Chinese New Year 2025 is almost here! Here are all the best Chinese New Year events and things to do in Singapore to celebrate with kids
Chinese New Year starts on 29 January 2025, and we’ll be ushering in the Year of the Snake! If you’ve booked your family reunion dinner or an all-out CNY takeaway at home and have finished filling your cupboards with festive snacks, you’ll need to focus on how you’ll keep the fam entertained if you decide to venture out during the Chinese New Year.
Luckily, we’ve been busy looking for the best Chinese New Year events and things to do for the fam, so you can start planning now. Here’s our list of all the best ways to celebrate the Year of the Snake with kids in Singapore and enjoy the best things to do with the family over the holiday. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Things to do with kids for Chinese New Year 2025 in Singapore
1. Street Light-Up in Chinatown
CNY celebrations are back with a bang in Chinatown for 2025, and we’re super excited! Check out the fabulous street light-up running along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and South Bridge Road
When: From 10 January 2025
Where: Along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and South Bridge Road
2. Festive fairs and performances in Chinatown
The light-up is not the only thing to lap up this festive season in Chinatown. The annual festive fairs are back – so your CNY snacks and gifts are all sorted. It’s fair to say there’s a festive extravaganza in Chinatown this year, and you’d be mad to miss it! This year’s festivities include cool workshops where you and the kiddos can learn to make an adorable pineapple plushie (pineapples symbolise luck and wealth)!
Here are all the deets to take note of:
Festive Fair @ People’s Park Complex
When: 30 Dec 2024 – 28 Jan 2025, time TBC
Where: Open space before Peoples’ Park Centre, 1 Park Road, Singapore 059108
Festive Fair @ Temple Street
When: 8 Jan – 28 Jan 2025, time TBC
Where: Area in front of Sri Mariamman Temple and 68A Temple Street
Lion and Dragon Dance Performance
When: From 17 Jan 2025, time TBC
Where: TBC
Countdown Party
When: TBC
Where: Kreta Ayer Square, 21 Banda St, Singapore 050005
3. Check out River Hongbao 2025
How much do we LOVE River Hongbao? Slither into the Year of the Snake with many fun performances and activities that form this Chinese New Year Festival at Gardens by the Bay! Be dazzled by the lantern displays, spectacular stage performances and other festivities. Be ready to fill your tummy with goodies from the numerous stalls and even ride on a a double-storied carousel at River Hongbao 2025! Find out more soon.
When: 27 January – 5 February 2025
Where: Gardens by the Bay, River Hongbao
4. Chingay Parade
The good news for Chinese New Year 2025? The Chingay Parade is back at the F1 Pit Building – yay! Check out take place at the F1 Pit Building! In conjunction with Singapore’s 60th birthday, there’ll be special performances by 60 lion dancers! Expect 4,000+ performers from 150 organizations, a new parade layout and design, installations and food-inspired special floats, and numerous food stalls. It’s all about Joy this year, where we celebrate our shared experiences and rich cultural heritage. We can really get on board with that theme! Looking to attend? Get in quick, as the tickets are already on sale.
Details: 7 & 8 February 2025, 8pm, F1 Pit Building. Tickets are priced at $50/$40/$28.50/$20 (excludes booking fee). PAssion Card Members get to enjoy a 20% discount!
5. Spring Blossoms: The Legend of Lady White Snake at Gardens by the Bay
We always love the seasonal celebrations at Gardens by the Bay, and this time of year promises some spectacular treats for the senses. Take the fam along to explore the beautiful floral displays at the Flower Dome in the form of Spring Blossoms: The Legend of Lady White Snake at Gardens by the Bay. One of China’s four great folklores, the fable tells the story of the union between a human man, Xu Xian, and a female snake spirit, Bai Suzhen (also known as Madam White Snake). We can’t wait to see the breathtaking 4.5m-tall floral sculpture of Madam White Snake taking centre stage amidst a vibrant landscape of festive blooms. this year, five new dahlia varieties will feature, with over 1,000 dahlias on display! Symbolising prosperity and new beginnings, dahlias are a classic floral favourite during Chinese New Year.
