Singapore festive playgrounds and wonderlands to be at this Christmas season
The year-end is a great time to be in Singapore, yes?
There are lots of performances and children’s activities. Enchanting decorations and Christmas lights are all over the country. Holiday and festive wonderlands are also everywhere! For a content creator like me, there’s almost always never enough time to go about photographing all!
Without further delay, here are the playgrounds to celebrate the festive season at this year-end. These are the places to be for fun and cheer. The places to soak in the magic of the seasons too.
1. WINKmets Wonderland at Five MRT Stations
Locations:
- Woodlands MRT Station, Stellar@TE2
- Bishan MRT Station, Level 1 Concourse
- Paya Lebar MRT Station, Staytion
- Raffles Place MRT Station, Raffles Xchange
- Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station, Staytion Lifestyle Centre
Date: Nov 15 to Dec 24, 2023
Time: 9 am to 6 pm (Woodlands, Paya Lebar, Dhoby Ghaut) | 10 am to 7 pm (Bishan and Raffles Place)
Price: See below.
Let’s start with five mini wonderlands happening all over the country!
Stellar Lifestyle, a business arm of SMRT, has unveiled the WINKmets Wonderland campaign, which will take place from Nov 15 to Dec 24, 2023. Yup, all the way up to Christmas Eve.
During this campaign, shoppers who purchase at the over 600 Stellar Lifestyle retail outlets across the SMRT line can unlock exclusive access to the WINKmets Wonderland Station Lodges at five key SMRT stations.
There’s much to enjoy at these festive lodges, from interactive games to exciting prizes, to chances to collect limited-edition WINKmets Plushies inspired by digital avatar influencers from Stellar Ace.
For example, at the Dhoby Ghaut Lodge, you can soak in the holiday spirit with the WINKmets by listening to snippets of popular carols and choosing the right lyrics. There are Wasuka CV19 Pro microphones and KTV TeoHeng Vouchers to be won at this game.
Over at Paya Lebar Station, use your body to control WINKmet Cashie Greeny as he catches falling rewards. Stellar Lifestyle tenant vouchers usable across SMRT’s retail network are the prizes here!
In celebration of the festive community spirit, there’ll furthermore be Christmas caroling, WINKmets Meet & Greet, and charity markets. The markets are held in collaboration with Invade and Metta School – an institution dedicated to providing education for students with special needs.
For more details including the schedules for the interactive games, please visit the official WINKmets Wonderland website!
2. Pinkmas at Museum of Ice Cream
Address: 100 Loewen Rd, Singapore 248837
Date: Nov 17, 2023, to Jan 15, 2024
Time: Check the official website for hours. The museum is closed on Tuesdays.
Price: From SGD 46/-.
It’s a very merry pink Christmas at the Museum of Ice Cream (MoIC), one of Singapore’s most unique and unusual attractions!
To welcome the holidays, many rooms of MoIC have been transformed into pink winter wonderlands, with photogenic pink Christmas trees everywhere. (You can hang wishes on them) The Scream’s Diner, what a name, will also be serving festive peppermint soft serve and hot chocolate drinks, while the Dessert Bar has two limited-edition festive drinks perfect for the holidays. Sprinkle of Gold is a coffee fan’s dream of creamy Kahlua, cold brew coffee, and pink glitter. Jingle Juice seduces with cool green hues and is mixed with green apple, lemon-lime soda, and lychee boba.
What’s more, there are complimentary tickets for all, literally. All Pinkmas period visitors will receive one complimentary ticket with every booking, with the free ticket usable from Jan 18 to Feb 29, 2024. Want to re-experience the magic during the CNY period? Want to share the magic with a loved one? That’s what the complimentary ticket is for!
For ticket bookings and details, please visit https://tickets.museumoficecream.sg, or follow @museumoficecreamsg and #moicsg on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for updates. Sign up for the MOIC newsletter too at https://museumoficecream.com/getthelatestscoop .
For more pictures of Pinkmas at MoIC, please read my feature write-up.
3. Ice Magic: Winter Wonderland
Address: Bayfront Event Space, 12A Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018970
Date: Dec 9, 2023 to Jan 21, 2024
Time: 10 am to 7 pm. Check the event website for session schedules
Price: Early bird tickets from SGD 29/-. Usual tickets from SGD 39/-.
Are you familiar with the holiday classic, Winter Wonderland? Well, one such snowy playground is coming to tropical Singapore this December!
