Huat’s up? It's time to celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore with festive events!
In case you haven’t noticed all the decorations popping up around town, CNY is just around the corner. Bring out the pineapple tarts and bak kwa, get dressed in your finest cheongsam or festive street style, and dive into the spirit of Chinese New Year at these fun events.
Best Chinese New Year 2023 events in Singapore
1. Chingay Parade
3 & 4 Feb 2023
Everyone’s favourite Chinese New Year event returns as a physical parade after two years of hybrid and digital versions, and we’re psyched. Expect a weekend of art, culture and heritage set to the theme of ‘Embrace Tomorrow’. The colourful festivities will feature the iconic Chingay floats alongside 17 community co-created mini floats, as well as performances and a street-style container art installation created by local artist Sam Lo together with 480 youths. Snap up those tickets to join in the fun!
Chingay Parade 2023, 8pm, tickets from $20; F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard, Singapore 038975
2. Chinatown’s Chinese New Year Celebration
1 Jan – 19 Feb 2023
Chinatown comes to life every year with lights and beautiful sculptures. For 2023, the celebrations return to the streets after two years of virtual festivities. Stroll down New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road, Upper Cross Street and Eu Tong Sen Street to admire vibrant dioramas featuring colourful rabbits. The star of it all? A massive 10-metre centrepiece of a multi-generational family of bunnies.
On 21 January (CNY Eve), Kreta Ayer Square will come to life with a countdown party, which will be broadcasted live on Channel 8 from 10.30pm. Plus, throughout the month, you can check out the Festive Fair featuring 280 stalls and their festive goods, as well as weekly stage shows over two weekends at Kreta Ayer Square.
Chinatown’s Chinese New Year Celebration, various locations
3. Lunar New Year at Capitol Singapore
6 Jan – 5 Feb 2023
This CNY, head to Capitol’s Outdoor Plaza – that’s where you’ll catch sight of the 5m-tall golden prosperity tree lit up in full gold and stand a chance to win auspicious prizes. From 6 to 20 January, pop by for the Spring Fair and stock up on delish snacks by local home bakers, festive decor, flowers, gift hampers and more. When evening time comes, there’ll be music and art performances on 13 and 14 January by The Shanghai Swingers and The Wushu Lab.
Lunar New Year at Capitol Singapore, 13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178905
4. (Tu)gether art installation
18 Dec 2022 – 31 Mar 2023
Bunnies have landed on the roof garden of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, and they’re an adorable delight. Created for the Year of the Rabbit by local art and design studio Whisky and Foxtrot, the mixed media display showcases characters celebrating Chinese New Year. If you head over on selected Saturdays from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, you can even catch light shows set to the story of main character Tu Zai’s journey home for a CNY reunion. Psst: pop by the first floor reception to redeem limited edition red packets from now till 5 Feb!
(Tu)gether art installation, free entry, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre roof garden, 1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906
5. Bunny-ful Blessings
29 Dec 2022 – 19 Feb 2023
The Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall presents a special outdoor installation in collaboration with Hong Kong illustrator and designer Chan Siu Kau. Starring two rabbits in the form of daruma dolls – each 2.5m tall – to represent blessings, fortune, luck and happiness, the outdoor front lawn will be a sight to behold over the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Bunny-ful Blessings, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
6. Dahlia Dreams at Gardens by the Bay
13 Jan – 26 Feb 2023
Gardens By the Bay pulls out all the stops every year with its CNY showcase in the Flower Dome. This time, expect a rabbit-themed display to spotlight the luckiest of the Chinese zodiac creatures. Catch bunnies scampering in a lush landscape filled with dahlias, azaleas, chrysanthemums, peach blossoms, pussy willows and more. We’re talking about various incarnations of 100 rabbits, including figurines, lanterns and a 1.5m sculpture made of driftwood. The star of it all is the 6m-tall River Hongbao lantern set featuring a magnolia tree in the shape of the Mandarin character for ‘rabbit’.
Psst: don’t forget to check out the Spring Blossoms edition of the Garden Rhapsody light and sound show at the Supertree Grove (20 to 29 Jan, 7.45pm and 8.45pm), as well as CNY-themed craft workshops in the Flower Dome.
Dahlia Dreams, 9am – 9pm, Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
7. S.E.A. Aquarium’s Spring in the Sea
13 Jan – 5 Feb 2023
Celebrate the Year of the Water Rabbit with 100,000 marine creatures at the aquarium. You’ll get to discover eight auspicious animals including the foxface rabbitfish and learn about their traits on the Trail of Fortune. Also, the country’s only underwater dragon dance is back after a three-year hiatus! Plus, Ru Yi the mermaid will share stories at the Underwater Tales session, and you can meet and greet Manta mascots dressed in their festive finest.
Spring in the Sea, S.E.A. Aquarium, Resorts World Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269
8. Wan Qing Festival of Spring
29 Dec 2022 – 19 Feb 2023
If you really want to get into the festive spirit, Wan Qing Festival of Spring has just the thing for you. Can’t wait to usher in the Year of the Rabbit with family-friendly fun? Head over for lion dance and festive drumming workshops, temple tours, heritage trails, craft activities and loads more. Check out the lion and dragon dance performance (22 Jan, 10am to 11am), meet the God of Fortune (22 Jan, 10am to 12pm), and swing by for the Open House (4 to 5 Feb, 10am to 7pm) for storytelling fun, CNY crafts and the chance to tour Balestier on a food trail.
Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2023, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, 12 Tai Gin Road, Singapore 327874
9. Hop into Fun at Universal Studios Singapore
13 Jan – 5 Feb 2023
Universal Studios Singapore’s Chinese New Year 2023 celebrations include events such as festive meet and greets, a night Lo Hei event with extended weekend opening hours, gorgeous cherry blossom trees and a chance to redeem gifts.
Hop into Fun at Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
Have a bountiful Year of the Rabbit at these fun-filled Chinese New Year events in Singapore!