Details: 17 January – 23 February 2025, Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
6. “蛇prise” CNY Art Installation at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
What better way to usher in the Year of the Snake than with some snake-themed play? The kids will adore this interactive art installation at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. This snake-themed art installation at the SCCC’s Roof Garden doubles as an art installation and playground for the kiddos. Plus, you are in for a treat with the stunning city views — great for an IG-worthy photo op. That’s not all; this lunar new year, you won’t want to miss all the amazing line-up of performances, workshops and more fun for the whole family at SCCC.
“蛇prise” CNY Art Installation
When: 18 December 2024 to 30 April 2025, 10am to 10pm
Where: Roof Garden of Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Blvd, Singapore 018906
Price: Free!
7. Festive fun at IKEA: In-store lion dances, snack tastings & crafts
We know IKEA always has something for everyone in the family, from delish kid-friendly meals to a shoppers’ haven! You can also head over with the kiddos this festive period for a fun way to usher in the year of the snake. Across various IKEA outlets this Chinese New Year period, you and the kiddos can taste Lunar New Year snacks for free! Try traditional calligraphy, be part of paper snake craft and floral arrangement workshops and watch a lion dance! Find out more here.
When: 18 January to 1 February 2025
Where: Various IKEA outlets in Singapore
8. LED Dragon Dance, LED War Drums & Lion Dance performances on high poles at Frasers Property malls
Get ready to catch a lion dance performance near you! Look forward to spectacular ‘Lion Dance on High Poles’ performances with breathtaking acrobatics at Causeway Point, Century Square, Eastpoint Mall, Hougang Mall, Northpoint City, Robertson Walk, Tampines 1, The Centrepoint, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Waterway Point, and White Sands. There will also be L.E.D Dragon Dance and L.E.D War Drums performances at Century Square, Northpoint City, Robertson Walk, Tampines 1, and Waterway Point, while Eastpoint Mall will feature the L.E.D War Drums exclusively. These captivating performances blend tradition with modern technology, delivering an unforgettable visual experience that ignites the festive spirit with electrifying energy. You could even spot the God of Fortune roving mascot who will spread blessings and cheer with scheduled appearances at Hougang Mall, Northpoint City, and Waterway Point! Check out the full schedule of events here.
When: Various dates from 13 January to 16 February 2025
Where: Various Frasers Property malls
9. Lunar New Year Celebrations at Universal Studios Singapore
Head on over to Universal Studios Singapore to get in on the festive fun. You and the kiddos exchange lucky greetings with the God of Fortune and his companions and snap photos surrounded by epic festive scenes featuring your favourite Dreaworks bunch and more. Then, marvel at a spectacular light and sound show featuring the zodiac animals. Come sundown, set to be dazzled by an 88-meter-long dragon dance of prosperity.
When: 19 January – 16 February 2025
Where: Universal Studios Singapore, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
10. Follow the 2025 Museum Roundtable Hong Bao trail!
This is not an event but more of a fun Chinese New Year-themed quest, especially for ang bao or red packet enthusiasts! How about trailing across all the museums, galleries, and heritage institutions across this little red dot to collect exclusive ang boas specially designed for the Zodiac Year of the Snake? The 2025 Museum Roundtable Lunar New Year Hongbao Campaign will return with the most adorable red packet designs based on the Year of the Snake! Stay tuned for more deets!
Keep your eyes peeled; more family-friendly events for CNY 2025 will be added! Meanwhile, here are some past events
1. Singapore Chinese Orchestra Rhapsodies of Spring 2025
SCO will be ushering in the Year of the Snake with their Rhapsodies of Spring concert, playing a festive lineup by SCO Principal Conductor Quek Ling Kiong. Be prepared for the final instalment of the CAPITAL 958 radio play Reunion – you can also tune in on-air to follow the story!
Details: 17 & 18 January 2025, 7:30 pm, Singapore Chinese Orchestra Conference Hall, 7 Shenton Way, Singapore 068810. Tickets from $20.
