“It’s the most wonderful time of the year! “
It’s a season of festival occasions where school holidays begin and new year celebrations start! Time to finally unwind and bid goodbye to 2016! What are your plans for the upcoming Christmas and New Year Celebrations?
I am so looking forward to spending Christmas here in Singapore ever since Christmas Wonderland, Singapore’s biggest annual yuletide fair, started last year. You don’t have to fly to Europe, USA or Australia just to get the feel of Christmas when back at our home, there’s this magical holiday event which is happening right at Gardens By the Bay.
This year’s Christmas Wonderland will be the biggest yuletide playground you’ve ever been to because the grounds have expanded from 35,000 sqm (last year’s) to 57, 000 sqm. That’s like about one and half times bigger! I am pretty sure that I have to take a couple of days to cover all grounds. Last year’s event was splendid and I really can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year’s Christmas celebrations! And if you happen to be touring in Singapore, you’re in for a treat!
Below are some of the new and exciting attractions you can look forward too!
1. Luminarie
Be mesmerized by 67 hand-sculpted luminaires which are sculptures of light imported from Italy. It uses some 240,000 multi-hued bulbs to illuminate the fairground! It features a distinctive 17th and 18th Century Baroque architectural style. It’s too beautiful to be missed!
2 Dec 2016 to 1 Jan 2017
2. Blizzard Time
Experience ‘snow’ at Spalliera Castel del Monte, a 19.7 m tall luminaire which is also the largest and highest in Southeast Asia.
Blizzard Time: 8 pm, 9 pm and 10 pm daily
3. Magical Forest
What’s Christmas without Santa? You can find Santa sitting comfortably in Santa’s Cottage at the Magical Forest.
4. Ice Palace
The key highlights include an Ice skating rink, Ice Slide, and Snow Playground.
Snow Playground
20 minutes per session. The first session starts at 4 pm. Refer to the website for full session timings. Snow boots available for rental with sizes from 26 to 36. (Euro sizes)
Ice Slide (Tickets at $4 per person)
New this year, participants can slide down a 25m long Ice Slide! Children below 0.9m must be accompanied by an adult.
Ice Skating (Tickets at $18 per person)
45 minutes per session. The first session starts at 4.30 pm.
Complimentary skating aids available (subject to availability). Tickets are inclusive of rental of skates. Socks and gloves available for purchase.
Skate sizes range from 26 – 47 (Euro sizes)
5. Hi-5 Funtastic House
It’s great being a kid because Christmas is the time for kids to be merry. The little ones can spend time in this house with a host of fun activities such as the ‘Ready, Set, Bounce!’ bouncy castle and ‘Style It Up’ for the camera in Hi-5 costumes.
$24 per 45-minute session – includes 1 child (ages between 4 and 11) + 1 adult ( at viewing area). Companion tickets at $6 are available (1 adult per child), for adults who wish to accompany the child into the activity areas. Pre-booking can be made online at www.christmaswonderland.sg
4 pm to 9 pm daily
Additional session at 3 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays and 24 December 2016 to 1 January 2017.
6. Glass House
Enjoy a Christmas special delights at the two-storey Glass House will feature an immersive dining experience by Harry’s. You can enjoy a festive meal while taking in the beautiful sights of the Spalliera Castel del Monte, majestic Supertrees, and the Festive Market. Sauerkraut? Turkey and Christmas ham? Yum.
What are you waiting for? You can start planning for your holidays with your family, friends, and loved ones right now!
Admission and Ticketing Details to Christmas Wonderland 2016
Christmas Wonderland 2016 will take place from 2 December to 1 January 2017 from 3.30 pm to 11 pm daily. So I believe that there are ample of time to check out this festive playground before all the celebrations are over. However, this year, you will need to purchase a ticket to enter the festive grounds.
Thankfully, it is priced affordably as admission tickets start from SGD 4 and it can only be purchased online at www.christmaswonderland.sg from 28 October 2016. And if you are a VISA cardholder, you can enjoy 25% off your tickets for the first 1, 000 tickets daily. Cardholders will need to purchase their tickets using VISA checkout and valid promotional code.
Visitors with tickets to Christmas Wonderland 2016 can also enjoy $4 off Gardens By the Bay’s local resident Double Conservatories tickets too.
Each paying adult can bring in up to 3 children under 0.9m free of charge. A child above 0.9m requires a ticket. Visitors must purchase their tickets prior to visiting the event, as tickets will not be available for sale onsite.
