDP, which isn’t the only new thing to be excited about.
From the debut of a dynamic defence display at the Padang to a more interactive parade, you can expect a heck of a show on 9th August 2024. Read on for our NDP 2024 guide, which will cover everything from the timeline of the programme to the new exciting funpack, and everything in between.
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This and next year’s NDP will be held at The Padang, while works are underway for the future NS Square opening in 2027. Unlike last year though, the event will expand to cover The Promontory@Marina Bay, so you can catch the maritime and aerial displays, as well as the Presidential gun salute sail-past.
Apart from the actual parade on 9th August, there are also 2 NDP Previews on 27th July and 3rd August 2024.
Technically, the parade starts at 6.25pm, but you can head earlier to soak up the vibes at the pre-parade segment, from 5.30pm onwards. In fact, you can enter anytime after 4pm. Gentle warning though, it’s hot AF, so you best arm yourself with a portable fan or foldable umbrella.
Depending on which area you’re seated in, here’s how to get to your entry point:
| Colour of seating area | Nearest MRT | Directions |
| Blue | Raffles Place station (EW line & NS line) | Take Exit H from Raffles Place station and walk along Fullerton Road to Anderson Bridge. Cross the bridge, and you will arrive at the Padang. Alternatively, get off at Clarke Quay station and take Exit A. Walk along the Singapore River and turn left at Victoria Concert Hall towards the Padang. |
| Green | Esplanade station (Circle line) | Take Exit D from Esplanade station and walk along Raffles Avenue towards Esplanade Drive. |
| Yellow | Esplanade station (Circle line) | Take Exit D from Esplanade station and walk along Raffles Avenue towards Stamford Road. Alternatively, take Exit A from City Hall station and walk towards the Padang via Stanford Road. |
| Red | City Hall station (EW line & NS line) | Take Exit B at City Hall station and walk towards Parliament Plaza. |
If you need to go to the loo, just head down the stairs to the cubicles. There are around 100 of them, though you might experience some wait times during peak periods. There are also water dispensers situated nearby for you to stay hydrated in this heat.
NDP this year will feature 4 main events: Pre-Parade, Parade & Ceremony, Total Defence 40 Dynamic Defence Display, and the show segment. We attended the rehearsal on 13th July to give you a low-down of what to expect in each segment. But do note that there may be a couple of minutes difference, give or take, on the day you attend your allotted NDP show.
| Events | Highlight(s) | Timing |
| Pre-Parade |
| 5.33pm-6.25pm |
| Parade & Ceremony |
| 6.25pm-7.15pm |
| Total Defence 40 Dynamic Defence Display |
| 7.15pm-7.30pm |
| Show segment |
| 7.30pm-8.02pm |
| Finale |
| 8.03pm-8.30pm |
The Pre-Parade may be a warm-up, but it already has a slew of performances lined up, starting with the entrance of 6 giant inflatable mascots, joined with performances from students. Captain Green, Nila, Becky Bunny, Singa the Lion, Sharity the Elephant, and August the Merlion will be gracing the field, each representing a different mission.
Afterwards, the show literally rises, with 8 Red Lions members parachuting down from the sky. As you marvel at them coming down, you’ll also be able to see their faces on the huge LED panels, as the announcer shares some fun facts about them.
Now we’re back to the ground again, with the Parade & Ceremony commencing with a Military Tattoo.
Every contingent will march in unison, and the highlight will be when they come together in their final formation to form the phrase “TD40”.
GIF adapted from: Huy
The segment will end with the National Anthem, followed by 5 F-16 jets carrying out the crowd favourite bomb burst. There will also be an Onward March, and you can catch the parade participants marching up to the stands.
Making its debut at the Padang this year, the TD40 D3 is very much akin to an opera theatre showing a scene of Crimewatch in the flesh. With 4 different scenarios played out across the land, air, sea, and digital domains, you can expect to be in for a show.
The highlight of the show will definitely be 2 RSAF SPYDERs firing “missiles” to neutralise aerial threats. You may have guessed it already, but it’s not actual missiles la, just pyrotechnics.
Of course, the display doesn’t just involve the military. Agencies such as Singapore’s police, SCDF, maritime agency, and PUB all have a part to play when it comes to managing threats.
Once the TD40 D3 is done flexing our military might, the show segment will start. Done across 4 chapters and 3 films, the story will tell you about the stories of Our People. To keep your attention span intact throughout, you’ll see some 12 artistes and 3,000 performers taking to the stage to make the story come to life.
The extra 12 LED banners, 4 mobile LED cubes, alongside the main LED screens, help focus on certain performers too.
