This Christmas Eve will see Singapore's first-ever Christmas Eve street party on Orchard Road. Stretching from Paterson Road to Orchard Road, the streets will come alive with Christmas carols, Santa meet-and-greets, live DJ and band performances, food trucks, three Christmas villages, and a countdown to Christmas Day. That's not to mention an enchanting Christmas light-up in the theme of 'A Child's Dreamscape' at the stroke of midnight.
If you're heading out to soak in the Christmas festivities on December 24, don't let road closures and thronging crowds put a dampener on your day. The Singapore Police Force has announced that parts of Orchard Road will be closed vehicles, as well as various crowd control measures on the shopping belt.
Which roads around Orchard Road will be closed?
From December 24, 6pm to December 25, 2am, avoid driving to these affected roads:
- Orchard Road, between Scotts Road and Bideford Road
- Slip road leading from Scotts Road into Orchard Road
- The carriageway of Mount Elizabeth in the direction of Orchard Road, between Nutmeg Road and Orchard Road
Only authorised vehicles, police and emergency vehicles will be allowed to access these roads. Look out for auxiliary police officers stationed at affected road junctions for directions and assistance. Traffic advisory signs and electronic variable message signs will also be put up near the closed roads. Do tune in to the radio for ongoing traffic updates.
Will buses be affected?
Due to road closures, buses 7, 14, 16, 65, 111, 123, 124, 174, 175 and 502 will skip three bus stops from Paterson Road to Orchard Road. This will happen from 6pm to the end of bus operations on December 24. Check SBS Transit for more information.
Where else in Orchard Road is affected?
Orchard MRT station is expected to be crowded with commuters heading for The Great Christmas Eve Street Party too, so don't be surprised if some entrances and exits are closed off to regulate the crowd flow. SPF advises commuters to use Somerset MRT station instead to minimise waiting times.
How can I avoid the crowds?
Want to avoid the worst of the crowds? Check the Crowd@OrchardRoad map at https://go.gov.sg/crowd-at-orchard-road to view real-time crowd levels and area closures before you head out to the Christmas Eve street party. This map will be available online from December 24, 6pm onwards.
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