CNY events 2025: Fun activities to usher in the Year of the Snake
It’s finally January and the Chinese New Year celebrations have begun. Everyone’s checking on their horoscopes and seeing what the new year has in store for them. To bring in the new year, many different organisations will be hosting various CNY events in 2025.
Check out this list of CNY events to bring in the Year of the Snake from Jan until early Feb. From arts showcases and firecrackers to parades and lion dances, the CNY celebrations promise to be a thrilling time for the whole family.
1. Chingay 2025
Chingay is an annual multicultural parade spectacle, with performers in brightly coloured costumes and huge floats, bringing in the Lunar New Year. This year, over 4,000 performers from 150 different organisations will participate, promising to be bigger and better than ever.
This year’s theme is “Joy”. It is the joy of shared experiences between family, communities and the nation at large. The one thing we collectively find happiness in is food. Sharing food is a pivotal moment of connection that bridges our differences and reminds us of the happiness we bring into each other’s lives.
So, the parade will reflect this connection with homages to our national culinary history. There will be food-themed floats, gorgeous costumes, and PAssionArts installations that express the joy of sharing meals.
This year, we will be celebrating SG60 and, to celebrate, the parade will feature a whopping 60 lion dancers to commemorate both the Lunar New Year and the momentous milestone for our country.
Join in on the celebration at Chingay! Tickets start at S$20.
1 Republic Boulevard, Marina Bay Street Circuit, F1 Pit Building, Singapore 038975
7 & 8 Feb 2025
8pm
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2. River Hongbao 2025
River Hongbao is an annual CNY celebration that takes place across the Gardens by the Bay. Be mesmerised by beautiful lantern and firecracker displays, captivating performances and interactive exhibitions to bring in the festivities.
These lanterns are not just our regular CNY decorations. Each lantern is a massive structure that is meticulously created with many fine details. They depict the daily lives of Singaporeans, in commemoration of SG60, and various Chinese iconography, including Cai Shen Ye (God of Fortune).
A regular highlight of River Hongbao is the firecracker displays. In past years, the Cai Shen Ye was accompanied by the pops of firecrackers in the night. The significance of the firecrackers in Chinese culture is to ward off evil spirits and welcome good fortune and prosperity for the new year.
For more information on dates, timings and locations, visit the River Hongbao website and search for the desired event.
18 Marina Gardens Drive, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore 018953
27 Jan 2025: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
28 Jan 2025: 6.30pm – 12.15am
29 Jan – 5 Feb 2025: 2.30pm – 10.30pm
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3. Chinatown’s CNY Street Light-Up
Every CNY, Chinatown comes to life. With festive markets, stage shows, and countdown parties, there is no place you’d rather be to celebrate the occasion.
However, the highlight of the Chinatown CNY festivities is the street light-up.
After the light-up ceremony at Kreta Ayer Square, 5 main roads and landmarks around Chinatown will shine through the night with these stunning displays. With it being the Year of the Snake, you can expect huge snake structures and motifs to adorn the streets.
For addresses and how to get there, click here
8 Jan – 27 Feb 2025
7pm – 12am (Timing differs on CNY Day 1, 29 Jan)
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4. Spring Blossoms: Legend of the Lady White Snake
Last year, Gardens by the Bay commemorated CNY with their beautiful Dahlia Dreams exhibition. The Dahlia is an auspicious flower that signifies the lasting bond of friendship, good fortune and great profit.
This year, they decided to change it up. Now, they chose a wider range of auspicious Spring blossoms to commemorate the season. From 17 Jan to 23 Feb 2025, the Spring Blossoms: Legend of the Lady White Snake will take over the Flower Dome.
The exhibition was inspired by the Chinese legend of the same name that depicts a romance between a man, Xu Xian, and a female snake spirit, Ba Suzhen. The story has been adapted many times since its inception in the Tang Dynasty.
Now, the Gardens by the Bay will have a go at the classic tale through the use of floral displays and motifs.
18 Marina Gardens Dr, Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore 018953
17 Jan – 23 Feb 2025
9am – 9pm
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5. Usher in the Fun at Universal Studios Singapore
Another great way to spend this New Year is to spend a day at Universal Studios Singapore. For the occasion, USS has prepared a slew of CNY festivities for visitors to enjoy alongside fan-favourite characters from movies like Kung Fu Panda (2008), Madagascar (2005) and more.
The celebrations begin with Po’s Parade of Prosperity. Visitors would get to interact with Po and Tigress from the Madagascar movies as they hand out fortune cookies to the guests. Take pictures with the lovable characters and discover what the future holds for you.
In the park, you will also get to take beautiful photos with the lush cherry blossoms that have been planted along Hollywood Boulevard.
There will also be other iconic Universal characters dressed for the occasion around the park. Meet and greet Alex, Gloria, and King Julien from Madagascar and many others as they ring in the Lunar New Year.
Children’s tickets start at S$59 for Singaporean residents and S$62 for non-residents. For adults, tickets start at S$74 and S$83 respectively. Get your tickets here.