Ice Magic, Asia’s largest touring pop-up winter playground, is returning to Singapore by popular demand, with a wintry extravaganza to be held at Bayfront Event Space from Dec 9, 2023, to Jan 21, 2024.
A frosty extravaganza that spans a staggering 3,000 square meters, magical winter attractions and fun at this snowy playground includes Singapore’s first-ever Merry-Go-Round on Ice, where visitors can glide around a massive 8-meter diameter carousel set afloat on glistening ice. And Singapore’s longest ever Snow Slope at 98 m in length, 7 m in width, and a remarkable height of 6.5 m. Wanna experience skiing without leaving Singapore? Here’s your chance to do it!
Other highlights include Singapore’s first Double-Lane Couple Ice Slide, the photo-perfect Ice Magic’s Wooden Cottage, and the nighttime Enchanted Nights at Ice Magic. Fabulous arctic lights will transform Ice Magic into a breathtaking arctic paradise at the last hour of each visiting session.
Naturally, there’s festive food too; how could there not be for a Singaporean celebration? The Winter Food Village will feature more than 10 winter-themed culinary delight kiosks to cater to all tastes. Whether looking to fuel up before embarking on the snowy adventure or to chill out after a thrilling day in the wonderland, there will be something for everyone.
Important Ticket Info
Visiting sessions last 2 hours and 45 minutes, with three sessions each day. There are also early bird tickets that are SGD 10/- cheaper. The early bird tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis, and are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment. Book early too to secure your preferred session.
Ticket Booking and Session Reservation at SISTIC
4. Christmas Wonderland 2023 at Gardens by the Bay
Location: Gardens by the Bay
Date: Dec 1, 2023, to Jan 1, 2024
Time: 4 sessions at 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.30 pm, and 9.30 pm
Price: From SGD 8 for adults and SGD 6 for children (3 to 12 years old) Note that tickets are slightly more expensive for dates closer to Christmas.
Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay really doesn’t need much introduction since it’s been happening for many years. For Singaporeans like me, a must-visit every December too.
But if you’ve never visited or if you didn’t last year, here’s what to expect at this year’s wonderland.
Presented by Trip.com this time round, the 10th edition of Singapore’s biggest yuletide fair features a supersized, 27,000 sqm fairground with a sensational array of light displays, new carnival rides, and more festive activities.
There will be three magical zones: Supertree Grove, Frosty’s Fairground at The Meadow, and Gingerbread Grove. Visitors can admire 13 stunning light displays, soak in the holiday cheer with a multi-sensory experience complete with ‘snow’ in the tropics, hop onto new carnival rides, have a go at carnival games, meet Santa Claus, dine on festive fare, and catch live performances by local artistes and lots more! (Wow, there’s a lot of things to enjoy)
As is well-known, the Spalliera is always the centerpiece of GBTB’s Christmas Wonderland, and this year will be no different. With a design inspired by Mesola Castle in the northern Italian province of Ferrara, this year’s magnificent Italian handcrafted light display is lit by 103,000 bulbs and stands at a majestic 20 metres tall – that’s the height of five double-decker buses. Snow is on the schedule too with the return of the hugely popular Blizzard Time. The Garden Rhapsody light and sound show will also charm visitors with the lights on the surrounding Supertrees ‘dancing’ to Christmas classics.
Other exciting attractions include Holly Roger ship, a 24 m whimsical display with merry pirate elves that’s illuminated by some 127,000 bulbs. This year’s edition of the Walk of Lights is 65 m long and an absolute kaleidoscope with approximately 75,000 programmable LED lights.
The newly created Gingerbread Grove, set on a field of illuminated candy canes, promises to be a feast for the eyes and palate. There will be dessert stalls here.
As for food, there’s twice the number of food outlets this year! F&B names to look forward to include Burger & Lobster, Kebabs Faktory, and Sofnade. There are also festive tipples at a whimsical Christmas-cracker-themed bar by Hendrick’s Gin and a Brewerkz craft beer bar featuring its festive Gingerbread Amber Lager.
Ticket Booking | Ticket Booking via Trip.com
Pictures from Christmas Wonderland 2023!
5. A Very Smurfy Christmas at City Square Mall!
Location: City Square Mall
Date: Nov 17 to Dec 31, 2023
Price: Free!
I’m heading over to City Square Mall right after writing this list, the 80s smurf fan I am. J
City Square Mall and Nickelodeon are hosting a smurfy blue Christmas this year! Visitors can step into the enchanting world of The Smurfs with City Square Mall transformed into a winter wonderland straight out of Smurf Village. This very special event is in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the little blue ones. (Three apples tall!).
