The 40th edition of Christmas on A Great Street returns, illuminating Orchard Road with dazzling lights and enchanting festivities to spread holiday cheer.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam officiated the Light-Up Ceremony at Shaw House Urban Plaza last Thursday, bringing the heart of Orchard Road alive with festive lights.
Christmas on A Great Street transforms Orchard Road into a winter wonderland, featuring Great Christmas Villages and hosting its first-ever Christmas Eve party, along with many other fun-filled activities.
This year’s light-up theme draws inspiration from a child’s imagination, creating a cotton candy cloud dreamscape. Orchard Road is adorned with warm LEDs depicting candy canes, reindeer, Christmas trees, teddy bears, and pastel clouds, transforming it into a dreamy wonderland.
The Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) Chairman Mr Mark Shaw said: “We hope that Singaporeans, visitors and residents will be as excited as we are with our plans for Christmas on A Great Street. It is a milestone year and we want everyone to have a fantastic time as they celebrate the season of joy, peace, and goodwill to all. In collaboration with our partners, we promise an exciting line-up of activities, including the Christmas Eve street party and Christmas Villages.”
“This year, we are doubling down on efforts to reduce our carbon footprint as we bring Christmas cheer to everyone. We will be repurposing past years’ LED lights and decor, and installing solar panels to harness renewable energy for two Christmas set pieces. Additionally, we will be working closely with partners on initiatives such as tree planting to make a meaningful impact on the environment.”
Ms Guo Teyi, Director of Retail & Dining, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Christmas on A Great Street is a highly anticipated event on our calendar, where we welcome locals and tourists of all ages to enjoy the festivities in Orchard Road. Amped-up experiences such as the first-ever Christmas Eve street party and Christmas Villages add vibrancy to the precinct, making it a must-visit lifestyle destination during the year-end season. Visitors can also explore the latest flagship stores, brands and experiential offerings while enjoying the dazzling light-up.”
The Christmas on A Great Street at Orchard Road
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Stepping up on Sustainability and Social Causes
Similar to last year, the Christmas Light-Up event will reuse and recycle ornamental items along with electrical and support equipment, in line with its sustainability objectives. Furthermore, some of the lights and décor will be donated to organisations like EQUAL, which supports people with mental health issues and other needs.
Mr Kojin Nakakita, Chairman of Hitachi Asia Ltd., said: “Hitachi is honoured to be the main sponsor of the Christmas Light-Up for 33 consecutive years. We are thrilled to continue with this annual tradition of spreading festive joy and cheer to all Singaporeans and tourists. In line with the spirit of Powering Good, Hitachi is committed to creating a more sustainable world through Digital, Green and Innovative solutions. With this in mind, we hope to continue to contribute responsibly to Singapore as well as the ASEAN community.”
For the 11th consecutive year, Mastercard, the official card for Christmas on A Great Street, has pledged to plant one tree globally for every qualifying transaction made with a Mastercard at the 15 participating Orchard Road malls from November 1st 2023 to January 1st 2024. This initiative is a part of Mastercard’s collaboration with their partner in the Priceless Planet Coalition, the Conservation International Foundation. As in the previous year, open-top bus tours will be organised to express gratitude to migrant workers for their dedicated contributions to Singapore
The First-Ever Christmas Eve Street Party
The highlight of this year’s annual Christmas on A Great Street is the inaugural Christmas Eve street party set to take place along Orchard Road. On December 24th, the stretch between Paterson Junction and Bideford Junction will be closed to traffic, commencing at 6 pm, and the street party will run from 8 pm to 12:30 am.
Visitors can anticipate a variety of activities, including performances by the NCC Command Band from Swiss Cottage Secondary School, dance performances, Christmas carolling, Santa Meet & Greet sessions, four DJs to manage the music and engage the crowd, a Christmas Market, an abundance of food trucks, and a countdown to Christmas.
Three Great Christmas Villages
The Three Great Christmas Villages promise a magical and jolly experience for guests with carnival rides and games, pop-up stores, and food & beverage kiosks. The Great Christmas Villages are situated outside Ngee Ann City’s Shaw House and, for the first time, at Plaza Singapura.
Starting on November 24th, the first of the three Christmas Villages will open its doors at Shaw House Urban Plaza, featuring a double-story carousel and ferris wheel. The remaining two at Plaza Singapura and Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza will commence on December 1st and December 8th, respectively.
At Plaza Singapura, a massive bouncy castle with a fun slide and a Christmas on A Great Street theme will be featured, along with craft workshops from Singapore’s popular edutainment park, Kiztopia, and mascot meet-and-greet activities.
The festivities at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza will offer an array of carnival games and rides, including the Euro Swing ride and an arcade. Attendees can also indulge in drinks, explore food truck delights, and be entertained by live performances featuring local buskers and bands such as Daniel Sid, LAYYI, The Cold Cut Duo, and Waymakers. The event takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings, running from 7:15 pm to 9:15 pm. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza will extend its operating hours until 12:30 am.
Since November 7th, Orchard Road has featured brand pop-ups and set pieces located along the pedestrian walkway connecting ION Orchard to Mandarin Gallery. It includes Yellow Ribbon Bakery and Geneco pop-up to introduce unique cookies made by prisoners. Individuals who cast their votes for the most cherished Inspirational Quotes of Hope at Geneco’s pop-up will receive a complimentary bag of Red Velvet & Almonds cookies on December 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th 2023.
Outdoor AR projections
The augmented reality projection for this year, conducted in collaboration with OUE Limited, will once again adorn the exterior of Hilton Singapore Orchard. Designed to create a three-dimensional illusion, it seamlessly blends the realms of reality and fantasy. The projection will also feature Rube Goldberg machines that trigger intricate chain reactions when specific components and contraptions are set in motion. To fully engage in this immersive 3D experience, audiences can use the PopAR Live app on their mobile phones to view and interact with the display.
Furthermore, other outdoor AR displays can be spotted on any of the 25 glass panels lining the pedestrian walkway from ION Orchard to Mandarin Gallery. These visual projections will be active from November 1st 2023, to January 1st 2024. The synchronised rendition of “Music in the Air” will play through speakers strategically positioned on 44 lamp posts along Orchard Road. For Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, a countdown clock will guide revellers, allowing them to celebrate the start of Christmas and the New Year in unison.
Mastercard Christmas Rewards
As part of the celebration, From November 16th to December 28th 2023, a total of 15 malls partake in the Christmas Rewards program in collaboration with Mastercard. Customers who accumulate $300 in qualifying transactions, spread across a maximum of five same-day receipts at the participating malls, will be eligible to receive $30 mall-specific vouchers. This exclusive incentive is limited to the initial 100 shoppers per week per mall who spend a minimum of $300 using their Mastercard. The promotion spans six weekly periods. During the Black Friday tier rewards period from November 24th to 30th, 12 malls will participate, offering shoppers $50 vouchers for transactions totaling $500 across five same-day receipts.
“Mastercard is proud to be associated with this cherished tradition that ushers in a season of joy to Singaporeans and visitors alike. ORBA’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint align with Mastercard’s own dedication to championing for a more sustainable future through the Priceless Planet Coalition, which aims to restore 100 million trees by 2025. Mastercard is proud to focus on creating meaningful impact on the climate, community, and biodiversity,” said Deborah Heng, Country Manager, Singapore, Mastercard.
Christmas on A Great Street Stay Packages
Additionally, you can indulge in exclusive hotel packages from Pullman Singapore Orchard, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, and The St. Regis Singapore, available until January 1st 2024. These packages include complimentary breakfast and $50 in Great Christmas Village credits per room booking.
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