Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay

Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay Returns Bigger, Brighter, Cooler

28 November 2015 to 3 January 2016

Singapore’s biggest yuletide fair, Christmas Wonderland, returns to Gardens by the Bay from 28 November 2015 to 3 January 2016. The fair will showcase more Italian Luminarie light sculptures, an expanded event ground, a European-style Festive Market, traditional rides and games, and a comprehensive repertoire of new attractions and entertainment for visitors of all ages.

Riding high on a successful inaugural year in 2014, this year’s Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay will be nearly doubled in size at 35,000 square metres. Visitors can embark on an experiential journey through four main areas – the spellbinding Luminaries which begin at the Golden Garden and extend throughout the festival site; the Festive Market at the Supertree Grove; The Fairground near The Meadow; and the Christmas Toyland floral display in the Flower Dome.

Kaleidoscopic Festive Treats

Lending a festive air to the Gardens, visitors will be greeted by a resplendent display of Luminarie light sculptures, a returning crowd favourite, from the moment they step into the grounds.Handmade by Italian craftsmen using white-wood from the south of Italy, these picturesque masterpieces feature an all-new architectural design reminiscent of the medieval period. 56 enchanting sculptures – the tallest towering over 20 metres – will nestle amidst the greenery within the Supertree Grove, Dragonfly Bridge and Flower Dome.

A brand-new Christmas Toyland floral display will be showcased at the Flower Dome. This year, toys reign supreme amidst yuletide floral favourites like the poinsettia, Christmas rose, winter heather and holly. 

Believe in the Christmas Magic of Play

The Fairground offers a delightful array of traditional carnival rides for the first time in Singapore. They include the Helter Skelter – the tallest slide in Singapore, a vintage style carousel and a trackless train. Apart from rides, visitors can also pit their skills at game stalls such as Extreme Basketball, Can Smash and Roll-a-ball. Prizes include memorabilia from Disney and Warner Bros.

An entirely different experience awaits at the Ice Palace over at the Supertree Grove, which offers a cool and refreshing wintry Christmas in the tropics. Visitors can make snow angels, build their very own Olaf at the Snow Playground or choose to unleash their inner Michelle Kwan and glide on ice at the Ice Skating Rink.

Visitors will also be able to hop onto the Swinging Chairs and enjoy the rush of air on their faces while they take in the panoramic sights of the festival grounds.

In addition, visitors can experience ‘snow’ in Singapore during Blizzard Time at the Spalliera, the largest Luminarie light sculpture, or have Fun With Bubbles at The Fairground.

Feast, Shop and Have a Merry Christmas

Complete the festive experience with a feast for the senses and partake in a spot of Christmas shopping along the way too. The fair will see the charming European-style Festive Market make its comeback at the Supertree Grove with more to indulge in. 

Featuring traditional wooden huts specially brought in from the United Kingdom, visitors can enjoy a greater selection of international cuisine and wines from renowned food and beverage operators such as Brewerkz, Sebastian, Café Iguana, Shabestan, The Diner by the Travelling C.O.W. and Paul’s. Apart from festive nibbles, the market will also offer a wide variety of Christmas gifts, including new craft items. 

For more information, please visit:

Official website: www.christmaswonderland.sg

Facebook: Christmas Wonderland Singapore

Instagram: @ChristmasWonderlandSG

Official hashtag: #ChristmasWonderlandSG

Credits: Christmas Wonderland @ Gardens by the Bay

Note: For information only

Singapore Dance Theatre presents Swan Lake 2015

Singapore Dance Theatre presents Swan Lake 2015 

3 – 6 December 2015
Esplanade Theatre 

For 6 years and above

With an ever-compelling story and technically demanding choreography, this is the ballet not to be missed! An ideal performance for seasoned audiences and novice attendees, Swan Lake offers a clear plot to follow and a spectacle unlike any other. With exquisite costumes and enchanting moments, this classic piece remains to be the favourite ballet of many children and adults.

A timeless masterpiece by the legendary choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, Swan Lake is well established in SDT’s repertoire. The company premiere was in December 2007, and has since been restaged in 2009 and 2012. 

Synopsis

The story begins with Prince Siegfried, who goes hunting. While hunting, Prince Siegfried sees an amazing swan. As he takes aim to shoot, the swan turns into a beautiful woman. The woman, Odette, tells the prince that she is a princess who has come under the spell of an evil sorcerer called Rothbart. During the day, she must be a swan. At night, she is allowed to be a human again. The spell can only be broken if a nobel prince swears eternal fidelity to her. She tells Prince Siegfried that if he refuses her, she must remain a swan forever. Prince Siegfried falls madly in love with Odette. The Royal Family hosts a party at the palace to celebrate the Prince’s 21st birthday. Prince Siegfried, under a spell casted by Rothbart, accidentally proposes to Odile, Rothbart’s daughter, believing that she is really Odette. Princess Odette, who appears at the party, witnesses Siegfried declaring his love for Odile and feels doomed. The prince returns to Odette at the lakeside and she forgives him. The prince defeats Rothbart in a battle which finally releases Odette and all the swan maidens from the spell to become women once again.

