Orchard Road Christmas light-up returns from Nov. 9, 2024

'Tis that time of year again.

Christmas lights will fully adorn Orchard Road from Nov. 9, 2024.

This year's theme aims to mimic a "firefly garden", through vertical beams of light that mimic the wavelike motion of fireflies.

It will also feature stars, bells, dazzling fir trees, red cardinal birds perched atop the overstreet décor and arches of pine and holly.

The evergreen pine is a nod to Orchard Road's past as a plot for fruit orchards and nutmeg plantations, according to a press release from the Orchard Road Business Association.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will officiate the light-up ceremony, and a special Christmas edition of Night At Orchard will take place along the pedestrian walkway in front of ION Orchard to Ngee Ann City from Nov. 8 to 10 as part of the light-up weekend.

Highlights

Great Christmas Eve Street Party

Stretching 400m from ION Orchard to Ngee Ann City, the Great Christmas Eve Street Party will host live DJ performances, roving mascots, pop-up stalls, food trucks, as well as a countdown to Christmas.

A section of Orchard Road from Paterson Road junction to Bideford Road junction will be closed to vehicular traffic on Dec. 24 from 6pm to 2am for revellers as the  countdown to Christmas Day begins at 8pm.

Great Christmas Villages

This year, the Great Christmas Villages will be located outside:

• Shaw House Urban Plaza – from Nov. 8 to Jan. 5
• Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza – from Nov. 10 to Jan. 1

Besides carnival rides, there will be live performances by local buskers and bands on weekends at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza.

A 14m-tall Christmas tree will be the centrepiece at the plaza, and visitors will be treated to a four-minute programmed snowfall show around the tree at 8pm and 9pm from Nov. 10 to New Year's Day.

An exclusive Orchard Road craft beer – Jingle Ale – will also be sold here in partnership with Asa Brew.

The Great Christmas Village at Shaw House will host carnival rides such as the Euro Swing, Ferris Wheel, claw machines, and a new Spin & Catch game.

Outdoor Augmented Reality (AR) projections

The AR multimedia projections on the façade of Hilton Singapore Orchard will see golden sparkles, snowflakes and fireworks come to life in augmented reality.

The 100m- tall outdoor visual projections will be activated from Nov. 1 to New Year's Day.

A countdown clock will be displayed on Christmas and New Year's Eves.

ORBar on A Great Street

This year's Christmas celebration will feature a bar-hopping initiative – "ORBar on A Great Street" – where signature cocktails will retail at special prices ahead of the year-end holiday season.

The initiative features a selection of eight iconic bars in the precinct.

Customers can purchase a passport bundle of eight signature cocktails from four selected bars from now till Dec. 31.

Each bar will serve two drinks per passport, and the drinks can be redeemed at participating bars from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.

Top photo via Orchard Road Business Association