No plans this CNY? Here are 11 exciting activities for the whole family

Want to take OOTD photos and read your CNY2022 Zodiac fortunes? This year, City Square Mall’s Level 1 Green Park will be transformed into a dreamy garden of Spring flowers and warmly-lit festive lanterns for you and the little ones to visit and soak in the festive joy. Whether it’s inside or outside, you will have many photo opportunities, so make sure to get your phones ready to snap pictures of your kids having fun!

And let’s be real: everyone loves to read their predictions for the new year. Bring your kids along and find all your Zodiacs and see how the Year of the Tiger will go for you.

From today to 13 February 2022. Admission is free. Located at City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd, Singapore 208539. Find out more here.

There’s nothing that screams that Chinese New Year is here than Chinatown all lit up for everyone to enjoy. Head down to Chinatown and take in the sights of sculpted cubs and tiger lanterns that tell the story of coming out stronger from the pandemic. Keep your eyes peeled for the centrepiece that showcases a family of tigers to symbolise harmony, reunion, and prosperity for the new year.

Don’t forget to head down to Telok Ayer Square to view Tiger sculptures painted by local artists in a collaboration with World Wild Fund for Nature (Singapore) and Temenggong Artists in Residence.

The Street Light Up officially begins from today to 2 March 2022 from 7pm – 12am daily. The Tiger Sculptures will be up from today to 26 January 2022. Admission to both events is free. Find out more here.

The Chinatown Wishing Tree is back! Donate a minimum of $2 for a “Make A Wish” card to write your wishes for the new year and hang it up. The money donated will go towards Kreta Ayer – Kim Seng Community Development Welfare Fund, where the funds will be used to organise programmes to help those who need it.

From today to 15 February 2022, 10am – 10pm daily. A minimum donation of $2 is required per wish. Located at Chinatown Point Atrium, 133 New Bridge Rd, Singapore 059413. Find out more here.

Gardens by the Bay is one of the must-visit tourist attractions to visit whenever CNY rolls around. You and the little ones will be greeted with a first-of-its-kind display with a breath-taking River Hongbao lantern taking the spotlight in the middle of 2,000 blooms. The main display will also feature three Chinese moon gates, a pair of rabbits and larger-than-life narcissus blooms.

Don’t forget to bring your kids on a mini hunt for all the adorable tiger cubs displays, giant coin pouches, and more auspicious decorations!

From 14 January 2022 to 20 February 2022, 9am – 9pm. Tickets are priced at $12 per adult and $8 per child (up to 12 years old). Located at Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953. Find out more and book your tickets here.

Speaking of Gardens by the Bay, how about going down on the 15th so that you can also take part in this craft workshop? Add a lovely decoration to your house by making a wooden hanging decor with vibrant paper peonies and shining gold leaves.

Children under seven years old are welcome as well with adult supervision!

Happening on 15 January 2022, with three sessions at 10.00am – 10.45am, 11.30am – 12.15pm, and 1.00pm – 1.45pm. Tickets are priced at $55 per pax. Located at Floral Fantasy Gift Shop, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore 018953. Registration closes on 10 January 2022, 5pm. Find out more and book your slot here.

When we hear ‘Chinese New Year’, our mind instantly goes to red packets. This roundtable event allows you and the kids to dedicate a whole day (or days!) to visit participating museums and galleries to collect 35 specially-designed angbaos for the family!

All the places to visit are listed in the picture above.

One of them is the KWSH Heritage Gallery for a free-and-easy tour from 11 January 2022 to 11 February 2022 that you can book here.

You can start collecting the angbaos from 7 January 2022 to 2 February 2022. Red packets are free with limited stocks every day. Find out more here.

Design your own CNY couplets in this calligraphy workshop, where you and the kids will learn about the correct writing posture, some basic strokes, and Chinese proverbs. Don’t worry if you don’t have any brushes or inks – all the materials will be provided for you for the two-hour session.

Happening on 17 January 2022, 1pm – 3pm. Tickets are priced at $20 per pax. Located at Brahm Centre @ Tampines, #01-01, Blk 473 Tampines Street 43, Singapore 370055. Find out more and book your slots here.

Want to get into the mood for CNY but need some time to relax at home as well? This online storytelling session tells the legend of how the fierce tiger became part of the Chinese Zodiac. You and the kids can also make your own handprint tigers and spruce up your homes with your creations just in time for the festive season.

Happening on 22 January 2022, from 9am – 10am. Admission is free. Find out more and register here. 

Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere with this trail, where you will be taken around Chinatown to find crouching tigers and hidden dragons. During the two-hour walk, you and the kids will get to hear untold stories of historic places, as well as go into the backstreets of the popular tourist destination to discover hidden Chinese New Year elements. And we can’t not mention the best part: during the journey, you will be given the chance to try three to four tasting and drinking samples, with vegetarian options available upon request!

The information shared during the trail aren’t ones that you can easily google, and they do not include long, boring historical facts, so you can rest easy that the little one will be entertained.

Happening on 22 and 29 January 2022 from 4pm – 6pm. Tickets are priced at $37.74 per pax. Located at Chinatown Singapore, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335. Find out more and book your tickets here.

The (arguably) biggest CNY event is back! More details will be revealed in the upcoming days, but mark your calendars for 30 January 2022 to 6 February 2022 so that you will have time to enjoy and surround yourself with the festivities. However, for those who can’t wait, you can take part in their TikTok Fortune Dance Challenge with the family for a chance to win $188 worth of shopping vouchers. And even if you don’t win anything, it will still be a fun activity to do at home with the little ones!

River Hongbao will be held from 30 January 2022 to 6 February 2022. More details TBC. Find out more on the dance challenge here.

Sadly, Chingey 2022 will be held online again this year. The good news is that you can watch it with the kids without worrying about them being too tired and crying in public! Held on 12 February 2022, you can catch the live broadcast.

Happening on 12 February 2022, 8pm. Keep up with updates and live stream details here.

This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.

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