Oh hullo! YES! You there! Hullooo! I see you are looking at your calendar with a frown on your forehead!
Hmm, let me guess! You must be cracking your head trying to figure out where to bring your family to this coming year end right? Heehee!
Well, you are in for a ride of your life because… Merli is at your service! I am your friendly guide to the ultimate family holiday in Singapore! I am also Singapore Tourism Board’s appointed Passion Ambassador. I think that’s really great because no one knows Singapore like I do! I really love this sunny island which I call home! <3
Do you know, Singapore is not just a perfect vacation destination for both young and old? This is also a place where magic happens and you get to be what you want to be! Do you enjoy good food? Then Singapore is where you come to be a foodie! Do you have blood type A (for Adventure!) flowing in you? We welcome you, explorer! You live and breathe arts and culture? Come, join our community of culture shapers! Whatever you are, come create your personal experience in this beautiful garden city!
Wait, what?
Oh. You don’t know where to start? Ahh! Don’t you worry, friends! That’s where I come in handy! I have personally crafted a must-do list just for you and your family! Come on now! Let me walk you through it one by one! Ooh I’m so excited and I can’t hide it! Heehee!
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Rainforest Lumina @ Singapore Zoo
This is one of my favourite Singapore experiences! Rainforest Lumina is a multimedia night walk presented by Singapore Zoo. You will get to explore a 1km stretch of the tropical rainforest at night and I promise you will be mesmerized by the surreal audio-visual experience! Don’t worry if you have prams or strollers with you, because the walking paths are well-lit to ensure safety and security!
Join the 8 Creature Crew as they take you on this enchanted walk! All of them have a special virtue to strengthen the unity among human, animals, and nature! Come discover which virtue resonates with you best! It will be really fun! You may get your tickets online now at www.rainforestlumina.sg.
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Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Theatre play enthusiasts will love, love, love this tasty and thrilling treat, starring the talented songstress – Lea Salonga – who plays the infamous Mrs. Lovett! Ooh I love her as the voiceover of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin, don’t you? This dark, grisly yet comical musical will get you cringing, laughing, and avoid meat pies for a lonnng while (or so I heard! I wouldn’t know because I’m way too young for it!)! Heehee!
Sweeney Todd debuts on Nov 28 and runs till Dec 8. Get your Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’s tickets now!
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The Art of Disney: The Magic of Animation @ The Art Science Museum
Speaking of Disney, here’s something for the young and the young at heart! For the first time ever in Southeast Asia, we get a rare chance to experience over 90 magical years of Disney animation at Singapore’s iconic cultural landmark, the Art Science Museum! Yes, yes! That giant building in the shape of a white lotus! The exhibition showcases more than 500 art pieces including original drawings, paintings, sketches, and concept art. You will get to see bits and pieces of cool exhibits from Steamboat Willie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to Lion King, Zootopia, Moana, and guess what, Frozen 2, too before the animation is released in Singapore! How cool is that?!
The exhibition will transport you into the world of Disney’s films through a series of hands-on educational activities and interactive multimedia! Be sure to get your The Art of Disney: The Magic of Animation @ The Art Science Museum’s tickets before you are headed to the museum to avoid disappointment!
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Gallery Children’s Biennale 2019
This. Parents, you have got to bring your kids to Gallery Children’s Biennale this year! This is the artistic adventure of allll artistic adventures! There is no place like the Children’s Biennale to nurture art-loving children, it will definitely awaken your kids’ 5 senses through imaginative and interactive art installations, talks, tours, and craft workshops! Plan your visit carefully because let me tell you, once you let your children loose in here, I don’t think you’ll get to see them until it’s dinner time. Just saying!
The Biennale opens from May 25 to Dec 29, and guess what? Entrance is FREE! Pro tip for parents: View the Access & Family Guide before your visit to better manage your trip.
