Singapore marked one year of independence by celebrating her first National Day Parade (NDP) on August 9, 1966. This means this year’s parade would be the Republic’s 50^th!

Come take a virtual ride in our time machine with these archived photos of past NDPs:

1966

Our first NDP at the Padang started at 9am. After the march past in front of City Hall, the contingents marched through Chinatown to Tanjong Pagar where crowds of spectators lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the parade. Fireworks were let off in the evening at the Padang, as well as Fort Canning Rise.

Here's a pic of our very first NDP:

Here's the NDP contingent marching through town:

And here are spectators at Elgin Bridge watching the contingents marching:

1976

1976 was the first year we held our NDP at the National Stadium. Between 1975 and 1983, the chosen venues alternated between the Padang, the National Stadium, and other decentralised sites. Opened in 1973, the National Stadium was able to accommodate 50,000 seated people, allowing more Singaporeans to watch the parade live.

Our first NDP at the National Stadium:

Here are some lions dancing:

And here's a marching band contingent from the parade:

1986

This was the first year they decided to try out an evening parade which stretched all the way into the night, allowing for spectacular light displays on the ground. The audience was also given flashlights to light up their seats.

The 1986 NDP was also the first one that the late Wee Kim Wee attended as President of Singapore. That year was also the first time "Count on Me, Singapore" was performed live.

Here's then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's motorcade arriving at the National Stadium:

Then-President Wee Kim Wee oversees the parade segment:

Performers decked out in 1980s' latest:

And there were fireworks:

1996

This was the final year before they started National Education shows for Primary 5 students. This year's NDP featured a giant banner suspended above the combined choir. By then, the Red Lions' thrilling jumps were already a staple of the NDP.

Here's the above-mentioned giant banner:

It's the late President Ong Teng Cheong!

And here's a Red Lion pulling in nicely onto the parade grounds:

2006

This was the very last NDP held at the Grand Old Dame, before she was closed the following year to be demolished and reconstructed. For many spectators and participants, that year's parade was particularly poignant. It was also unique because it featured fireworks throughout the entire thing!

These pictures would look more like the NDPs of today. These spectators, for instance:

And these performers:

The grand finale:

And former President S R Nathan (hope he's recovering well, by the way):

2016

And here we are, in 2016. This year's parade, as with the milestones marked on the ones held in previous "6" years in our history, will be the first NDP held at our new National Stadium.

While it will be lacking in crowd favourites such as the Mobile Column and the Red Lions due to logistical constraints, more people will be able to watch the parade live thanks to the new stadium's larger seating capacity. This year's NDP organisers are also introducing new elements such as huge suspended props, song signing (for the hearing impaired), and strangely enough, a unicorn.

Here's a pic of the parade segment from a preview show:

Here's a shot from the show segment:

There'll be a pretty light show too:

... and as promised, unicorn:

Happy National Day, and if you're watching this year's parade, whether on TV or at the stadium, enjoy!

Top photo depicts the NDP 1982 float parade travelling along Toa Payoh Central.  Via National Archives of Singapore. 

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