Everything 1st time rally attendees need to know about attending S'pore rallies

It's GE season.

With this being the first time physical rallies have been held in a decade, it's naturally something that many Singaporeans are looking forward to.

But it can also be overwhelming, especially if this is your first time attending a rally.

So here are some insiders' tips to prep you before the event.

Decide which rally you want to go to

Different parties may have rallies going on at the same time, so decide early on which rally you wish to attend.

You can check media platforms, such as Mothership's social media accounts, for the latest updates on where and when the next rallies will be held.

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Get there early

Rallies usually start around 7pm to 8pm, but you might want to get there earlier if you can.

For rallies with larger crowds, I'd recommend at least an hour beforehand.

Otherwise, you might get caught up in a traffic jam if you're taking a car there.

From what we observed from attending four parties' rallies last night, there were often huge crowds, such as the Workers' Party (WP) rally, where vehicle access into Anchorvale Crescent was controlled due to large crowds, followed by the People's Action Party (PAP).

For the other opposition parties, you can go early, but perhaps just 30 minutes beforehand.

Crowds also begin pouring in closer to the rally start time, so you might end up caught in some unexpected congestion.

Plus, if you get there early, you can get yourself the best seat in the house to watch what goes down.

If the rallies are held in a stadium, you can generally turn up a little later.

Wear rain boots (or an old pair of sneakers)

With Singapore expecting inter-monsoon conditions to continue til the end of April, brace yourself for the rain and slippery floors.

Or for those held in fields, just mud. Everywhere.

So if you're not a fan of slipping, sliding, or dirtying your favourite pair of shoes, strap up with some rain boots or an old pair of sneakers.

Or you can take more creative measures and just wrap your feet with plastic bags (though we wouldn't recommend that).

Wear shorts

Same as before: if you don't want your favourite pair of jeans to get wet or painted with mud, wear a pair of shorts.

Even better, wear a pair of clothes that you feel okay with getting dirty.

Put on insect repellent

With physical rallies being held outside, brace yourself for the mosquitoes.

So spray up.

Bring a picnic chair

Though some rallies do provide seats, it's not guaranteed.

Plus, there's always the possibility that the seats will be filled.

With rallies being around two to three hours, your legs are going to be tired by the end of it.

So just to be safe (and save your legs), bring yourself a picnic chair.

Stay close to your friends or family

At big rallies, expect slow to no cell service.

So yes, stay close to your friends and family at the rallies unless you want to panic halfway and realise you have no idea where you are and how to get to them.

Bring some cash

Some rallies have vendors selling the party's merchandise, as well as snacks and drinks, so bring some extra cash just in case.

So there you have it: all the tips you need to know to attend your first rally.

Stay safe and have fun.

Top image via Amber Tay and Min-Wei Tan/Mothership