The best Christmas 2024 events in Singapore

The 11th edition of Gardens by the Bay’s annual Christmas Wonderland – Singapore’s biggest yuletide affair – is back once again this November 29, 2024 to January 1, 2025. This year's edition is set to be bigger and better than ever with four times as many light displays as before and an all-new 20-metre-tall Spalliera installation boasting an intricate design inspired by Italian Gothic architecture. Don't miss the romantic Walk of Lights tunnel and Odette’s Dance, a special installation featuring ballerinas dancing daintily among 4000 bulbs.

Get ready for a Wicked good holiday at Universal Studios Singapore as the New York zone transforms into the dazzling Emerald City, celebrating the newly released film, Wicked. Meet Elphaba and Glinda, and get a magical makeover at The Emerald Beautification Salon before striking a pose at the spellbinding sets inspired by the film. Over at the Far Far Away Castle, enjoy the debut of a magical projection mapping show based on the different worlds from popular DreamWorks Animation films, then race to the Hollywood zone for a steampunk-themed Christmas bash with roving elves, snowfall, and an all-new show starring the Sesame Street crew. The festivities continue with Mel’s Merry Mixtape, character meet-and-greets, and exclusive Christmas-themed treats throughout the park.

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Nowhere else in Singapore celebrates the festive season like Gardens by the Bay. With a new Christmas Train Show set to debut on December 2, Gardens by the Bay continues to prove why it's the place to be this holiday season. Watch as charming model trains and railways, spread across Flower Dome, chug past highly-detailed, miniature versions of iconic American landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Terminal, the Empire State Building, and more. 

Want the European Christmas experience without the price tag? Head to this year’s World Christmas Market taking place from December 5 to 25, 2024 for a night of festive fun by the waterfront. In addition to a whimsical display of giant candy canes and sparkling lights, you'll find a singing Christmas tree, sparkling in the night and featuring a live choir performing Christmas carols and festive tunes.

Look forward to festive shopping at the pet-friendly or craft market and snacking on yummy international fare like bratwursts and mulled wine. Little ones can play at a dedicated fun zone with unique activities throughout the night. Expect plenty of Christmas carolling, lively stage performances, fun dance numbers and theatrical acts from local performers, including the feel-good musical, ‘The Christmas Gift’.

Commemorate the day by snapping pictures in the snow globe picture booths and other lively photo spots. There’s still plenty to see so find out more here.

Set against the popular Rain Vortex, Ralph Lauren’s dazzling 16-metre-tall Holiday Tree at Jewel Changi Airport’s famed Forest Valley is sight to behold this Christmas. Aside from admiring the views, take part in the festivities at the Holiday Postcard Printing Kiosk or personalise your Polo apparel and accessories, like tees and water bottles, at the Polo Custom Pop-up.

Orchard Road's iconic annual year-end street light-up – Christmas on A Great Street – returns with a dazzling display featuring a 14-meter-tall tree with snowfall shows, outdoor immersive augmented reality (AR) projections. Watch the lights come alive in the evenings and gear up for not one, but two Christmas Villages at Shaw House and Ngee Ann City as part of this year’s festivities. Both villages offer carnival rides, games, and live performances, while the one at Ngee Ann City will have busking and live bands performing during weekends.

Just in time for the festive season comes a fresh revamp of Snow City, bringing our white Christmas dreams to life with its four themed adventure zones in sub-zero temperatues. Zoom along on an all-new three-storey Glacier Luge, explore an ethereal ice fairy garden with real ice sculptures, navigate your way through an illuminated ice maze, and marvel at a majestic ice castle. Craving more action? You'll be glad to know that Snow City's well-loved bumper car arena on ice remains as part of the facility.

This year's Changi Festive Village takes on a cuter tune. Instead of going with the typical sort of Christmas decor featuring Frosty, Santa, and the usual suspects, our airport is taking this chance to celebrate Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary across all its four terminals. Get in on the fun with larger-than-life festive Sanrio topiaries, a Hello Kitty carnival with rides and games, character meet-and-greets, and not one but three pop-up merchandise stores with Changi Airport exclusives.

Sleigh your holiday plans at Lavo’s high-spirited brunch bash on December 8. Decked out in its festive finest, the Italian restaurant and bar is serving up more than just city views from its perch 57 floors up at Marina Bay Sands. We’re talking free-flow bubbly, signature cocktails, and a buffet spread complete with seafood on ice, pasta dishes, oven-baked pizzas, and decadent desserts worthy of the nice list. And it wouldn’t be a Lavo party without live entertainment – DJ spinning energetic beats, while stilt walkers and performers keep the festive vibes sky-high. Grab your crew, don your holiday best, and make this brunch the crowning glory of your Christmas calendar.

As part of its A Big, Big World event, Sentosa is also dialling things up this Christmas season with a festive carnival featuring larger-than-life installations in four themed zones, each inspired by a different country. These include an 8.5-metre hot air balloon in the France zone and a towering 7.8-metre cuckoo clock in the Germany zone, both acting as the perfect backdrop for romantic yuletide snapshots. There's also a 10-metre-tall LED tree with 'snowfall' and daily light and sound shows, classic carnival games, free cookies and candy floss on selected dates, and live carolling to fully get you in the spirit of things. Find out more here.

The famous Snoopy Garden from Jeju comes to Singapore this Christmas season – well, sort of. To celebrate the adorable beagle’s 50th anniversary, Mandai Wildlife Reserve is having a ‘Snoopy Beagle Scouts at Festive Wild-erland’ event, featuring larger-than-life sculptures of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and other Peanuts characters that look very much like the ones you’d find in Korea. These are spread out across the Singapore Zoo and Bird Paradise. The holiday magic continues with ‘A Wild-erful Christmas Market’, offering seasonal treats, festive decorations, and Peanuts photo opportunities at the free-access public space at Mandai Wildlife West.

Safe to say that without Carl Linnaeus, we wouldn't have the term 'homo sapiens'. Now, you can get a glimpse into this scientist's life and work right here in Singapore. The new showcase at Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome reproduces Linnaeus' countryside estate of Hammarby down to his botanical specimens, journals, maps, scientific illustrations, and more. Even the plants from his garden in Hammarby are replicated and, as one would expect of a renowned botanist, includes a mix of dazzling exotic flora you must appreciate in person.

So this isn't a Christmas-centric event per se, but there's nothing more magical than being whisked away to the Wizarding World during the yuletide season. After all, all Potterheads know that a Christmas at Hogwarts full of warmth and friendship is a true Christmas indeed. At HarryPotter: Visions of Magic, you'll be stepping into familiar scenes from the Potterverse including the Room of Requirement, Ministry of Magic and more, as special multimedia elements are weaved with captivating soundscapes and beautiful illuminations to bring enchantment to us muggles.

This festive season, Sentosa's luxurious waterfront precinct is about to shine even brighter. From now to December 29, Quayside Isle @ Sentosa Cove dazzles with twinkling Christmas lights and festive décor, creating a stunning backdrop against the marina. Relish a unique waterfront dining experience with diverse international cuisines, from Greenwood Fish Market fresh seafood to Fireside's wood-fire grill dishes and signature cocktails – there's something for every palate. Enjoy a sleigh-load of rewards including $10 or $30 CDL e-vouchers, with minimum spends of $150 or $300 from Friday to Sunday. On Friday evenings, the Fountain Plaza comes alive with live music featuring Christmas hits worth jingle bell rocking to, and weekends bring outdoor movie screenings under the stars. An inflatable of Santa Claus is also making a special appearance during the Christmas week for all those picture-perfect moments.