Oh hello, December. Didn’t see you there. No idea how you got here so fast, but hey, time flies when you’re having fun, right?
So yeah, Christmas is just around the corner, and you probably deserve a well-earned break after all that hard work you’ve put in this year. If you’d like to soak up the holiday mood and fully immerse yourself in all shades of merrymaking, we’ve compiled a list of festivities happening around the city for the entire month of December. Think Christmas markets, twinkling light displays, shopping fairs, carnivals, and loads more.
Check ‘em out below (and feel free to play a list of Yuletide tunes while you’re browsing).
A Christmas Gingerbread Story
Carnival activities abound at two Orchard malls, with game booths such as Ring Toss, Knock Em Down, Gingerbread Pong, and Witch Hunt for you to compete for the chance to win discount vouchers and prizes. If you’re doing it all for the ‘gram, stop by the gingerbread house photo spot for a quick pic.
Dec 16-17, 2pm-9pm at The Cathay; Dec 22-23, 3pm-10pm at Cineleisure. Free.
A Universal Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year at the theme park, with festivities such as multimedia light shows, a 15m-tall Christmas Tree House, Santa’s Workshop, Oscar’s Grouchmas performance, Santa’s Snowy Sleigh Ride parade, and an enchanting evening extravaganza called Search for a Christmas Star.
Until Jan 1, 2018, at Universal Studios Singapore. One-day adult ticket $76.
Christmas Wonderland
The annual Christmas festival returns bigger and brighter for its fourth edition, with new additions such as an outdoor skating rink, the Christmas edition of Savour food fair, starry nightscapes at Santa’s Grotto, and the Asian premiere of the highly entertaining Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams.
Of course, you can also expect crowd favorites like the dazzling luminarie light sculptures, nightly sessions of “snow” at Blizzard Time, and Christmas carol performances. Oh, and while you’re there, pop by the Flower Dome for a winter wonderland floral display called Poinsettia Wishes.
Until Dec 26, daily 4pm-11pm at Gardens by the Bay. From $4.
Endless Wonder: Christmas on a Great Street
Stroll down the shopping stretch of Orchard Road, and you’ll be greeted by sparkling lights (from 3pm daily), pop-up stores by the likes of SK-II and Haagen Dazs, festive installations at the entrances of malls, and an European-inspired Christmas village outside Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza hosting a duplex carousel, a santa house, and stalls by brands like Starbucks.
Granted, it isn’t the same as sipping hot chocolate while your feet crunch on freshly fallen snow and the scent of roasted chestnuts fills the air, but we’ll make do with what we have in the tropics.
Until Jan 1, 2018, at Orchard Road. Free.
Flashbang
The self-proclaimed first and largest “creative retail playground” in Orchard features neon light art installations, craft workshops, a retail marketplace and gigs by local DJ and music acts.
Dec 9-30, daily 3pm-11pm at the open-air car park on Grange Rd. Free.
Independent Market Christmas Fair
Hosted by multi-label lifestyle concept Independent Market, this third Christmas fair edition features all kinds of locally-inspired products by homegrown makers. If you’re a tee and tote bag kinda person, check out the custom printing services offering designs from The Little Dröm Store’s Strangely Singaporean and Singlish collections.
Dec 7-26, daily 10am-10pm at VivoCity, L1 Southwest Atrium. Free.
Ion Orchard Christmas
The mall’s classic outdoor walk-in Christmas tree – towering at a height of 20 meters and decorated by Pandora – sparkles with 72 rose gold snowflakes and more than 130,000 twinkling fairy lights this year. Step inside and you’ll be greeted with an animated winter wonderland light show.
But if you’re up for an adventure, hop on board the life-sized Ion Orchard Express train, which comes decked out with carriage seats to take you on a motion graphics journey of exploration across cities, forests, and mountains.
Until Jan 1, 2018, at Ion Orchard. Free.
Merry Fishmas
Besides welcoming its new marine creature additions, the aquarium is also hosting Santa and his merry elves in an underwater show, alongside other happenings such as a recycling workshop with Scrooge. Also look out for the 3.2m-tall Fishmas tree, made out of over 300 plastic bottles, and sugary cupcakes at Mrs Claus’ bakery.
Until Jan 1, 2018, at S.E.A. Aquarium. $18-$34.
Prudential Marina Bay Carnival
Hailed as Singapore’s largest carnival, the family-friendly fest will stick around our shores till next year, so there’s no need to rush over and get in line the moment it opens. Besides fair food and carnival games, visitors can strap on for adrenaline-packed rides such as a tower that offers you a 360-degree view of the Singapore skyline, a splashin’ water ride, a pirate ship, and a high-speed rotating ride.
Dec 15-Apr 1, 2018, daily 4pm-11pm at Marina Bay. Free.
Public Garden Christmas 2017
The massive market returns to Suntec for two days, with everything from vintage treasures and sleek accessories to quirky crafts and leather goods. Swing by for a bout of Christmas gift shopping from the indie labels on display.
Dec 9-10, 1pm-7pm at Suntec Convention Hall 403. Free.
Santa’s Workshop at The South Pole
The South Pole comes to our Civic District this year, with South Beach Avenue transformed into Santa’s workshop for The Local People’s final art market of 2017. There’ll be workshops teaching calligraphy, an art market, carnival games, live music, a screening of Michelle Chong’s Lulu The Movie, and a communal dining experience in the basement plaza.
Dec 15-17, noon-10pm at South Beach. Free.
The First Sustainable Christmas Market
It’s all about ethical products here, with vendors like Winestone, Ette Tea, Organic Himalayan, Greenspade, Divine Cookies, Craft Beverage Supply, and more. Besides the knick knacks and artisanal edibles on display, there’ll also be live Christmas tunes and workshops teaching the art of glow yoga, belly dancing, and paella cooking.
Dec 9, 9:30am-4:30pm at Mercure Singapore on Stevens. Free.
The Summerhouse Festive Market
Spend your lazy Sunday at the Seletar Aerospace Park dining enclave, where Wildseed Café is hosting a market full of artisanal wares and trinkets by local traders and makers such as Edition Eats, My Grandmama’s Secret, and Alfa Wines. Also look out for a Christmas wreath-making workshop and a Christmas craft station for the little ones.
Dec 10, 10am-4pm at Wildseed Café & Bar. Free.
Urban Ventures Street Party x House of Noise
The street party on Keong Saik Road returns, this time with a Christmas market featuring local brands like Plain Supplies, Fours, and Monument Lifestyle for its December edition.
Head on over early in the day for heritage tours, free manicure and face painting sessions, urban planning workshops, bites by pop-up food stalls, and beats by music acts, including progressive rockers Test the Divide, funky soul outfit Astronauts, and singer-songwriter Krysta Joy.
Dec 16, 4pm-late at Keong Saik Rd. Free.
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