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Poinsettia Wishes @ Gardens by the Bay
Can you guess when is the most wonderful time of the year in Singapore? Uh ha! You guessed it! It’s Christmas time! If you can’t get to Nordic countries to celebrate Christmas, then let Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay fulfil your dream! Come enjoy a magnificent floral display of Poinsettias and winter blooms in festive shades of red, blue, yellow, and white. You will also find iconic landmarks from the Nordic region such as the Santa’s post office and the reindeer station interwoven in the yuletide display! Oh, and be sure to check out the Nordic gnomes choir called Nisse to heighten the festive cheer!
Admission charges apply. Get more information on Poinsettia Wishes @ Gardens by the Bay.
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2019 Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay
Christmas isn’t Christmas, till you… visit Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay! Come marvel at the uhmaizing luminary light sculptures that are handmade by Italian craftsmen and also Asia’s tallest luminary Christmas tree standing at 21 meters in height! There are so much to do here like, taking pictures with Santa at Santa’s Grotto, experience a traditional European market at the Festive Market and shop for unique Christmas gifts, skate under the stars with your loved ones at the Meadow, and have a go on popular fairground rides like carousel, Christmas train, spinning tea cups, bumper cars, and bumper water boats!
Here’s a tip for you: Blizzard Time. Uhm hmm! The nightly Blizzard Time is where you’d want to stay to experience the delightful snowfall in the tropics against a stunning backdrop of luminary light sculptures and the Supertrees in the heart of Gardens by the Bay. Phew! That’s a mouthful! But oh it will be magical for you! Watching kids’ jaws drop in wonderment and eyes sparkle in disbelief – priceless!
Did I get you interested now? Christmas Wonderland starts from Nov 30 to Dec 26.
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Christmas on a Great Street
It is always so much fun and festivities in Singapore when Christmas rolls around. If you are an avid shopper, then you definitely do not want to miss out the ever popular Christmas on a Great Street! Starting at Tanglin Mall and all the way up to Istana Park, Christmas on a Great Street spans around 3km of Orchard Road.
Join the merrymakers on Nov 16 to witness the light-up ceremony, and watch the streets come alive with spectacular lighting shows and many interactive Christmas themed displays! You will be serenaded by Christmas tunes as you shop to your heart’s content! I’m dreaming of a white… Christmas~ ahhh love me some Christmas classics!
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Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2020
You won’t think I’d stop at just Christmas, will you? Of course not! Heehee! End the year with a loud boom at Marina Bay Singapore Countdown to usher in the New Year 2020! There will be an extravagant fireworks display that I confirm will awe your children and take your breath away! Starting from 4pm, there will be a Countdown Market where you can devour yummy food and treats and shop for arts, crafts, and clothing! While waiting for the clock to strike 12, enjoy a movie at the Esplanade Park where giant inflatable screens project family favourites. Roving performers such as stilt-walkers, musicians, magicians, and singers will also be roaming around to entertain along the Marina Bay waterfront promenade the entire evening. It will be a feast of senses coming at you like confetti bombs!
For parents, it is advisable for you to bring earmuff or earplug for your kids because the loud fireworks will last for about 15-20 minutes.
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Fly, Cruise, & Stay
Now if you are looking for a quieter or more intimate vacation with your family, then what’s better than a cruise holiday! Known as the “Jewel of Asia”, Singapore is an exciting cruise hub where you can fly in, go on your cruise holiday, and stay for the fun, food, and frills! Extend your stay here pre and post-cruise to explore the city and get ready to be inspired by the wide variety of offerings! Whether it’s an over-the-top luxurious experience or a down-to-earth basic plan, there is definitely something for everyone here in Singapore!
Well, that’s my top must-dos here in my beautiful home country and I really hope you will plan your vacation around them!
Remember, passion is where your heart beats and comes alive. There is a whole new world out here in Singapore for you and your kids to explore, to discover, to dream, and to be.
Singapore is more than a holiday destination; this is where “passion is made possible”! Plan your trip today and make Singapore your ultimate family year-end vacation destination. Check out www.VisitSingapore.com to learn more about other year-end events and happenings in Singapore.
See you soon, friends!