8 Sentosa Gateway, Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269
22 Jan – 12 Feb 2025
10am – 7pm
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6. LEGO’s Journey into Prosperity @ Suntec City
Every year, LEGO releases new sets in celebration of Chinese New Year. This year is no exception. Their sets this year include the Good Fortune set (S$98.88), the Trotting Lantern set (S$125.90), and the Lucky Bamboo set (S$40.90).
On top of that, LEGO is also throwing a big CNY celebration in collaboration with Suntec City known as the “Journey into Prosperity”. It is a fun time for the whole family with LEGO-themed games and photo spots for you to capture wonderful memories.
A God of Fortune mascot will also be making an appearance on select weekends!
Of course, there is no CNY celebration without lion dances. Suntec City will be hosting their own, courtesy of the Yiwei Athletic Association, on 3 Feb at 10.28am. The Atrium Towers 3 and 4 would be overcome with the vibrant colours and booming drums that accompany the classic lion dance, ringing in the new year at the mall.
There are also many fun prizes in store for Suntec+ members.
Find out more here. Terms and conditions apply.
3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City, Atrium Towers 1 & 2, Singapore 038983
9 Jan – 9 Feb 2025
10.30am – 9pm
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7. A Big Big World of Excitement @ Resorts World Sentosa
When it comes to celebrations, no place is better known for partying it up than Resorts World Sentosa. So, of course, RSW has something special prepared for the Lunar New Year.
Look forward to a thrilling time at A Big Big World of Excitement. An entire carnival set-up awaits visitors, courtesy of Cow Play Cow Moo. Classic amusement park rides and games will make an appearance including claw machines so you stand a chance to bring home a special prize that day.
Other traditional CNY festivities will also take place at RSW like lion dances and a blessed meet and greet with the God of Fortune and his friends Lu, Fu and Shou.
However, the thing to most look forward to is the Starlit Dragon Spectacular.
This is a massive light-up display event organised annually by RSW. An 88-metre-long light display will illuminate the venue and usher in some good fortune for the Lunar New Year. As the name suggests, it is a spectacle to behold.
8 Sentosa Gateway, Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098269
19 Jan – 16 Feb 2025
For more details on locations, dates and timings, refer here.
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8. CNY Family FUN 2025 at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
In celebration of the Year of the Snake, the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra have put together a joint celebration called “CNY Family FUN”. There will be celebrations scattered all over Singapore including live performances, exhibitions, workshops, engaging talks and Snake-themed games.
The bulk of the fun, though, will be taking place at the rooftop garden of the SCCC.
There, visitors would get to play a fun life-sized game of Snake and Ladders and explore the 蛇prise (pronounced: Shé-prise) rooftop art installation which will feature the motif of a giant snake and a prosperity pavilion.
To find out more about the art installation, click here.
1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Rooftop Garden, Singapore 018906
17 – 19 Feb 2025
17 Jan: 10am to 10pm
18 – 19 Jan: 12pm to 8pm
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9. CNY Festivities @ IKEA
Of all the events on this list, IKEA is the one that surprised me the most. I previously had no idea that the furniture store franchise took part in the festivities. Alas, here we are.
It should be no surprise, though, as IKEA Singapore has become a hangout spot in its own right these past few years. People would flock to IKEA to simply take a stroll around, spend some quality time with loved ones and enjoy those mouth-watering Swedish meatballs.
Truly, it has become a cultural hub among Singaporeans. Therefore, it makes sense for them to engage more with the communities and embrace the different festivities and cultures.
IKEA Singapore will be hosting a series of CNY activities at their Alexandra, Jurong and Tampines outlets. These activities include snack tastings, workshops, traditional Chinese calligraphy lessons and lion dance performances. You are guaranteed to have an exhilarating time at IKEA with the entire family this Lunar New Year.
For further locations, dates and timings, refer here.
11 Jan – 2 Feb 2025
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10. Huayi — Chinese Festival of Arts 2025
What better way to wrap up the festivities than with a series of arts showcases?
From 7 to 16 Feb 2025, the Huayi — Chinese Festival of the Arts will take over the Esplanade. It is a special showcase of theatre dramas, live performances and fun cultural workshops for all ages.
These workshops teach hands-on crafts and various artistic elements in Chinese culture including fabric weaving and learning more about the Hulusi, a traditional Chinese instrument.
However, the main highlight of Huayi is the performances. There is a wide range of live performances that await visitors from local and international theatre companies and artists. Participating foreign countries include China, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Some showcases to highlight include China’s “Rickshaw Boy” and “What is Qin”, Taiwan’s “Human Condition VIII”, and Singapore’s “Dance With Me”. These showcases range from historical epics to light-hearted comedies.
Tickets start at S$30. Terms and conditions apply.
1 Esplanade Dr, Esplanade — Theatres by the Bay, Singapore 038981
7 – 16 Feb 2025
For further locations, dates and timings, refer here.
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