Photo credit: Choo Yut Shing
Well ho ho ho and deck the halls, it’s December, which means Christmas Wonderland 2016 is finally here! Singapore’s biggest Yuletide fair is back for the third time at Gardens by the Bay, and it promises to be the sparkliest Christmas celebration in town (yes, even more sparkly than Orchard Road). All the fun at Christmas Wonderland is family-friendly, and there are even a few attractions set aside just for the kids (and plenty that mum and dad will love too)…
Kids only zones
Step inside the Ice Palace to find all sorts of chilly fun, but one area, the Snow Playground, is dedicated just to the small people of the world. We can’t wait to see the snowballs fly and the snow angels magically appear!
Kids can also enjoy their own dedicated carnival rides, such as the mini ferris wheel and the cute-as-mince-pie (well, probably cuter) bug rides to zoom around in.
Also just for kids, for the first time in Singapore, the Hi-5 Funtastic House is making an appearance. Hi-5 fans can hit the ‘Ready, Set, Bounce!’ bouncy castle, shake it up to their fave Hi-5 songs, and see what it’s like to join Hi-5 for a day with some costume fun. We suspect it’s going to be busy, so it might be wise to pre-book online to avoid the ‘Hi-5’ becoming a low-5 on the day.
For the whole family
Of course, the big attraction at Christmas Wonderland is the Italian ‘luminarie’ Sculptures of Light: we promise it will be the most dazzling light display you’ll see in Singapore this Christmas. This year, the area has been expanded to a whopping 57,000 square metres, with more than 67 types of handmade light sculptures. Look out for the Spalliera Castel del Monte, which stands at 19.7 metres high!
Another big highlight has to be SNOW IN SINGAPORE. Along with the kids’ Snow Playground, there’s a 25-metre Ice Slide that we can’t wait to throw ourselves down, a 400 square metre ice skating rink, and ‘Blizzard Time’ shows happening three times each day inside the Spalliera Castel del Monte. Even if you don’t fancy flinging yourself around a cold, hard, icy surface, the novelty of ‘winter’ in Singapore is just too hard to resist. Fling away, snow bunnies!
Then roll up, roll up for a bigger and better carnival area this year, with new rides including bumper cars and the Christmas train for those who’d just like to kick back and soak up the festive atmosphere. And what’s a carnival without games like the ring toss, the hi striker, and the lobster pot? You know resistance is futile – you’re not going home without a giant soft toy under your arm.
For those of us who miss the tradition of the European Christmas markets, or just keep saying “we’ll go to Europe next Christmas”, there’s a pretty fabulous substitute right here at Christmas Wonderland. With 27 outlets in traditional wooden huts spruiking good food and good finds, the Festive Market is sure to cure your Yuletide wanderlust.
Lastly, don’t forget to catch the jolly resident of Santa’s Cottage and grab a family photo, and look out for regular festive performances and parades. Most importantly, don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance! See all the ticket info below.
Important info:
This year Christmas Wonderland is ticketed, and tickets are only available for sale online here, not at the event itself. If you’d like to save a few dollars, go early! The closer we get to Christmas, the higher the ticket price:
2-8 Dec: $4 (psst: these tickets are selling fast!)
9-15 Dec: $6
16 Dec-1 Jan: $8
Some attractions within Christmas Wonderland are ticketed separately, and you also need to buy these tickets online. Check all the details here. Tip: save 25% off Snow Playground tickets when you book for a Mon-Thurs session!
And, the tiny ones can go for free: Each paying adult can bring in up to three children under 0.9m in height free of charge.
This post is sponsored by Blue Sky Events.