Orchard Road Christmas 2024
Mariah Carey’s defrosted, Christmas music is on repeat, and of course Orchard Road is decked with boughs of holly. By boughs of holly, we really mean over-the-top Christmas trees, a festive carnival, and whimsical fairy lights. Of course, we couldn’t miss a first look at Orchard Road Christmas 2024.
As with many of our photo guides, we come serving smokin’ pose ideas for the ‘gram. We’ve done a Gen Z pose guide in the past, so millennials this one’s for you. Below’s a homage to 2012 Instagram featuring all the favourite poses of the era – ranging from cringe to iconic. T-series babies, move aside!
What to expect at the Orchard Road Christmas?
Each year, Orchard Road has a dazzling display of festive lights, and this year’s event has everything from massive Christmas trees and even a festive carnival with games and rides. Consider it a great spot for any gathering, be it a date or BFF get-together – there’s no entrance fee!
The event is running all the way till 1st January 2025 with plenty of events including a street party and Giordano x Disney pop-up that will both happen later on in December.
1. The Great Christmas Village Snowfall & Carnival
Shot: The IG couple wanderlust pose
It’s giving “Not all who wander are lost”
Sorry not sorry, but the wanderlust pose was simply amazing. Everyone wanted to be that girl who captions “Live, Laugh, Love” as she travels around the world. It would never have gone out of style if we had anything to say about it, so we decided to give the pose another shot at The Great Christmas Village.
Carnival by J’Kids Amusement
Here, you’ll find a massive outdoor Christmas tree here surrounded by carnival rides and games. Ride on a carousel or try your luck at classic carnival games like ring toss. But that’s not the best part, because there’s snowfall here as well.
Shot: Super “extra” poses like blowing snow
Kids aren’t going to be the only ones loving the magical snowfall here that happens right in the heart of The Great Christmas Village. It only runs 4 minutes each round so come early and prepare to snap your photos quickly.
As millennials through and through, we went with our gut feeling and it landed us one with what we call a “blowing snow” pose. Super “extra” poses were fundamental to our feeds back in the day. I’d say it aged decently – 7/10.
Date: Until 1st January 2025
Time (before 6th Dec 2024) : Mon-Thu 3pm-10pm | Fri-Sun & PH 2pm-11pm
Time (after 6th Dec 2024): 1-11pm, Daily
Opening hours are extended from 1pm-12.30am on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Venue: Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, 391A Orchard Road, Singapore 238874
P.S. There’s also another Christmas Village at Shaw House Urban Plaza.
2. Orchard Road street lights
Shot: Camera covering face
You’re 99% guilty of doing this if you were born in the 90s. There were no iPhone16s or 10x camera zoom back then – we had to fish out our digital cameras to snap high-quality pictures. That made it a handy prop most of us already had on hand for quick poses.
Along the beautifully lined streets of Orchard Road, channel your inner Tumblr boy or girl and flash your old digital camera for a little #throwback.
Orchard Road lights from above.
Venue: Along Orchard Road
3. Paragon
Shot: Money on the floor
While you’ll be hard pressed to find a mall without Christmas trees this season, the one outside Paragon shouldn’t be missed. Don’t know how to pose with your 10th Christmas tree? We got you.
This legendary pose used to make an appearance every Chinese New Year and was arguably one of the pinnacles of millennial Instagram. Staring at the camera with a bright smile was too passe, and looking away was the new cool.
Venue: Outside Paragon Shopping Centre, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859
4. Orchard Central
Shot: Operation Legs For Days
Orchard Central has one of the cutest decor we’ve seen this year, featuring a pop-up “house” you can walk through. Rest your tired legs with this pose. We don’t have a good name for it, but its goal was to make your legs look extra long. Remember the hype of “legs for days”?
Shot: 2000s Disney girl pose
Hop in front of this gorgeous backdrop, tilt your chin down, arch your back slightly, and raise one hand to your hips. Wait – Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, and Selina Gomez called, they want their Disney Girl pose back.
Image credit: Grayson Freeman via Pinterest
Millennial pose rule: Your limbs shouldn’t touch your body if you want to look slim!!
Venue: Outside Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
5. The Centrepoint
Shot: Duck face selfie
The duck face selfie walked so that the 0.5x selfie could run. Millennials, this was the go-to pose we were all obsessed with. Why? We don’t really know. But it was kinda of a vibe and a part of our selfie history we could never erase – even if we wanted to.
We whipped this pose out with the interactive bread store-themed decor outside The Centrepoint. You can pick up the items here, making them amazing selfie props. Hold your favourite realistic bread up to your face, push your lips as far away from your teeth as possible, and you’re rocking the hottest fad of the 2010s.
Venue: Outside The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road, Singapore 238843
6. ION Orchard
Shot: Hair flick
The 15m-tall Dior Star installation at ION Orchard has got to be one of our favourite spots this year with a fairytale theme complete with animal motifs. The gold and green hues are totally fetch – as Gretchen Wieners would say.
Fetch never worked out but this pose did. It’s arguably one of the most evergreen poses born out of the era, and doesn’t look at all dated today.
Tip: Imagine someone calling your name from behind and turn around as the shutter clicks. Use burst shots for the best results.
Venue: Outside ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore, 238801
7. Wheelock Place
Shot: Hypebeast squat
You’ll never catch a Gen Z doing a hypebeast pose in 2024. So it makes sense that we got a handful of stares while we popped our squat at Wheelock Place.
But Zs, you have to admit that the composition does look slay, especially with the beautifully adorned high ceilings of the mall. Let us petition to bring back hypebeast poses in a couple of years – maybe after we’re done with all the low-waist jeans shenanigans.
Venue: Wheelock Place Level 1, 501 Orchard Road, Singapore 238880
8. Tanglin Mall
Shot: Flattering crop at the waist or mid thighs
A widely spread rule back then: you need to crop the shot at your waist, thigh, or shin for the most flattering shot. The biggest no-no was to cut off the picture at the ankle – that’s criminal. It was a rule many of us abided by then and it is still a good photography tip to use till this day.
Try it at Tanglin Mall – although a little out of the way, the decor here is stunning and we hear there’s going to be snowfall too.
Venue: Outside Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247933
How to pose at Orchard Road Christmas 2024
Without a doubt, the Orchard Road’s Christmas light up is something you shouldn’t miss, even if you’re not looking to milk a social media post from your visit. The 3.1km stretch is filled with lots of shimmering decor to stroll along and soak in the festive atmosphere. Best of all, you can enjoy it without spending a single cent.
It is possible to walk the entire stretch in one evening and we recommend starting from one end of the street and exploring the attractions in this order: Orchard Central > Paragon > Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza > ION Orchard > Wheelock Place > Tanglin Mall.
Despite it being an annual event, it doesn’t get old since the decorations are fresh each year. If you haven’t explored the street during Christmas before, just be sure to wear comfortable shoes as it can be quite a bit of a walk getting from one spot to another.
Christmas On A Great Street 2024
Date: Until 1st January 2025
Time: Sun-Thu 6.30pm-12am | Fri-Sat 6.30pm-2am
The light up extends from 6.30pm-6am on Christmas Eve and New Years eve
Venue: Along Orchard Road
More events happening now:
Photography by Huiwen Chan.