A yearly extravaganza, Chinatown will once again don on specially designed lanterns, accompanied by a myriad of decorative installations, to present the lights and sounds of the Mid-Autumn Festival that will take place from Sunday, 13 September to Monday, 12 October 2015.
A total of 2,300 lanterns will line the busy streets of the precinct, stretching from Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road down to South Bridge Road. Bearing a strong SG50 theme this year, the Festival, which is named A Golden Jubilee Mid-Autumn will celebrate Singapore’s Golden Jubilee with the nation.
For the first time, Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee (KA-KS CCC), the organizing committee for the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival, will work closely with the students and faculty of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) for a creative interpretation of the street lanterns and decorations.
Dr Lily Neo, Grassroots Adviser said: “2015 is a very significant year for Singapore as the nation celebrates its Golden Jubilee. The Chinatown precinct has a rich heritage, and we hope that by injecting strong elements of local culture and icons of yesteryear, this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival can be more meaningful for Singaporeans and tourists. We are also delighted to be able to create opportunities for the youths in Singapore to be more involved in our traditional festivals and gain a deeper understanding of our cultural heritage.”
Witness the Festival come to life at the Official Opening and Light Up Ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, 13 September 2015 along New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be gracing the event as the Guest-of-Honour, kick starting the celebrations at the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival. Local and overseas talents will showcase thematic performances with a uniquely Singaporean storyline that makes a reference to the history and traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Mr Kenneth Lim, Director, Cultural Precincts Development, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “The Mid-Autumn Festival, set in the historic precinct of Chinatown, is another key event to allow Singaporeans and visitors to deepen their understanding of the festival’s significance and witness how it is celebrated. The exciting line-up of events this year will not only be a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but also one that will allow visitors to engage and interact with locals through the different activities on offer, and allow them to better appreciate Singapore’s unique multicultural heritage.”
Youth engagement through first-time partnership with NAFA students for lantern designs
KA-KS CCC stayed true to its aim to engage the younger generation and provide youths with opportunities to be actively involved in traditional festivals by partnering with NAFA this year.
Through a collaborative effort, 10 students from NAFA have been handpicked to participate in this year’s Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival, presenting innovative interpretations of elements that are truly Singaporean and re-proposing them onto the lanterns and street decorations this year. From landmarks like the iconic old Toa Payoh playground to campaign icons like Singa the Courtesy Lion and Water Wally that mark the key milestones in Singapore’s history, this year’s decorations will bring a sense of nostalgia to all Singaporeans.
Over the last four months, the students had the opportunity to work closely with KA-KS CCC, as well as a team of experienced craftsmen from Zi Gong Zhongyi Lantern Lighting Art in Sichuan to design, build and install the lanterns.
Ms Marienne Yang, Vice Dean of NAFA’s 3D Design Programme said: “The 10 participating youths are Year Two and Year Three students reading for their Diploma in Design. This includes participants from the Interior & Exhibition, Object & Jewellery as well as Landscape & Architecture Design programmes. They worked as a multi-disciplinary team to propose and refine concepts for KA-KS CCC for this large scale installation, and had hands-on learning experience with the craftsmen on aspects of the production and set-up process.”
Festival highlights
To engage the young and old in the celebratory ambience of the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2015, KA-KS CCC has organized an array of exciting events and activities from Monday, 13 September 2015, to Monday, 12 October 2015.
A first this year, KA-KS CCC and the Chinatown Business Association will host the Chinatown 1960s Fancy Dress Contest “Mid-Autumn Festival 2015 – Back to the 60s”, a fancy dress contest featuring fashion styles of the 1960s, on Saturday, 26 September 2015. Participants will showcase fashion statements of that era at the first ever pop-up runway along Pagoda Street. Visitors who come dressed in their 1960s attire will also stand a chance to bring home limited edition door gifts.
Shortlisted works from close to 180 children and students who pit their creative skills against each other at the annual Mid-Autumn Lantern Painting Competition will also adorn the streets of Chinatown. Winning lanterns from the competition, held on Saturday, 6 September 2015, will be displayed at Chinatown Food Street along Smith Street until Monday, 27 September 2015.
Experience the festival in its full glory and discover the charm of Chinatown via the complimentary Heritage Walking Trail, where our friendly tour guides will bring participants around the precinct, sharing anecdotes and historical facts about the heritage of Singapore’s Chinese enclave. With a wide variety of stalls at this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival Festive Street Bazaar, visitors will have endless options as they shop for traditional snacks and knickknacks such as mooncakes, preserved food, decorative items to potted plants and clothing.
Be entertained by lively and vibrant Chinese cultural performances, festive songs, and music and dance performances by local entertainers and troupes from China at the Nightly Stage Shows at Kreta Ayer Square during the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival period.
Join 3,000 participants for the annual Mass Lantern Walk on Sunday, 27 September 2015, and immerse in the Mid-Autumn festivities under the dazzling displays around Chinatown. The Mass Lantern Walk procession will take a leisurely stroll down Chinatown, while being entertained by local and overseas performing groups, as well as eye-catching mascots decked out in vibrant LED suits at 10 locations along the route.
For more information on the variety of activities lined up for this Mid-Autumn, please refer to Annex I and II. Or you may visit us at:
– Website:www.chinatownfestivals.sg
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chinatown.festivals
