The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, and Singapore is always abuzz with lively festivals, thrilling parades and larger-than-life lanterns during this multi-day festival. Still figuring out how to usher in the Year of the Monkey in 2016? Check out Skyscanner’s list of things to do this Chinese New Year for inspiration!
1. Visit River Hongbao
This iconic riverside festival is an annual staple in Singapore's calendar of events and to celebrate the event's 30th anniversary, it's going to be an extravaganza of fireworks and performances for 9 consecutive days! Get ready for amusement rides and mouth-watering food at every turn. The legendary Monkey King himself will even be making an appearance, as performed by the highly acclaimed Song and Dance Theater in Nanjing City. With a fantastic line up that changes nightly, it’s the perfect way to usher in the Lunar New Year for locals and tourists alike. And of course, no River Hongbao experience is complete without catching your lucky numbers from the God of Fortune, who'll be standing at an impressive 18 meters this year!
Where: Marina Bay Floating Platform When: 6 - 14 February; fireworks at 12 midnight on the eve of Chinese New Year, 9pm on all other days Website: here Admission is free
Usher in the Lunar New Year at River Hongbao. Photo credit: River Hongbao
2. Watch the Chingay Parade
Soak up the festive spirit at Singapore’s biggest street parade! With over 11,000 performers, eye-popping costumes and exuberantly colourful floats, this joyous multicultural celebration is sure to be a feast for all the senses. Where else could you find fiery dragon dancers, intrepid acrobats and impossibly graceful wushu masters? This brilliant spectacle of music, dance and pyrotechnics makes for the perfect family outing.
Where: F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard When: 19 – 20 February 2016 Timing: 8pm (Pre-Parade: 7pm) Tickets: $28.50 – $60 Get your tickets here
Get ready for epic lion dances at Chingay Parade. Photo credit: YourSingapore
3. Indulge in a Chinese New Year feast
Not in the mood to cook up a storm for your reunion dinner? With so many tantalizing Chinese New Year buffets around town, you don’t have to! Our top pick? The lunar new year buffet at Carlton Hotel Singapore's Café Mosaic. The buffet includes fresh seafood such as oysters, half shell queen scallops, and barbecued favourites such as suckling pig and roasted crispy belly pork. Other traditional dishes on the menu include Peking duck, longevity buns, and sweet treats like pineapple tarts and nian gao! If that isn't enough, you'll even be provided with a complimentary platter of Yu Sheng to celebrate the festivities! Let the feasting begin!
Where: Carlton Hotel Singapore, 76 Bras Basah Road Singapore 189558 When: 7 - 9 February, lunch buffet 12pm - 2:30pm and dinner buffet from 6:30pm - 10:30pm Prices: $68 - $88 (adult), $34 - $44 (child) Early bird special: 15% off Lunar New Year Buffet Lunch & Dinner from 7 – 9 February 2016 with reservations and full payment by 31 January 2016 For reservations: call Café Mosaic at 6311 8195 or email café.mosaic@carltonhotel.sg Website here 
Dig into a delicious Chinese New Year feast. Photo Credit: Carlton Hotel Singapore
4. Explore a bustling Chinatown
Chinatown truly comes alive during the Lunar New Year festivities. Dive into Chinatown’s bustling streets for a one-stop shopping experience at the Festive Street Bazaar, the best place to buy all your Chinese New Year goodies – from pineapple tarts and peanut cookies to waxed duck meat. But there’s loads more to explore besides food! Get lost in a sea of handmade lanterns, bright lights and unique decorations as you wander through the hundreds of vibrant, rowdy stalls. Be sure not to miss out on the official opening and light up ceremony, held on the evening of 16 January, as well as the Chinese New Year countdown party on 7 February!
Festive Bazaar: Where: Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street and Trengganu Street When: 15 January – 7 February, 6:00pm - 10:30pm (daily), 6:00pm - 1:00am (Chinese New Year's Eve) Official opening and light up ceremony: Where: New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street When: 16 January, 6:00pm - 10:00pm Countdown party: Where: New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street When: 7 February, 9:30pm - 12:30am Website here
Shop till you drop at the Chinatown Festive Bazaar! Photo Credit: Akuppa John Wigham
5. Catch a show at Esplanade's Huayi Festival
If you’re feeling artsy, grab a ticket to Huayi Festival, which showcases traditional and cutting-edge works by Chinese artists. With dozens of theatre, music and dance performances to choose from, it’s every culture buff’s dream. Highlights include Beyond Time, by Taiwanese group U-Theatre, which combines drumming and dance for a performance that is both exciting and meditative. There’s even an interactive theatre piece for kids. What better way to usher in the new year?
Usher in the New Year with Beyond Time's contemplative drum and dance piece, a treat for the senses. Photo Credit: Esplanade
Planning to visit Singapore during Chinese New Year? Get the best flight, hotel and car rental deals with Skyscanner! For on-the-go convenience, download our mobile apps.
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