Bright lights and spectacles are put up everywhere in the Lion City to ring in the Year of the Dragon. If you’re spending Chinese New Year (or what is also referred to as Springtime Festival) in Singapore, here are five events to go and soak up the festive spirit:
Chinese New Year Celebrations 2012 Street Light-Up 
Date: Now till February 21
Venue: Chinatown Singapore
Witness firecracker displays, lion dance performances and streets embellished with dragon-themed light-ups. Highlights include a 108-metre long dragon and colourful fairy lights. Approximately 500 stalls line up the streets of Chinatown, so you can feast on New Year delicacies and shop for traditional Chinese cookies, waxed duck and preserved fruit.
Sentosa Flowers 2012
Date: January 22-29
Venue: Sentosa
The island of Sentosa transforms itself into a floral spectacle to usher in the Lunar New Year. Some of the highlights of the event include a giant floral dragon – be sure to bring your camera along to capture the flowers in their full glory. Admission is free.
Huayi Festival 2012
Date: January 27-February 5
Venue: Esplanade
This Chinese festival of the arts showcases both the traditional and modern works of theatre, visual arts, dance, music and drama. It is one of the three annual cultural festivals celebrating Singapore’s multi-cultural heritage. Some of the highlights include a Chinese ink art display called mò, and a traditional Chinese music performance on January 28 by the Forbidden City Chamber Orchestra from China.
River Hongbao 2012
Date: 21-29 January
Venue: The Float at Marina Bay
With panoramic views of the Marina Bay and Singapore skyline, you can witness one of Singapore's most anticipated cultural carnivals. The event features a display of over 70 giant lanterns handcrafted by master craftsmen from Chengdu, China, cultural performances and chefs whipping up authentic delicacies on the floating platform. A fireworks display, believed to be a way to drive bad luck away, begins at 12:30am against the picturesque skyline. Admission is free, but make sure you’re there to “chope” (book) good seats early (For more on Singaporean slang, click here).
Singapore Flyer Auspicious Trail
Date: Until February 6
Venue: Singapore Flyer
Chinese New Year is all about luck and prosperity, and you are invited to go on the Singapore Flyer Auspicious Trail that starts with a ride on the world's tallest Ferris wheel, where it is believed you can receive “heaven luck” at the highest point. After the flight, you can take a stroll along the flyer’s built-in rainforest. At the last part of the trail, you can sound the “lucky gong” by the Prosperty Pond in the rainforest, as the Chinese believe gongs are a symbol of status, fortune and wealth. Price for joining the trail is S$29.50 (US$23) per person.
Tiffany Sandrasageran
