Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations 2009

Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The festival is the second most important festival after the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival to Chinese people. This year, Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Saturday, 3 October 2009 and is one of the most widely celebrated Chinese folk festivals by Chinese communities around the world.

In Singapore, Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2009, organized by Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee (KAKSCCC), will showcase exciting, colourful and vibrant month-long festivities from 19 September to 18 October 2009. A not-to-be-missed highlight event in Singapore’s cultural calendar, Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2009 aims to enliven Chinatown, engage the community, other ethnic groups and tourists in preserving Chinese tradition and heritage, as well as enrich and enthrall both the young and old alike in the festive celebrations.

Throughout the festival celebrations, Chinatown and its nearby precincts will be soaked in festivities and beautifully decorated with colourful lanterns and floral decorations. For the first time, the Mid-Autumn Festival 2009 Celebrations will aim to achieve historical milestones by attempting 3 awe-inspiring and heart-warming feats to be entered into the Singapore Book of Records – a 140 ft long Lantern Dragon whose body is made up of 188 lanterns, a 5.3-metre tall and 3-metre wide Singapore’s Largest Recycled Lantern and the most number of chefs making the most number of moon cakes in an hour.

The Mid-Autumn Festival Street Light-up and Official Opening on Saturday, 19 September 2009 will be graced by Guest-of-Honour, His Excellency Mr S R Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore. The Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2009 will feature “Enchanting Mid-Autumn” as the design theme in the light-up, highlighting the allure of this traditional festival and the romantic legendary tale of Chang Er and Hou Yi. The theme will be expressed through the street light-up and decorations from 19 September to 18 October 2009. The arches at the junctions of Upper Cross Street and Teo Hong Road will feature Chang Er, Mid-Autumn Festival greetings and a mesmerizing mix of flowers, butterflies, lanterns and lights.

Complementing the occasion is the mass display of 28 dragons performed by over 300 performers including a glowing 90 ft long multi-coloured LED dragon performed by a 10-men troupe and a 140 ft longest lantern dragon whose body is made up of 188 lanterns and performed by a 19-men troupe for the Singapore Book of Records. The street festival will culminate with a spectacular 3-minute fireworks display and the launch of kung ming lanterns which have now become a tradition in Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival.

The bustling Festive Street Bazaar from 18 September to 3 October 2009 will feature over 300 street stalls. The spirit of the festival permeates the street stalls which are situated at Chinatown’s Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Smith Street. The Festive Street Bazaar offers a one-stop shopping destination for traditional festive goodies ranging from mooncakes, pomelos and tea leaves to lanterns and more.

From 19 September to 3 October 2009, the public will also be entertained with Nightly Stage Shows at Kreta Ayer Square. Local entertainers and Chinese cultural dance troupes from China will enliven the night with their lively and vibrant performances including lantern riddles, magic shows, acrobatic shows, songs and dances.

The Mass Lantern Walk and Celebration on Saturday, 3 October 2009 is perfect for families and friends to come together and soak in the convivial atmosphere of Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival. The walk, which aims to attract over 10,000 people, will begin at the open field beside Outram MRT and conclude with stage performances and pyrotechnics display at The Central by the Singapore River. Participants can stroll along the streets of Chinatown, enjoy the street light-up, decorations and be greeted by a wide range of entertainment from dragon and lion dances to stilt walkers and buskers during the walk. They are encouraged to come dressed to the Mid-Autumn theme and to bring along their creative lanterns.

Other celebratory Chinatown fringe events include two new Singapore Book of Records. To encourage environmental sustainability through recycling, reducing and reusing, Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Chinatown Point have organized the first ever Eco-Lantern Sculpture Competition. 26 entries of at least 2-metre tall eco-lantern sculptures made from recycled materials have been created by local design schools and tertiary institutions. These lantern sculptures will be exhibited together with Singapore’s Largest Recycled Lantern created for the Singapore Book of Records at Chinatown Point from 17 September to 19 October 2009. This Singapore’s Largest Recycled Lantern will be unveiled by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources on Thursday, 17 September 2009, 12 noon at Chinatown Point, Front Porch.

Another new Singapore Book of Records effort is the Moon Cake Making Challenge at The Central on Saturday, 3 October 2009 at 3pm. Come and witness the most number of chefs from the Society of Chinese Cuisine Chefs Singapore making the most number of moon cakes within an hour. Organised by Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens’ Consultative Committee, together with The Central and Society of Chinese Cuisine Chefs Singapore, all moon cakes made at this event will be sold and proceeds collected will be donated to Kreta Ayer Seniors Activity Centre. Sales for the moon cakes at $38 per box start on 1 September 2009 at Kreta Ayer Community Club (28A Kreta Ayer Road tel: 62223579), Kim Seng Community Centre (570 Havelock Road tel: 6272 3878) and Kreta Ayer Seniors Activity Centre (Blk 5 Banda Street #03-68 tel 6225 1490).

