It’s that time of the year when you really work it for the ’gram. Outfit? Picked out. Battery Life. Full bar. Now the background – and for that, we know it’s all about location, location, location. While there are lots of scenic places in SG for you to star in, why not take the chance during this festive period to grab the shots that really matter: with loved ones (or random friendly strangers), with cheer, and with lots of festive feelings abound? Here are our 3 recommended spots where you can take all of your X’mas and New Year photos – as the Singaporean colloquialism goes – in one “shot”.
Changi Festive Village at Changi Airport and Jewel Changi Airport
www.changifestivevillage.com
Ongoing till 3 January 2021
Despite the travel restrictions, Changi Airport and Jewel Changi Airport are ramping up with activities to get everyone into a festive mood. Which means there are tons of opportunities for you to get that perfect “all together now” picture with your friends and family.
Start at Terminal 3 with everything tokidoki. The tokidoki Snow Holiday is your must-visit: In this – SG’s largest double-storey snow house – you can get to ride on a snow luge or snow slide, build snowmen and enjoy a light and sound show. Once you are done trying not to take out-of-focus or -frame photos of your excitable little ones playing, take a breather by snapping a clearer sit-down family portrait in a tokidoki-themed plane cabin, or standing alongside the 1.7-metre-tall SANDy and Donutella inflatables, which you can get to bring home if you win Changi Airport’s Instagram and Telegram photo contests!
After all the character-driven fun, spend the afternoon capturing some dinosaurs on camera over at Terminal 4. These prehistoric creatures have taken over in a Dino Fest, so you get to “shoot” the roaming raptors, baby dinos and the 9 majestic life-like dinosaurs found all over the terminal’s premises.
Need more action? Get the kiddos into some art & craft at Dino Studio, jumping on the Dino Bounce bouncy castle, or racing in go-karts. Then get some much needed nourishment and energy back with dinosaur-themed grub. A must-take food porn object: the oozy, black Dino Egg Donut.
End the day with the Let It Snow event at the Shiseido Forest Valley. Head to Jewel Changi Airport’s greenery centre at 6.30pm, 7.30pm. 8.30pm, 9.30pm or 10.30pm to experience an indoor snowfall; those who have not experienced snow will love this winter spectacle. While waiting for the snowy session to start, pretend that you are elf-sized by taking photographs of yourself standing next to the 16-metre-tall Christmas tree here.
Visit www.changifestivevillage.com for more details.
Poinsettia Wishes and Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by The Bay
www.gardensbythebay.com.sg
christmaswonderland.sg
Ongoing till 3 January 2021
Say, you want an Insta-worthy background that hearkens back to Mother Nature, yet like your Instagram account, need to have it looking beautiful and well-curated without having to deal with the bother of sun, rain or mozzies – then, drop by Gardens by The Bay. While we can’t promise what the crowds will be like (and there will be), the attractions make the visit more than worth the bustle.
Since you can’t be in Europe, then Poinsettia Wishes has made Europe come to you through festive blooms and more at the Flower Dome. Take your “vacay-pics” with a reimagined replica of a Netherlands landmark, the iconic Gouda City Hall; X’mas themed displays and decorations such as a wishing well and nutcracker dolls; and the dazzling luminarie light sculpture installations (more about them below). Of course, to get the likes, pose and click pics with all the flora: cyclamens, pansies, hellebores (also known as Christmas Roses), poinsettias and real Christmas trees.
Unmissable too, is the annual Christmas Wonderland. The seventh edition features the Walk of Lights, a stunning display of 8 light installations such as the 17-metre-tall Spalliera, Path of Tranquility, Wishing Fountain, Crystal Ball and Cassa Armonica, all illuminating the Supertree Grove with a magical glow. The 370-metre-long walk will take about half an hour to complete (depending how many selfies and wefies you take along the way), with 9 daily sessions – the first starts at 6.30 pm – available for pre-registration online.
Visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg and christmaswonderland.sg for more details.
Christmas on A Great Street
christmas.orchardroad.org
Ongoing till 1 January 2021
There are some of us who make a special once-a-year whole family outing to the Orchard Road shopping district during X’mas. And nope, its not for shopping nor dining, but for the series of twinkling lights and colourful decorations (festively termed Christmas on A Great Street) that line the almost 3-kilometre stretch from Dhoby Ghaut and Somerset, through to Orchard and Tanglin.
This year, expect lit-up snowflakes with mistletoes and hollies rendered in gold, white and blue, as well as gold and white baubles, hanging from lampposts and trees. The highlight’s a 14-metre arch festooned with enormous blue ribbons, glittery reindeer and bright, red hollies at the junction of Orchard Road and Paterson Road. Basically, there are enough lights (and people) here to make all your photos look like they’re popping with festivity and activity.
Plus, there are numerous malls with their own individual decked-out frontages, trees and decorations that will blow your mind and down your phone battery. Put that extra “wow” into your Insta posts at these spots: the 20-metre-tall Magical Pinwheel Tree in front of ION Orchard; the humongous gift boxes outside Mandarin Gallery; the giant Santa Claus statue at Tanglin Mall; and the lit walkway-arch at Orchard Central.
Visit christmas.orchardroad.org for more details.
Featured image: Jewel Changi Airport
