What I’m Looking Forward to at the Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2025
What: Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2025
When: 8 to 9 February 2025, 11 AM to 5.30 PM
Where: SAFRA Punggol
Free admission (with some ticketed activities)
This Lunar New Year, I’m excited to celebrate the Wan Qing Festival of Spring 2025 at SAFRA Punggol! From 8 to 12 February 2025, the festival promises an incredible lineup of activities, workshops, performances, and exhibitions for all ages.
With something for everyone, it’s the perfect way to embrace the Year of the Snake and create meaningful family memories.
Workshops for the Whole Family
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The festival features hands-on workshops that combine festive fun with cultural traditions. Here are some highlights to look forward to:
Parent-Child Snakelet Pineapple Tart Making Workshop (8 Feb)
My little nephews and nieces (and I) can’t wait to learn how to make snake-shaped pineapple tarts! Guided by chefs from Genius R Us, we’ll mix, shape, and bake these adorable treats that symbolise prosperity.
It’s S$60 for SAFRA members and $66 for non-members, and tickets go on sale from January 10.
Storytelling and Tangyuan Workshop (9 Feb)
This workshop combines storytelling and hands-on fun. Kids will love hearing the tale of Yuan Xiao and creating rainbow tangyuan with natural ingredients.
I know the kids will be curious: why do we light lanterns and eat tangyuan during the Yuanxiao Festival? I can already imagine their excitement as their little hands mix vibrant colours and roll sweet tangyuan balls—festive fun and family bonding all rolled into one!
This magical blend of storytelling, tradition, and hands-on fun will make celebrating the Lantern Festival truly unforgettable. It’s S$55 for SAFRA members and S$60.50 for non-members—an enchanting experience for children aged 4 to 10.
Lion Dance and Drumming Workshops (8–9 Feb)
The kids are already excited to try out basic lion dance moves and festive drumming techniques!
I can’t wait to see the little ones dive into the festive spirit at this interactive lion dance workshop! They’ll warm up with basic dance moves taught by expert instructors and even get to try on adorable miniature lion dance costumes.
The best part? They’ll bring home a DIY lion head kit worth S$7 to assemble and practice their new moves—such a fun way to keep the tradition alive!
Both workshops are tailored for children aged 6–12 and cost S$20 for SAFRA members and S$22 for non-members.
Free Activities and Performances
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Live performances at the Atrium will include the rare Hakka Qilin Dance, dynamic lion and dragon dances, a traditional Chinese opera, and a beautiful Chinese string quartet performance by Stringanza.
There’s no shortage of free activities at the festival, making it an accessible way for families to enjoy the celebrations!
Drop-in craft stations: From Chinese zodiac ink rubbing art to designing opera masks, the craft stations let kids and adults unleash their creativity. I’m so excited to try my hand at creating Chinese ink rubbing art featuring my favourite zodiac animal!
It’s such a unique way to connect with tradition. This technique was once used to capture intricate stone carvings and engravings. It’s like bringing a little piece of history to life!
Let’s Celebrate with Uncle Ting: Lunar New Year activity kit (8–9 Feb): Kids can pick up a fun activity kit from Uncle Ting and discover the legends and customs of the Lunar New Year. Activities include red packet making, and kits are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Storytelling sessions (8–9 Feb): Local storytellers will bring Chinese myths to life in both English and Mandarin, perfect for curious little minds.
Lunar New Year mini-games: Can you recite Lunar New Year greetings faster than anyone else, or maybe you’ve secretly mastered the art of Chinese opera? Test your knowledge of Chinese traditions and greetings in fun and interactive games for all ages!
Live Performances at the Atrium:
- Hakka Qilin Dance (8 Feb): A rare and vibrant performance by the Yan Wong Cultural Troupe.
- Martial Arts Performance (8 Feb): Watch the strength and agility of wushu in a dynamic showcase by Martial House.
- Lion & Dragon Dance (9 Feb): An exciting display of rhythmic drumming and vibrant movements by the Singapore American School.
- Chinese String Quartet Performance by Stringanza (9 Feb): Enjoy the unique blend of traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu, gaohu, and zhonghu with a Western cello. This spring-inspired set is perfect for music lovers.
- Lunar New Year Family Fun Contest (8–9 Feb): Join this friendly competition with other families in Lunar New Year-themed games.
- Chinese Opera Performances (8–9 Feb): Featuring excerpts from the Hainanese Opera and Huangmei Opera, complete with an interactive segment to learn basic opera movements.
Exhibitions to Explore
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The festival also features two travelling exhibitions that dive into Singapore’s history and culture!
Uncovering the Enduring Festive Flavours of Chinatown (17 January–12 February): This exhibition explores the history of Chinese New Year markets and their evolution over the decades.
Wan Qing Yuan: A Journey Through History and Heritage (8–12 Feb): Learn about the historical significance of Wan Qing Yuan and its role in the Balestier precinct’s heritage, complete with interactive activities like stamp printing.