Singapore Lantern Festival

Singapore Lantern Festival 2009:
Some Tips for Visitors

Already planning for the Lantern Festival in 2009?

Here are some early tips to get you going...

The 8th Lunar Month in 2009 - which is the month of the Lantern Festival - runs from 20 Aug 09 to 17 Sep 09.
So expect a lot of actions on these days:
- 19 Aug 09: Opening ceremonies of most Lantern Festival events.
- Around 3-5 Sep 09: The 'full moon' dates.
- Expect more activities on these days: processions, fireworks, stage shows.
The 3 main spots to see the action will likely still be the same as in previous years: Chinatown, Singapore River (near Central), Chinese Garden.
While the information below relates to 2008, it gives you a sense of what Singapore Lantern Festival 2009 will be like. You may use it as a gauge for your travel planning.

Here's what happened during Singapore Lantern Festival 2008....

Chinatown
- Street Light Up: 31 Aug - 30 Sep
- Street Bazaar: 29 Aug - 14 Sep
  - from 11am daily on Pagoda St, Terrenganu St, Sago St
- Stage Shows: 31 Aug - 14 Sep, 8pm-10.30pm, Kreta Ayer Square
- Mass Lantern Procession: 13 Sep
  - 7.30pm-10pm, starting at open field near Outram MRT
  - Join in with your own lanterns
  - Also stilt walkers, lion dances, dragon dance
- Nearest MRT Station: Chinatown
Singapore River
- 29 Aug - 14 Sep, 4pm-12am daily, near Central Shopping Centre
- Floating lanterns
- Performances by overseas cultural groups, games with a Chinese theme
- Nearest MRT Station: Clarke Quay
Chinese Garden - 'Hello Kitty Goes to the Races' Lantern Festival
- 29 Aug - 28 Sep, 6pm-11pm
- Tickets:
  - Monday - Thursday: Adult $12, Child $8
  - Friday - Sunday: Adult $15, Child $10
- Fireworks:
  - 8.30pm on 13 & 14 Sep 08
  - 8.28pm on 20 (Saturday)
  - 8.28pm on 26 & 27 Sep 08 (Friday & Saturday)
- Nightly performances by troupes from China, 7.45pm-9.45pm
- the most beautiful lanterns (my opinion; see photos of lanterns below)
- Nearest MRT Station: Chinese Garden

Mark out these 2 dates during the Singapore Lantern Festival:
- The Opening Night
  - The opening night's events usually involve fireworks, and noisy, noisy performances.
- The 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month
  (or the weekend nearest to it, i.e. 13 & 14 Sep in 2008)
  - The Moon is at its largest and roundest.
  - This year, watch out for:
    - Mass Lantern Procession, night of 13 Sep 08, in Chinatown
    - Fireworks at the Chinese Garden on 13, 14 Sep 08
Why should I pay to see lanterns at the Chinese Garden, when the others are free?

I personally find the lanterns at Chinese Garden very enchanting. The organisers have run this for a few years already, and obviously have to make it better than the free shows in town. These lanterns are huge and float magically over the Garden's still waters.

Photos from 'Hello Kitty Go Races' Lantern Fantasy 2008 at the Chinese Garden. It's quite surreal, actually...

	Hello Kitty welcomes you on the bridge to Singapore's Chinese Garden. Awesome and orderly!

	Hello Kitty and all her friends get ready for the races. Are they going to the Singapore F1 Grand Prix?

	Dear Daniel and Keroppi get ready to race.

	Magical lanterns with their reflections in the still waters at Chinese Garden. A lovely spot for a romantic date. But the kids are just as enchanted here.

	It's other-worldly, isn't it?

	Minna no Tabo on a jet ski.

	Hello Kitty catches the surf. Watch her perform at Chinese Gardens during Singapore Lantern Festival.

	My Melody...

	Keroppi on sail boat.

	More sail boats...