The complete guide to getting around Marina Bay and the Civic District on NYE

It’s that time of the year again where throngs of people choke up the city area to catch fireworks as they usher in the new year, with the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2017 programme promising a series of activities and spectacular visual displays leading up to midnight across the Civic District and Marina Bay.

More than 300,000 people have flocked to these places each year over the last three years, and organisers are expecting the same turnout for 2016.

The fireworks display will be scaled back this time around, with Esplanade’s Head of Programme Management (Music and Planning) Joseph Tan telling the media on Thursday (22 Dec) that a total of 1,800 shells will be fired this year. This is 400 less than last year’s 2,200 shells.

However, it will still be a memorable event for NYE revellers as laser beams and flames will be added to the spectacle for the first time.

For those planning to head down with your family and friends this NYE, here’s a guide to what’s happening and which roads will be closed.

WHAT’S HAPPENING:

1. Fireworks at Marina Bay

An eight-minute fireworks, laser beams and flames display will be taking place by the bay and against a musical backdrop by local band In Each Hand a Cutlass. Their song “Glaciers” will be played.

The best spots to catch the spectacle would be Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, The Promontory@Marina Bay and The Fullerton Hotel.

2. Fullerton Hotel Facade Show

Light visuals will be mapped onto the facade of the Fullerton Hotel for five minutes at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, 11pm and 11:54pm.

The best spots to catch the facade show would be from the rooftop of One Fullerton or the Esplanade.

3. Festive lighting around the bay

Set to the theme of this year’s countdown event, “A New Dawn”, the city skyline will be illuminated in a synchronised showcase of lights in hues of blue, orange and yellow at the 15-minute and 30-minute marks between 8:15pm and 11:30pm.

The participating buildings are Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Marina Square, Maybank Tower, Millenia Tower, OCBC Centre, Ocean Financial Centre and Republic Plaza.

4. Movie screenings

This is perfect for those looking for a relaxing time before the countdown. From 7:45pm, catch movie screenings at Empress Lawn (beside Asian Civilization Museum) and Esplanade Park.

Here are the showtimes:

EMPRESS LAWN

7:45pm: Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

9:25pm: X-Men: Days of Future Past

ESPLANADE PARK

7:45pm: Kung Fu Panda 3

9:25pm: The Magnificent Seven

5. Performances

There are different types of live performances happening:

MUSIC@EMPRESS

Catch local bands Vocaluptuous, The Common People and HubbaBubbas rock it out at the Empress Lawn from 6pm to 7:30pm.

ROVING PERFORMANCES

Catch roving performers such as globe walkers, LED stiltwalkers roaming about the Marina Bay waterfront promenade and the Civic District.

ROCK ON! 2017 (Ticketed)

Catch Grammy-award winning singer Alicia Keys and rock band Hoobastank, among others, performing at The Float from 5pm to 1am. Organised by IMC Live, tickets to the multi-million dollar concert are priced from $48 to $218 and are available for purchase via APACTix.

6. Shopping

Shop for party novelties, among others, at the Marina Waterfront Bazaar or local crafts at the Countdown Market on Connaught Drive.

7. Sports and fitness

Join a free yoga session by Yoga Seeds at the Esplanade Park from 5:30pm to 7pm, or a heart-pumping workout session (Glow Dance Fitness, K-Kardio and Zumba) by the Health Promotion Board from 9pm to midnight on St Andrew’s Road.

ROAD CLOSURES:

4PM TO 2AM

• St Andrew’s Road

• Fullerton Road towards St Andrew’s Road

• Connaught Drive

• Fullerton Road between Esplanade Drive and Connaught Drive

6PM TO 11:30PM, 1:30AM TO 2AM

• Fullerton Road towards Collyer Quay

• Extreme left lane of Raffles Avenue (between Temasek Avenue and Esplanade Drive)

• Extreme left lane of Collier Quay in the direction of Raffles Quay

9PM TO 10PM, 1AM TO 2AM

• Extreme left lane of Marina Boulevard towards Bayfront Avenue

10PM TO 1AM

• Marina Boulevard

• Extreme left lane of Marina Way towards Marina Boulevard

11:30PM TO 1:30AM

• Raffles Avenue between Temasek Avenue and Esplanade Drive

• Right lanes on Raffles Boulevard towards Raffles Avenue

• Esplanade Drive

• Collier Quay

• Bayfront Avenue

• Raffles Link

• Fullerton Square

• Battery Road

• Flint Street

• Bonham Street

• D’Almeida Street

• Malacca Street

• De Souza Street

• Extreme left lane of Finlayson Green