Chingay 2009 - The Parade of Dreams Now at the City Hall-Marina Bay Area
"Singapore Travel Tip: Time your Singapore tour to co-incide
with both Chingay 2009 and River Hong Bao Carnival!"
What:
Singapore Chingay 2009 - Asia's Grandest Street and Floats Parade, Now with an All-Night Party
Where:
The City Hall & Marina Bay Areas
(St Andrew's Road, Connaught Drive, Raffles Avenue)
Free admission along Parade route. 4 viewing stands requiring tickets.
When:
Usually over the second weekend after the first day of Chinese New Year. Therefore likely 6 & 7 February 2009. Watch this space for the confirmed dates nearer to Sep 08.
In 2008:
15 Feb 2008: The Preview Parade, 7.30pm (No street party)
16 Feb 2008: Actual Parade, 7pm; Party, 11pm onwards
[Watch this space for Chingay 2009 dates & booking information.]
On this page:
[Tips for Tourists] [Chingay Photo Tour] [Booking: Flight, Hotel, Chingay Tickets]
Chingay 2008 was a roaring success at its new venue. The Parade of Dreams has moved from Orchard Road to the City Hall-Marina Bay area, partly to accommodate more paying spectators.
In 2007, demand for tickets exceeded supply many times over. But this crunch will never be again - there were seats for 15,000 spectators each night at the 2008 Parade. And those who still had the energy partied through the night after the Actual Parade on 16 Feb 08.
Tips & FAQs for Tourists Planning for Chingay 2009
- If the Parade is free, why pay to watch it from the stands?
The free areas are barricaded with railings. You watch the Parade standing, and peering over shoulders. Also, the performers are human. It's difficult to sustain the same level of energy throughout the entire route. So they reserve their best for the paid areas, where the press photographers and videographers are.
- How much for the tickets?
In 2008, the prices were as follows:
-Best seats
-City Hall-Good seats
-City Hall
-Raffles Ave-Picnic style
-Interactive
-Connaught DriveAt first glance, this is a no-brainer - you buy the most expensive tickets for the best views. But wait a minute...
What if you are taking children to Chingay 2009? Then it might be a better idea to buy the Category 3 Picnic-style tickets (Free Expression Performance Area). Here, the kids are closer to the performers. And, as the photos below show, children love it that way.
- What's the best way to get there?
Take the MRT train to City Hall. There are road closures around the Parade areas during the Festival. If you must absolutely drive, park farther away and walk.
- Watch the Parade? That's all?
The Chingay Parade 2008 also coincided with the Singapore River Hongbao, a carnival in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations. It's held at Esplanade Park, just next to the Chingay venue.
- Recommendations for hotels?
[See the Hotel Booking information below.]
Chingay 2007 Photo Tour
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There is nothing subtle about Chingay. The colours are bright, the sounds loud and rythmic. One of the many colourful banners. |
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And a section of the colourfully dressed dancers. |
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Chingay is a time to put on those outlandish costumes you don't wear on normal days. The women obviously got into the act. |
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The men too. Look at this chap's feathers! |
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And this darling of the crowd. |
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Many of the participants are locals like these girls from the Singapore Soka Association. |
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But Chingay Singapore has gone international for many years now, and many come from overseas to perform. These dancers, of Sanggar Laksamana Group, are from Indonesia's Natuna Islands. This was the most enchanting performance of the night for me. Imagine these swirling movements to the beats of the kompangs and gongs. |
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This boy got invited to join in the fun. And he loved it. If you are taking the kids to Chingay, find creative ways to get them close to the performers. |
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Chingay performers are great fun. They are constantly trying to connect with the spectators, especially with children. |
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This cutesy life-size doll even posed for my camera. |
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But sometimes, the more 'hideous-looking' ones frighten away the timid kids. These two tourists had a good laugh, seeing a young toddler running away from the 'monsters'. |
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Stilt-walkers appeared in the first Chingay in 1973. |
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25 years later, they still amuse the spectators. Here, a loving dad gives his child a headstart in the Chingay celebrations. You might want to get a headstart with your Chingay 2009 tickets as well. I assure you, they run out quite quickly. |
Chingay Flights, Hotels, Parade Tickets
Your Chingay 2009 Vacation Checklist:
Book a Cheap Flight to Singapore
Book a Hotel Near Chingay 2009 Venue [Hotel Club] [Agoda]
Within 5 minutes' walk:
Marina Bay Luxury Hotels:
Marina Mandarin, Mandarin Oriental, The Pan Pacific, Ritz Carlton Millenia, Conrad International Centennial
North Bridge Road Hotels:
Luxury: Raffles Hotel, Raffles The Plaza, Swissotel The Stamford
Mid-range: Peninsula Excelsior Hotel, Grand Plaza Park Hotel
Esplanade Drive:
The Fullerton Hotel
Within 15 minutes' walk:
Victoria St / Queen St:
Mid-range: Allson Hotel, Hotel Royal Queens, Carlton Hotel
Affordable: Victoria Hotel
Book Chingay 2009 Parade Tickets
Related: History of Chingay
Related Chinese New Year Celebrations
Chinese New Year Shopping - Chinatown Night Markets
Chinese New Year Street Performances @ Chinatown Singapore
Chinese New Year Carnival - River Hong Bao 2009
Chinese New Year Fireworks 2009