GIF adapted from: Huy
The show segment literally ends off with a bang as large displays of fireworks will adorn the sky in a sea of red and white. Based on our estimation, the main fireworks display will last around 20-25 minutes, in addition to the small bursts of fireworks throughout the show.
You should travel light, as water bottles with more than 100ml of liquid will be checked. Canned items like drinks are not allowed either. You’re probably thinking “Walao eh, water also cannot, but the weather so hot” Don’t fret, each parade attendee will be provided with drinks and refreshments in their NDP pack.
A core memory of every P5 NDP’s experience: the NDP pack. This year’s design celebrates Singapore’s 40th year of Total Defence and the bag itself is made from eco-friendly materials. The bag is lightweight, expandable, and can be folded to fit into your pocket.
As for the contents, you can expect the classic Singapore flag, tattoos, foldable fan, and Khong Guan biscuits. There’s also an Oatside milk, lozenges, Koko Krunch, and even a resistance band to kickstart your long-awaited fitness transformation.
Image adapted from: MINDEF
Easties this, Westies that. On 9th August 2024, both sides will have equal chances to catch sight of the flag on the Fly Our Flag route from 5.45pm-6.30pm. The eastern route will pass by places like Bedok and East Coast while the western route will pass by Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Batok.
To get a good view, head over to lepak at spots like Bedok Jetty, Singapore Science Centre, or even the Toa Payoh Dragon Playground, if you want to make it extra nostalgic.
Image credit: MINDEF
As for the Island Flypast route, you can catch 6 F-16s zooming past heartland areas like Jurong West, Toa Payoh, and Punggol. The aircrafts will be covering each section of the route twice, so you won’t have to worry about missing it.
With road closures around Nicoll Highway, Esplanade Drive, and Fullerton Road, it’s better for both you and your wallet to take public transport instead of a cab or to drive. Besides, it’s a good excuse to also soak in these special National Day-themed trains. They’ll only be around until 25th August 2024, so don’t miss them.
Should you be taking a bus instead, check SMRT’s website and SBS’ website for more info on the bus schedule and temporary route diversions.
Didn’t manage to get a seat for this year’s parade? Fret not, as you can see the NDP fireworks from afar at Marina Bay too. Esplanade Park is a solid place to camp at; plus there’s Marina Barrage, Bay East Garden, and Mount Faber with good views too.
And if you’re scrambling to make reservations for the long weekend, here are some restaurants with views of fireworks too.
Those lucky enough to have snagged tickets to the NTUC Bay celebrations actually get the best of both worlds. You get to see some segments of the parade live, like the TD40 D3 maritime and aerial shows, and presidential gun salute; plus, catch a live telecast of the parade on a giant screen.
There will also be performances by celebrated local artists the likes of Iman Fandi and Yung Raja, in line with the theme of celebrating the youth.
NTUC Bay celebrations:
Venue: The Promontory @ Marina Bay
Date: 3rd & 9th August 2024
Time: 3pm-10pm
Image credit: @syafiqthecoolfiq via Instagram
Those who can’t contain their excitement for the National Day festivities, can also check out the free NDP concert with carnival activities. Happening at Gardens by The Bay, you can see Benjamin Kheng belting out Not Alone live. Restless kids can expend their energy at pre-concert activities like go-kart races and carnival games.
Gardens by The Bay & Mediacorp National Day Concert 2024:
Venue: The Meadow, Gardens by The Bay
Date: 4th August 2024
Time: 7:30pm-10pm
GIF adapted from: Huy
Taylor Swift fans are all too familiar with post concert depression, but we Singaporeans feel a pinch of pain too, on 10th August. To keep the festive mood alive, head over to these 5 heartland celebrations across the country. Apart from fireworks, there’ll be static displays of military vehicles and NDP packs being given out, so it’s sure to be a treat for all.
The locations of the heartland celebrations will be at the open fields near:
Find out where to collect your tickets from this list of CCs. Do note that it is first come first served, so fastest fingers first!
Heartland Celebrations 2024:
Date: 10th August 2024
Time: 4pm-9pm
Other than NDP vouchers, there are other ways to get your hands on NDP-related prizes and tickets. If you’re feeling lucky, check out these social media contests to take part in:
So, now you know everything that’s going to happen at NDP 2024. Even if you’re not at the Padang itself, you can celebrate Singapore’s birthday in spirit with the other fun events and activities taking place. Whether it’s at National Day heartland events, at Marina Bay, or even at home, enjoy this day together, as one united people.
For other NDP-related things, check out:
Photography by Huy Pham.
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