The festive season might be a little muted this year (no Christmas village in Orchard Road), but we can at least look forward to a host of events and activities at Gardens by the Bay.
A European bouquet
First, experience Europe at the Flower Dome. To be held from Nov 27, 2020 to Jan 3, 2021, Poinsettia Wishes features the creative input of Dutch Ambassador to Singapore Her Excellency Margriet Vonno. See a replica of Gouda City Hall (an iconic landmark in the Netherlands), a wishing well, and festive plants such as poinsettias, cyclamens, pansies, hellebores and real Christmas trees.
There will also be festive programmes by the four Nordic Embassies in Singapore – The Royal Danish Embassy, Embassy of Finland, Embassy of Sweden and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, as well as crafting workshops for underprivileged children, Santa meet-and-greet sessions, and even a traditional Swedish Lucia Procession. Admission charges apply.
Light it up
No year-end visit to Gardens by the Bay is complete without a trip to the annual Christmas Wonderland. This year, the event will feature specially curated stunning light installations in the Walk of Lights, along with an enchanting online digital wonderland. The latter complements the physical event, and is packed with interactive content, games for all ages, shopping, and festive performances. More details will be available here from Nov19.
Christmas Wonderland 2019
History comes alive
Didn’t manage to go for Singapore Airlines’s Restaurant A380@Changi dining experience? Take the Orient Express instead. Once Upon A Time On The Orient Express offers visitors a chance to embark on a fascinating journey through the history of the Orient Express, reliving the experience of travellers who boarded the train more than 100 years ago.
Spanning over 2,000sqm, the pop-up attraction will feature two original train carriages classified as National Treasures of France, and a 158-year-old locomotive shipped from France to Singapore, along with 300 heritage items such as uniforms, luggage, porcelain and more. The attraction will also feature an exclusive Orient Express shop, road cafe, restaurant and lounge (reservations are required), and escape room experience. Admission charges apply.
Insta-worthy florals
Floral Fantasy, a ticketed attraction, will reopen on Nov 21, just in time for the school holidays. Be delighted by scenes of floral artistry created with preserved, dried and fresh flowers such as orchids, fuchsias, begonias and impatiens. Singapore residents enjoy special rates while all ticket holders can redeem a complimentary ice-cream cone.
And of course, safety measures will be in place and visitors will have to comply with prevailing Covid-19 guidelines. They include wearing of masks even during photo-taking, not gathering in groups of more than five people, and observing a safe distance of 1m from other visitors.
More details on all programmes here.