From jewellery shops, medical halls to barbecued pork and Chinese pastries, these long-time shopkeepers of Chinatown have all lasted the test of time and are a part of Chinatown’s living history. To showcase the heritage of the well-known signature brands in Chinatown and to allow locals and tourists to fully experience the exciting hosts of Chinatown, there will be 5.5 hour long Chinatown Heritage Brands Walking Tours conducted to let visitors learn more about these famous Chinatown Heritage Brands and sample some of the traditional delicacies and snacks. They can explore on foot On Cheong Jewellery, Thye Shan Medical Hall and Nam’s Supplies as well as sample local delicacies and buy souvenir gifts at Lee Tong Kee Ipoh Hor Fun Restaurant, Tong Heng, Bee Cheng Hiang, Lim Chee Guan and Chinatown Food Street.

Senses of Chinatown Walking Tour (With Pick-Up Service)

Adults $57; Children (3 to 12 years old) $52

Senses of Chinatown Walking Tour (No transfer)

Adults $37; Children (3 to 12 years old) $32

The first 100 bookings will enjoy a $5 discount for the ticket prices. Frequency: Every Mon, Wed and Fri, starting from 1 October 2009. For enquiries and bookings, please contact Luxury Tours at tel: 6732 4188.

Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations 2009

Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony (2009年牛车水中秋节亮灯仪式与开幕礼

Date : Saturday, 19 September 2009

Time : 6.45pm – 10pm

Venue : Along Eu Tong San Street and New Bridge Road

Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2009 Street Light-Up (2009 年牛车水中秋节亮灯

Date : 19 September – 18 October 2009

Time : 7pm – 12 am (Sun – Thurs); 7pm – 2am (Fri, Sat and Public Holidays)

Venue : Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road, Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Garden Bridge

Festive Street Bazaar (中秋节街头市集)

Date : 18 September – 3 October 2009

Time : 11am – 11pm (Sun – Thu); 11am – 1am (Fri & Sat and Public Holidays)

Venue : Pagoda Street, Trengganu Street, Sago Street and Smith Street

Key Highlights: - Over 300 street stalls offering a wide range of traditional festive goodies from mooncakes, pomelos, tea leaves to lanterns, decorative items, etc.

Nightly Stage Shows (中秋综艺晚会)

Date : 19 September – 3 October 2009

Time : 8pm – 10.30pm Venue : Kreta Ayer Square

Key Highlights: - Tailored performances for different generations of people. - Renowned local and overseas entertainers to present Chinese cultural performances of songs, dances and acrobatic shows.

Mass Lantern Walk and Celebration (大型游灯庆祝会

Date : Saturday, 3 October 2009

Time : 7.30pm – 10pm

Venue : Start point at open field near Outram Park MRT and end point at The Central

Locals and visitors alike are invited to immerse in the sound and light of the festival by joining in the lantern walk down Eu Tong Sen Street. They will be greeted by a wide range of entertainment from dragon and lion dances to stilt walkers and fire eaters during the walk. The lantern walk will conclude with stage performances and pyrotechnics display at The Central by the Singapore River.

Chinatown Fringe Events

Eco-Lantern Sculpture Competition and Singapore’s Largest Recycled Lantern Display (环保灯笼制作比赛和巨型环保灯笼展示)

Date : 17 September to 19 October 2009

Venue : Chinatown Point唐城坊

Singapore Book of Records Moon Cake Making Challenge (创新加坡记录的中秋月饼制作观摩会)

Date : 3 October 2009

Time : 3pm – 5pm

Venue : The Central

Mini Lantern Walks

Date : 25 September, 26 September & 2 October 2009

Time : 8.15pm

Venue : Start point at Kreta Ayer Square

Join the locals as they walk with their lanterns around Chinatown under the street light-up and decorations. A specially-constructed longest lantern dragon will lead the lantern walk.

From August to October, Singapore sparkles with cultural festivities with the triple celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Mid-Autumn Festival and Deepavali. The ethnic districts of Kampong Glam, Geylang Serai, Chinatown and Little India will come alive in an explosion of colour, street lights, festive bazaars, cultural performances and events. The festivities start with the Hari Raya Light-Up at Kampong Glam (14 Aug - 27 Sep) in the heart of the city, followed by the Hari Raya Light-Up at Geylang Serai (15 Aug - 26 Sep). Chinatown will be the central attraction for the Mid-Autumn Festival (19 Sep - 18 Oct), and Little India completes the celebrations with the Deepavali Light-Up and festivities (1 8Sep - 25 Oct). This is the perfect time for visitors to join Singaporeans in their traditional celebrations, and discover their proud sense of heritage and Singapore’s unique and harmonious blend of cultures.