Join the festive crowds at Christmas Wonderland, a winter-themed holiday fair happening this December
A white Christmas may not be happening in sunny Singapore anytime soon (or ever), but the next best thing is Christmas Wonderland, a yuletide fair at Gardens by the Bay from 2 December 2016 ‘til 1 January 2017. It’s not just any ol’ food and shopping festival – the event is packed with must-dos, including plenty of photo opportunities at a light sculpture display that covers a whopping 57,000 sq metres! From fun carnival rides to festive parades, here are six major highlights.
A winter-themed playground
Can’t afford a trip to Aspen this year? Then slake your wanderlust by checking out Christmas Wonderland’s ice palace, an alpine-inspired space that features a 96 sq metre snow playground, an ice skating rink and a 25 metre-long ice slide. If you’d like a quick mid-day tête-à-tête, there’s even a French patisserie located within the palace, offering a traditional Christmas menu.
Awe-inspiring light installations
A visual spectacle that’s hard to miss, the Sculptures of Light display is a collection of 67 luminaries that are made from over 240,000 multi-hued light bulbs. These made-in-Italy sculptures also feature an elaborate 17th and 18th century Baroque design that’s almost guaranteed to satisfy snap-happy revellers. Even more impressive, the exhibit’s accompanied by a 19.7 metre Spalliera Castel del Monte, the tallest and largest luminarie in Southeast Asia designed to resemble the world-famous 13th century castle in Italy.
Carnival fun and games
Indulge your inner-child at attractions including bumper cars, motorised bug car rides and a mini ferris wheel or impress your friends with a trophy from carnival games stalls ranging from Fishy Fishy to Ring Toss. The prize? A Disney soft toy and (Insta)bragging rights!
The first-ever Hi-5 Funtastic House
Keeping the little ones happy isn’t always easy when you’re out and about, but the Hi-5 Funtastic House has all the elements of the ultimate kid’s paradise. Who needs a sitter when you have bouncy castles, activities and catchy tunes from the hit Australian children’s TV series?
An European-style market
Set in quaint wooden huts, the marketplace carries a quirky variety of crafts and artisanal products by independent designers. Shop for handmade accessories from jewellery label Curious Creatures, perfumes from Freda D’Parfum, soy candles from Sally’s Room and more. On the food front, there are over 27 stalls selling an intriguing array of international cuisine – you’ll be salivating over Poffertjes, which are mini Dutch pancakes; Kürtöskalács, a Hungarian cone-shaped cake and butter beer battered fish and chips, inspired by the wildly popular Harry Potter book series.
Colourful parades and festive performances
Revving up the festive mood is a free line-up of yuletide parades, collaborative showcases by Singapore singer-songwriters and rousing choral performances. If that’s not enough to get you into the Christmas spirit, we don’t know what will!
Early bird offer
Save up to 50% off the regular ticket price when you purchase passes for 2 to 8 December. Prices range from $4 (2-8 December), $6 (9-15 December) and $8 (from 16 December). One thing to note: tickets are only available for prebooking online, so purchase them here!
Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953.
This article is sponsored by Blue Sky Events