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

The post Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

An annual cultural event organised by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, I had attended Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival previously, it was a fun event, with family and children attending, watching the evening concert, visiting the museum, participating in the various activities that were being organised, there is something for everyone, from the young to adults!

One of the key highlights would be the Memorial Hall’s lantern installation, for this year, the outdoor installation “Moonflowers of Mid-Autumn” is going to dazzle you with 250 stalks of Moonflowers, they are the glow in the art flower sculptures crafted from intricate wire mesh and solar powered LED bulbs. This is a collaboration between Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and local artist Lee Yun Qin, with 25 volunteers from Beyond Social Services. It’s amazing, beautiful when lighted up in the night and they make great photography opportunities too!  The “Moonflowers of Mid-Autumn” will be on display until 22nd September 2019!

Let me share with you the other key programmes highlights (that caught my attention!) for Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2019!

Weekend programmes – 7th and 8th September 2019 

During the Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 weekend on 7th and 8th September, there are many activities and programmes for the young and adults, featuring 30 unique programmes over the two days period.

Festival Highlight – Sky Lantern Light Up the Sky 

Date: 7th September 2019

Time: 7:30pm

Be mesmerised by three larger than life sky lantern helium balloons for the very first time, as a symbolic gesture of hope and blessings!

Note: Due to regulations set by the Civil Authority of Singapore, the lantern balloon will not be fully released into the sky. They will be tethered and only released to a certain height.

Festival Highlight – “A Mid-Autumn Night’s Dream” Laser Show

Date: 7th and 8th September

Time: 7:15pm, 8:15pm

Their first ever laser light show with a moving orchestral soundtrack telling the story of the origins of Mid-Autumn Festival! Don’t miss it!

Sky Lantern Making Workshop

Date: 7th September

Time: 11:00am to 12:00pm

Admission: Available on a first come first-served basis

Learn how to create your own simple Sky Lantern in this interactive workshop.

“Moonflowers of Mid-Autumn” Workshop

Date: 7th September

Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Admission: Available on a first come first-served basis

Learn how to create your own “Moonflower” sculpture in this hands-on session led by local artist and sculptor Lee Yun Qin, celebrating Mid-Autumn tradition under the full moon with the Moonflowers lanterns!

Mooncake & Tea Tasting (Supported by Kwong Cheong Thye and Camellia Tea Bar)

Date: 7th and 8th September

Time: 11:00am to 7:00pm

Admission: No registration required

Enjoy delicious mooncakes with freshly brewed aromatic Chinese tea and learn more about Mid-Autumn Festival!

Balestier Heritage Trail

Date: 7th and 8th September

Time: 10:30am to 12:00pm

Admission: $5 per person (Registration required)

Go on the Balestier Heritage Trail to learn about the rich history and origins of Balestier from as early as 1835.

Permanent Gallery Guided Tour

Date: 7th and 8th September

Time: 2:30pm (Chinese); 3:00pm (English)

Go on a guided tour of Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall and listen to the stories behind this century-old villa with history and heritage dating back to Dr Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary activities in Southeast Asia.

Evening Concert

Date: 7th and 8th September

Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm

A great time to relax and watch the evening concert under the stars! Great for families and children to enjoy and have fun! Check out some of the photos that I took at Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2018 and Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2017!

For more information, visit Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial website and Facebook Page! It’s going to be a fun and enjoyable Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall! Do pay it forward, pass it on and share Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2019 with your family, relatives, loved ones, friends and colleagues!

* Information courtesy of National Heritage Board and Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall *

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