The Chinese New Year 2025 season is upon us, and with it come festivities, family visits (“Why no boyfriend/girlfriend yet?”), and lots of red. From explosive lion dance performances to gorgeous displays, there’s no shortage of ways to ring in the Year of the Snake, so look no further for the best and most exciting things to do for your 2025 Chinese New Year celebrations. Gong xi fa cai! 🧧

Every year, Chinatown outdoes itself with its gorgeous themed light-ups, and its 2025 Chinese New Year display is no exception. For the Year of the Snake, Chinatown’s streets are decked out in lanterns lighting up the path to the event’s centrepiece: a huge snake nestled up against an even bigger, glowing tree. The snake is absolutely precious to look at, and the whole display feels like something straight out of a Kung Fu Panda spinoff.

Once you’re done seeing the light displays up close, be sure to take your time wandering around Chinatown, as the streets will be in full celebration mode for the 2025 Chinese New Year period. Don’t miss this chance to stock up on classic festive goodies like pineapple tarts, bak kwa, and love letters.

📍 Address: Chinatown Complex
⏰ Opening hours:  Until 27 February, 7pm – 12am daily
🌐 Website: chinatownfestivals.sg

You can always count on Gardens by the Bay to go big. This year, they’ll be holding the fifth edition of River Hongbao, their annual Chinese New Year festival that spans multiple areas. Entry will be completely free, and the festival covers the entirety of Gardens by the Bay’s open-air areas — so get ready for tons of light displays, food stalls, and more.

Featuring breathtaking performances, carnival rides, and interactive activities, there’ll be no dearth of things to do and sights to see in Singapore’s biggest and boldest 2025 Chinese New Year festival. To top it off, there’ll be a 60-strand firecrackers show during River Hongbao’s first 3 nights.

📍 Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore 018953
⏰ Opening hours: 27 January, 6:30pm – 10:30pm | 28 January, 6:30pm – 12:15am | 29 January to 5 February, 2.30pm – 10.30pm
🌐 Website: riverhongbao.sg 

Even if you’re not celebrating Chinese New Year in 2025, there are still many opportunities to join in the festive spirit and have a plain ol’ good time. The Chingay Parade originally began as a Chinese New Year street celebration in 1973 but has since evolved into an explosive extravaganza celebrating the entirety of Singapore’s unique racial geography.

This year, the parade’s theme is “Joy”, which depicts how food brings joy into our lives. So look out for floats and performances themed after your favourite local dishes, and be prepared to leave this iconic festival with a smile.

📍 Address: 1 Republic Boulevard, Singapore 038975
⏰ Opening hours:  7 and 8 February, 8pm
🌐 Website: sistic.com.sg/events/chingay0225 

No matter what time of the year it is, there’s always something going on at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. But for Chinese New Year 2025, they’re going all out with various performances, special exhibits, and programmes to usher in the Year of the Snake.

Curious about your fortune for the upcoming year? Check out the Zodiac Forecast Exhibition to see what the year ahead has for you. If you have kids or enjoy games yourself, play a larger-than-life version of Snakes and Ladders. Those who enjoy the performing arts should not miss the traditional mask-changing shows, performances of classic Chinese tunes by YES 933FM artists, and orchestrated medleys by Eason Music.

📍 Address: 1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906
⏰ Opening hours:  10am – 8pm, now to 12 February
🌐 Website: singaporeccc.org.sg 

My grandma can’t get enough of Old Chang Kee’s snacks and pastries, and I always have to buy them for her on my way back from work. She and her fellow legions of Old Chang Kee fans out there will be pleased to hear about the brand’s CNY Bazaar. It’s a festival hosted at the Old Chang Kee’s headquarters, where frozen versions of everyone’s famous treats will be sold at slashed prices.

However, it isn’t an event that you’ll just want to hit and run. The bazaar will also have musical performances, a feng shui reading booth, and plenty of regular food stalls to tide you over until you reach home with your Old Chang Kee haul.

📍 Address: Old Chang Kee Headquarters, 2 Woodlands Terrace, Singapore 738427
⏰ Opening hours: Now to 26 January, 8am – 4pm
🌐 Website: instagram.com/oldchangkeesingapore/p/DEXfxZgyJOW/

For 5 days a year, the Istana opens its doors to the public, allowing us to peek into our president’s stomping grounds. While this year’s dates are still unannounced, one of them typically falls on Chinese New Year.

Although the agenda is still unknown to the public, the Istana’s Chinese New Year open house events typically involve guided tours through the unique flora and fauna of the estate’s century-old gardens, workshops like Chinese calligraphy, and various exciting performances. 

If you’d rather wander the premises, you’ll be treated to curated displays featuring the exquisitely crafted gifts our leaders have received over the years, as well as function rooms where they’ve shaped our country’s path.

📍 Address: Orchard Road, Singapore 238823
⏰ Opening hours:  TBA
🌐 Website: istana.gov.sg 

You can’t think of Chinese New Year without thinking of some delicious abalone. If you’d like to snap up some of these molluscs at bargain rates, Hosen Group has a CNY Warehouse sale until 22 January. But it doesn’t stop at abalone — the warehouse sale is chock-full of canned fruits, gift hampers, and everything you’ll need to hold the tastiest family dinner this season. Yam seng! 🥢

📍 Address: 267 Pandan Loop, Singapore 128429
⏰ Opening hours:  Now to 22 January, 9am – 6pm
🌐 Website: hosengroup.com/chinese-new-year-warehouse-sale  

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra has organised a masterful 2-hour performance to celebrate the Year of the Snake and commence the 2025 Chinese New Year festivities. It features The Purple Symphony and several musicians from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

The performance includes the thrilling conclusion of the CAPITAL 956 radio play Reunion and a variety of original and adapted orchestral pieces that will transport your mind through the rolling hills of spring. 🏞️

📍 Address: 7 Shenton Way, Singapore 068810
⏰ Opening hours:  17 and 18 January, 7.30pm
🌐 Website: sco.com.sg/en/events/past-concerts/event/551.html 

The first of the Esplanade’s 3 yearly cultural festivals, Huayi — Chinese Festival of Arts, is where some of the best and brightest Chinese artists convene to show off their talents. Witness local talents share the stage with artists from Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Taiwan to serve exhilarating music performances, stage plays, and stand-up comedies.

Eager artists-in-the-making can join in on the fun, too, as there’ll be several workshops where you can learn the ins and outs of Chinese art forms like hand puppetry, Hulusi, and acting.

📍 Address: 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
⏰ Opening hours:  7 to 16 February
🌐 Website: esplanade.com/whats-on/festivals-and-series/festivals/2025/huayi-chinese-festival-of-arts

(Featured photo: Funco)