This year’s Marina Bay Countdown gets tons more free activities

It’s a travesty how after all the months of build-up and festivities, Christmas has so quickly come and gone. Thankfully, for those of us still clinging onto the holiday mood, there’s still New Year’s Eve to look forward to. Capping off another year of waterfront activities is the annual Marina Bay Singapore Countdown, this year with a supersized line-up of free events for all.

We already know there will be an incredible sensory overload of a show by the Star Island Singapore Countdown from Japan. One of two ticketed events of the night, the massive fireworks musical recently added a thrilling new motorcycle stunt performance, and will kick off the entire night’s countdown at 5pm.

What the non-paying public can expect, however, is a solid selection of free performances, light projections, and activities outside The Float. At The Promontory, the annual Let’s Celebrate 2019 countdown show will be hosted free to the public for the first time—featuring live performances from the likes of Taufik Batisah, Gentle Bones, Joanna Dong, and the finalists of the most recent SPOP Sing! competition. Local artistes will also be modelling Singaporean designs as part of the show, which starts at 7pm.

Another first, a gathering of 14 food trucks, caravans, and kombi vans will be dishing out a fun foodie experience at the Food Truck Fest. Located at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza, the food festival opens early from Dec 28-31 at 5pm, and includes local favourites like New Ubin Seafood and Fishball Story.

Returning again are the yearly light projections on the facades of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, ArtScience Museum and The Merlion. But this year, the immersive light show gets an extra meaningful upgrade—through a partnership with the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, artworks from students and beneficiaries of local schools and welfare organisations have been turned into the dazzling light projections you’ll be seeing on NYE. Can’t wait till the 31st to catch a glimpse? The Fullerton Hotel projections will begin from Dec 26 at 8pm, while those at the ArtScience Museum and Merlion will start from Dec 29; and take place every 15 minutes.

On the Eve itself, there will also be outdoor movie screenings (Night at the Museum 1 & 2) at Empress Lawn, a crafts market at Connaught Drive, and free performances happening inside and around the Esplanade.

On top of all that, ongoing festivities like the Prudential Marina Bay Carnival and pop-up sustainability festival Loop will resume business as usual. And if you prefer an explosion of colour to fireworks, the landmark Minimalism exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore will be free admission to all from 10am to 10pm on NYE, along with all other ongoing exhibitions. As tempting as it is to stay in on the last day of the year, you might want to reconsider. 


Prefer to go wild one last night in 2018? Check out all the best New Year’s Eve parties happening here