SingaporeMotherhood | Family Fun

January 2017

5 Things for Families to Do at Chinatown to Usher in The Year of The Rooster

The Chinatown precinct is all set to usher in the Year of The Rooster. We bring you the scoop on what families can expect to be part of at Chinatown this festive season from 7 January to 25 February 2017.

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If you’re the sort who loves a walkabout in the Chinatown precinct once the Street Light-Up is launched, then you’d know that the Lunar New Year festivities get bigger and better with each passing year. 2017 sees the addition of several new youth-orientated programmes to enhance engagement with youth and the young at heart. This includes YouthEATS @Temple Street (6 – 27 January 2017), which will be part of the Festive Street Bazaar where 12 youth entrepreneurs will set up stalls offering popular festive eats.

Another new feature to ring in the Year of The Rooster is the tech wall designed by Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) students that will screen festive greetings and well wishes sent in by the public. The ‘Huat Greetings Wall’ will be placed on the Garden Bridge. Just visit the Chinatown website and enter your message to see it pop up on the wall in the shape of a lantern! When you’re done with that, check out these five other things you can do with your family to soak up the festive spirit in Chinatown!

(See also: 12 Steps to an Auspicious Lo-hei + The Top 7 Yu Sheng You Must Try in 2017)

1. Marvel At and Take Instagram-worthy Shots of The Street Light-Up

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For the sixth year running, students from SUTD have designed the Chinatown Street Light-Up. This year’s elaborate display features about 5,500 handcrafted lanterns – the highest ever made in the history of Chinatown Festivals – and draws inspiration from the Year of The Rooster. The centrepiece at the junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Street is a giant Rooster lantern that measures a whopping 13 metres in height and 100 metres in length. It’s the longest centrepiece ever made for the Street Light-Up!

As day turns to night, have your cameras at the ready and be enthralled by the creative masterpiece that combines traditional and modern designs. There are also lovely lanterns in the shapes of roosters, hens, chicks, golden eggs, peony flowers, peach blossoms and peach blossom trees waiting to be captured by your lenses! Fun fact: peonies and peach blossoms herald wealth, prosperity and peace for the New Year.

When: 7 January – 25 February 2017
Time: 7pm – 2am (Friday & Saturday), 7pm – 12am (Sunday to Thursday), 7pm – 6am (27 & 28 January 2017)
Where: Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road, South Bridge Road and Garden Bridge

2. Get Your Festive Shopping Done and Pig Out at The Festive Street Bazaar

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Chinatown’s Festive Street Bazaar will be your one-stop destination for your family’s festive goodie shopping! With 440 stalls offering a wide range of Chinese New Year themed delicacies, traditional goodies, decorative items, costumes and more, it’s the place to be for both local residents and tourists wanting to soak in the bustling festive atmosphere. YouthEATS @Temple Street will be serving up cooked food for the first time. 12 young entrepreneurs will be setting up shop to sell festive eats that will complement the traditional offerings at the Festive Street Bazaar.

We are hearing that Braised Duck Shabu Burger and Lucky Lucky Money Balls – meatballs with delicious melted, gooey cheese that represents gold – have been specially created for YouthEATS @Temple Street! Are you smacking your lips already?

When: 6 – 27 January 2017
Time: 6pm – 10.30pm (daily), 6pm – 1am (eve of Chinese New Year: 27 January 2017)
Where: Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street and Trengganu Street

(See also: Where to Get CNY Clothes for Kids: 5 Modern-Traditional Style Mixes We Love)

3. Revel in Song and Dance at The Nightly Stage Shows

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What’s a celebration without music and dance, right? Bring your kids along to catch entertaining nightly performances which include festive songs, cultural music and lively dance items every night at Kreta Ayer Square. The talented performers include local entertainers as well as troupes flown in all the way from China! If the kids are drained from all the festive shopping, this makes a great pit stop for tired legs.

When: 7 – 27 January 2017
Time: 8pm – 10.30pm
Where: Kreta Ayer Square

4. Be Wowed by Jaw-dropping Stunts at The International Lion Dance Competition

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The International Lion Dance Competition, a highly anticipated event that is fully sold out each year, turns ten this year! 17 teams from ten countries will be pitting their skills on the meihuazhuang as they perform jaw-dropping stunts in a fight for the ultimate title of ‘King of The Lions’. 2017’s edition of the sell-out contest sees the highest number of teams ever, including new contestants from Macau and even Australia! Sit back and enjoy the visual spectacle with your little ones in tow.

To purchase tickets, visit Kreta Ayer Community Club at Block 5 Banda Street #03-68. For enquiries, you can call 6222 3597.

Ticket prices: Single Show ticket on 14 or 15 January 2017 – $10, Double Show ticket on 14 & 15 January 2017 – $15

When: 14 & 15 January 2017
Time: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Where: carpark at Banda Street (off Sago lane)

5. Brighten The Lives of The Less Fortunate at The Chinatown Wishing Tree 

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Spread some festive cheer to the less fortunate and the elderly while making Lunar New Year wishes for yourself and your loved ones at the Chinatown Wishing Tree. Each ‘Make A Wish’ card is priced at $2. In addition, you can also purchase a set of Rooster themed five stones (introduce your kids to your favourite childhood game!) specially crafted by the Chinatown Social Enterprise for this year’s celebrations. The adorable five stones set tinged with nostalgia cost just $10 each and will transport you back to the good old days! All proceeds will be donated to the Kreta Ayer Seniors’ Activity Centre.

When: 7 – 27 January 2017
Time: 11am – 9pm
Where: Chinatown Point

 

Images: Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee.

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5 Things for Families to Do at Chinatown to Usher in The Year of The Rooster