With whimsical decorations and hundreds of blue Smurfs surrounding the mall, it will definitely make for an unforgettable experience for families and Smurfs fans. There will also be limited-edition Smurfs-themed Nickelodeon gifts-with-purchase and shopping rewards.
For example, there are 5000 exclusive Smurfs-themed Nickelodeon Travel Cubes for redemption for shoppers who spend a minimum of SGD 150/- (SGD 250/- if inclusive of NTUC Fairprice). A SGD 50/- minimum spend will also allow you to redeem a ‘Tis the Season to be Smurfy session, which is a meet and greet with Papa Smurf and Smurfette.
Besides smurfs, City Square Mall will also be hosting a Christmas marketplace from Dec 1 – 17. This marketplace, full of exquisitely handcrafted treasures, is in alignment with the SG Care Giving Week. The mall will be allocating booths to Enterprising Mums United (EMU) and other social enterprise organisations in support of the movement.
From Dec 15 to 24, Wrap Joy with LoveFAD allows you to donate to the Care Community Services Society (CCSS) simply by paying SGD 2/- for a gift wrap. 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated. Lastly, la la lala la LA! Music! On Dec 16 and 17, at 2 pm and 7 pm, Jolly Jingles will entertain all with festive songs in acapella style. To be held at the basement Fountain Square, these performances by the SMU Chamber Choir will be the high point of a smurfy day at City Square Mall.
6. A Mario Christmas and a Candy Carnival at Changi Festive Village
Location: Changi Airport Complex
Date: Nov 4, 2023 to Jan 1, 2024
Price: Free! (Timed entry into the Nintendo Pop-Up Store)
Sprawling Changi Airport complex has long been a must-visit for year-end holiday festivities and this year is no exception.
Like previous celebrations, Changi Airport, Jewel inclusive, has gone to extensive lengths to theme their holiday displays too.
At Jewel Changi, it’s a Super Mario extravaganza! Named Pipe Around the World and ongoing till Jan 1, 2024, there’s a Nintendo pop-up store as well as lots of Mario displays throughout the complex. Think Super Mushrooms and Lucky Stars. Naturally, there’s a huge Christmas tree too—a Jewel signature—that’s nothing short of spectacular. Do note, though, that entry into the pop-up store is controlled. You either queue at the walk-in line or obtain timed entry tickets for later visits. Some bloggers have reported time entries for the evening being given out at noon-time.
Over at Terminal 3, pink candy is the theme of the month with a candy wonderland right before the departure gates and all sorts of pop-up stores everywhere. Other highlights include roving performances, meet-and-greet with Santa, a Candy Snow House, and of course, lots of exciting carnival games to keep you happy for hours
For more details on the many activities at Changi Festive Village, check the official site!
While at the airport, don’t forget to walk over to the newly reopened Terminal 2 to visit the brand-new Digital Waterfall. It’s not a Christmas thing, but the massive display will still be a high point of your visit.
7. Space Fest @ EXPO
Location: Singapore EXPO
Date: Dec 2 to 31, 2023
Price: Free!
This one is for all the sci-fi aficionados who dream of a space-faring adventure, while celebrating the holidays.
From Dec 2 to 31, Space Fest @ EXPO returns with a cosmic array of thrilling and fun family-friendly activities. Hosted by Singapore’s leading carnival organiser, Uncle Ringo, this cosmic fest will transform 10,000 square metres of exhibition hall space into an intergalactic playground, with over 20 space-themed carnival rides on showcase.
Space explorers, for example, can set off from a sci-fi spaceport and portal through to Galaxy World to take on giant astronauts, colliding meteorites, and gravity-defying rides. Families with children aged 2 years and above can also look forward to exhilarating games and fun craft activities to challenge their skills and creativity.
As expected of any major Singaporean carnival, there will also be a delightful selection of food, retail offerings, and entertainment. Zero-G Bistro will be full of delicious treats, refreshing beverages, and gourmet food-truck delights. Aurora Bazaar is a buzzing marketplace perfect for last-minute festive shopping and self-care treats, while Space Beats will be the stage for a stellar line-up of live entertainment and stage performances by local bands such as Jive Talkin’, Shaggies and The ETC, on the weekends.
Visitors can even bring home fond memories of their interstellar adventures at the instant photo booth and snap tons of Insta-worthy shots at the unique installations around the festival grounds.
For more information, visit the Singapore EXPO website!
Other festive celebrations in Singapore