1. The Legend of the Dragon Gate – Drone Show by the Bay
Get ready for an incredible drone show at Marina Bay this February! The Legend of the Dragon Gate – Drone Show by the Bay is set to be a light and musical spectacle with some 1,500 drones dancing in sync in the sky. The show debuts on 10 February, 8pm. The annual Marina Bay Sands Chinese New Year Light Up will be happening on 6 February with a medley of festive performances. Head there early as crowds are expected to form at Grand Colonnade South in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands well before the light-up ceremony, which starts at 7.30pm.
Details: Marina Bay Sands Chinese New Year Light Up happening 6 February, 7.30pm; The Legend of the Dragon Gate – Drone Show by the Bay happening on 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18 February, 8pm.
3. Chingay@Heartlands Celebrations
Apart from the 2-day Chingay Parade, Chingay@Heartlands offers a local spin on the Chingay experience, bringing it closer to residents. So check out the celebrations in your ‘hood.
Here are all the deets to take note of:
Chingay@Jalan Besar GRC and Potong Pasir SMC
When: 25 February 2024, 6pm to 10pm
Where: The Caravan will start in front of Blk 77A Indus Rd, Along Ganges Ave, Singapore 160077 and end at Kolam Ayer CC, 1 Geylang Bahru Ln, #01-03, Singapore 339631
Chingay@Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC
When: 1 March 2024
Where: The Caravan will start on Petir Rd (in front of PetirPark) and end at Senja Cashew Community Centre, 101 Bukit Panjang Rd, Singapore 679910
Chingay@Marine Parade GRC, MacPherson SMC and Mountbatten SMC
When: 2 March 2024
Where: The Caravan will start at the junction of Upper Serangoon Road and Serangoon Central and end in front of BLK 311 along Eunos Link
Chingay@Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and Punggol West SMC
When: 3 March 2024
Where: The Caravan will start at the car park opposite Downtown East (Pasir Ris Close)
and end at One Punggol, 1 Punggol Drive, Singapore 828629
Chingay@West Coast GRC and Pioneer SMC
When: 9 March, 5pm to 10pm
Where: The Caravan will start at the carpark in front of Telok Blangah CC and end along Jurong West Street 91 beside Blk 953
4. Join the Prosperity Run 2024
Looking for a fun and fit way to usher in the year of the Dragon with the kids? Join the Prosperity Run! Whether you’re a newbie or a pro runner, round up your loved ones, grab your sneakers, and prepare for an epic time! But wait, the excitement doesn’t end with the run! Get into the lively spirit of celebration with many family-friendly cultural activities at Arena Park on 24 February. It’s a day filled with joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
When: 24 February
Where: Arena Park, All the deets!
5. Be dazzled by The National Gallery’s Light to Night
Light to Night is back, with museums opening till late and several family-friendly events to hit. Keep the kids up late and head down to the Civic District to see your favourite buildings illuminated with bedazzling light displays!
When: 19 January to – 8 February 2024
Where: National Gallery Singapore, Light to Night 2024
6. Light shows and lion dances at Jewel Changi
Jewel is the place to be for a cool celebration this year. You’ll love the flowers around the HSBC Rain Vortex, Petal Garden, and an adorable animated dragon family at the Source Pool in Canopy Park. Don’t miss the Lion Dance, LED Dragon Dance performances, and enchanting Light & Sound Shows daily at Shiseido Forest Valley. Find out more here.
When: 9 to 11 February 2024
Where: 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666
7. CNY Istana Open House 2024
The Istana opens its doors to the public on February 12 for Chinese New Year celebrations, offering activities, performances, and guided tours from 8:30am to 6pm. You and the kiddos can enjoy Chinese calligraphy, candle making, musical performances, multicultural dances, and guided tours of the main building and grounds. That’s not all; you can also go on guided tours of the Istana’s main building to view selected function rooms and look closely at a selection of state gifts presented to Singapore’s leaders. If you’re a budding nature lover, you can also go on a guided tour by National Park Board volunteers to learn about the flora and fauna at the Istana’s garden. Entry is free for Singaporeans and PRs, with cashless payments accepted for non-residents. Proceeds from entry fees will go to charities supported by the President’s Challenge. You can look forward to yummy food stalls, a food truck, and merchandise booths. Find out more here.
When: 12 February 2024
Where: The Istana, Orchard Rd, Singapore 238823
Gong Xi Fa Cai!