Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019, in its 18th year, is going to commemorate Singapore’s Bicentennial celebrations with waves of celebration and nostalgia sweeping through Chinatown this September 2019, being the only one and only Singapore Bicentennial edition of the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival. Many exciting programmes have been lined up for this upcoming Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019.
The theme for Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival is “Bicentennial Mid-Autumn Festival 2019” (欢庆开埠两百年 花好月圆庆中秋). This year’s line-up has new bicentennial elements, the lanterns over two kilometres lining up New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street, giving visitors a visual tour from 200 years back – from the founding of modern Singapore in 1819, to the future of Singapore.
What are the key events and highlights of Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019? Let me bring you through a quick journey below:
Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony (开幕典礼与亮灯仪式)
Date: 31st August 2019
Time: 6:30pm to 10:00pm
Location: New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street
The curtain raiser to Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019, the Opening Ceremony will take audience on a trip down memory lane from 1819 to 2019 and beyond. This will be a storytelling performance, a total of 248 performers putting up a multicultural theatre, song and dance performances, LED dragon dance and xinyao music medleys.
The Opening Ceremony will end with a big bang with the official light up grand finale!
Street Light Up (牛车水庆中秋亮灯)
Date: 31st August to 28th September 2019
Time: 7:00pm to 12:00am (Sunday to Thursday) ; 7:00pm to 2:00am (Friday and Saturday)
Location: Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road
A convergence of Singapore Bicentennial celebrations and Mid-Autumn festivities is being displayed on the streets of Chinatown in the from of handcrafted lanterns, showcasing the story and history of Singapore’s progress from the founding years, to present and into the future. A total of 168 handcrafted lanterns are displayed along New Bridge Road, Eu Tong Sen Street and South Bridge Road.
The main centrepiece lantern display is at the junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Street, measuring 11m in height x 7m x 7m, celestial Chang’e is holding the Jade Rabbit, standing alongside seven time “stamps”, reflecting scenes of Singapore and future worlds with a full moon in the background. This centrepiece is a conglomeration of Singapore’s culture and heritage, showcasing the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 theme “Bicentennial Mid-Autumn Festival 2019”, welcoming all visitors to join in Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 celebrations at Chinatown.
Looking Back 1819 – 1965
Spot Sir Stamford Raffles, marking his arrival and Singapore’s beginnings as a free port, check out the attap hut, wooden sampan and fishermen.
Standing On One’s Feet 1965 – 2000 and 2000 – 2019
Two eras that reflects toil in Singapore’s nation building and flourishing of a global cosmopolitan city. Reminisce the nostalgic memories of old-school red and white buses, travel through time to the modern era, spot present day cultural and tourist icons such as Gardens by the Bay and Changi Airport.
Prospects 2019 – future
What does the future hold for Singapore? Check out the abstract buildings and futuristic designs.
Festive Bazaar and Trade Fair (中秋街头市集)
Date: 30th August to 13th September 2019
Time: 6:30pm to 1030:pm
Location: Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Smith Street
Come on down for some Mid-Autumn festive shopping and fun at Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019.
Nightly Stage Shows (中秋综艺晚会)
Date: 31st August to 13th September 2019
Time: 8:00 pm to 10:30pm
Location: Kreta Ayer Square
Gather at Kreta Ayer Square for a nightly dose of fun and entertainment!
Heritage + Food Trail (美食与文化之旅)
Date: 1st, 7th and 8th September 2019
Time: 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Information booth in front of the stage at Kreta Ayer Square
Food lovers alert! Sign up for a heritage + food trail to savour local cuisine located in Chinatown, home to some of the most famous and historical hawker centres in town. There are 22 heritage stalls inside this food trail, all of them have decades of history, heritage and culture within them.
Notes:
Tickets are priced at $10 each (inclusive of food tasting), registration required, slots are allocated on a first-come-first serve basis.
Mass Lantern Walk (中秋大型游灯会)
Date: 8th September 2019
Time: 7:00 pm to 10:00pm
Location:
Start point – Kreta Ayer Square
End point – Along New Bridge Road (main stage in front of Lucky Chinatown)
A highly anticipated and time-honoured practice of Mid-Autumn Festival, carrying a lantern with the extended family under the moonlit sky. This would be a great and fun family bonding time!
Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 is coming soon, it’s also a time for families reunion and fun. Come on down to Chinatown during Mid-Autumn Festival and celebrate with your family, relatives, loved ones, friends and colleagues. Do Pay It Forward and Pass It On, the events, colourful lanterns and programmes taking place during Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019!
For more information, visit them at:
Website: www.chinatownfestivals.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Chinatown.Festivals
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chinatown_festivals
Official hashtag for Chinatown Festivals: #chinatownfestivalSG
Official hashtag for Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019: #chinatownbicentennialMAF