Tickets from: www.sistic.com.sg

More information from:
W: www.singaporedancetheatre.com 

Credits: Singapore Dance Theatre
Note: For information only

Great Eastern Women’s Run 2015​ (大东方女子竞跑​)​​

Great Eastern Women’s Run 2015

​ (

大东方女子竞跑

​)​

​

1 November 2015, Sunday

Time: 7.00am (Race Village to open)
           5.30am (21.1km Flag Off)
           7.00am (10km Flag Off)
           7.40am (5km Flag Off)
          *subject to change

Venue: The Float@Marina Bay

This year marks Great Eastern’s 10th year of unifying women in health and life. The run caters to women from all walks of lives. Featuring the 5km, 10km as well as 21.1km race distances, Great Eastern aims to make the run accessible to female runners of all levels. This year, a 100m Princess Dash has been introduced for the young ones. In addition, participants can don a tutu for a good cause.

All 17,000 race slots have been ful

ly subscribed and a great turnout is to be expected on race day. 

Members

 of the public are 

​​still 

welcome

​d ​

to join

at the race village, where​

 various fun and exciting activities 

​catered for both adults and kids of all ages. 

​It will be a good opportunity for all to bond and have a healthy day out with your family!

More information from:

W: www.greateasternwomensrun.com 

F: www.facebook.com/GreatEasternWomensRunSingapore

Note: For information only!

Asian Festival of Children's Content's 2015 Singapore

Asian Festival of Children's Content's 

Sixth Iteration Sees Many Firsts

30 May to 6 June 2015, 9am to 6pm

Central Library (NLB) Plaza, Victoria Street

The Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) returns for the sixth iteration this year with an expanded programme engaging creators, producers, distributors, and end-users of children's content under one roof. 

This year's AFCC will host a total of 111 speakers, including 57 local speakers and 54 international speakers from 14 different countries around the world including the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Hong Kong, France, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Syria, Korea and Japan. 

AFCC will also be offering several public and ticketed programmes for the first time. One of such programmes is Fun with Languages, which has been especially curated to enhance children's learning of their mother tongues. This free-for-public, family-oriented programme features interactive activities in Singapore's four official languages, English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, in the form of performances, skits, story-telling and cross talks.

China is AFCC's country of focus this year, with 10 Chinese speakers including Wang Quangen, Professor of Chinese Language and Literature School at the Beijing Normal University, author Wang Yimei, and Zhao Wuping, Vice President of the Shanghai Translation Publishing House who have been invited to present topics as varied as "Integration and Development in Children's Literature in Asia", "Cultural Differences Between Chinese and Western Children's Stories" and "Publication and Translation of Children's Literature in China".

Dr Myra Garces-Bacsal and Dr George Jacobs will join a stable of 20 local and international speakers at the Parents Forum which is expected to hit record attendance this year. 

AFCC Preschool & Primary Teachers' Congress, 30-31 May: Conferences and workshops for exploration of books and media for early literacy targeted at parents, librarians, primary, preschool and kindergarten teachers and principals as well as language specialists.

AFCC Parents Forum, 31 May: Conferences and workshops for exploration of books and media for early literacy targeted at parents, librarians and primary, preschool and kindergarten teachers and principals.

AFCC Writers & Illustrators Conference, 3-5 June: Conferences and workshops for professionals working with children's content such as writers, translators, illustrators, literary agents, distributors and retailers.

AFCC Media Summit, 5-June: Conferences and workshops for professionals working on developing children's content for different media platforms such as commissioning editors, screenwriters, authors, publishers, producers, television and movie executives, animators, and app and game developers.

More information from:

Website: www.afcc.com.sg

Credits: AFCC and NBDCS

Note: For information only

Tulipmania at Gardens by the Bay Singapore

Tulipmania returns for third year

with largest variety of tulips at 

Gardens by the Bay

More than 40 varieties to be featured over the next few weeks amidst a fairy tale setting!

Singapore’s annual tulip festival, Tulipmania, blooms amidst a colourful setting of fairy tales at Gardens by the Bay. Back for the third time, this year’s edition sees the largest variety of tulips being brought in from the Netherlands for the public in Singapore to enjoy.

Some 75,000 tulips in 43 varieties will be featured in the Flower Dome over the next few weeks of the festival, which runs till 10 May. Visitors young and old can delight in a myriad of blooms including the “Red Riding Hood”, the “Purple Prince” and the “Orange Princess”, against a backdrop of familiar fairy tale scenes such as Cinderella‘s carriage and the gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel. This year, Gardens by the Bay has also brought in a purple tulip cultivar named “Tulipa cv. Singapore”.

More information from:

W: www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/tulipmania

Note: For information only

Credits: Gardens by the bay