Sparkling lights, grand set-ups, and festive displays – the first signs of Christmas in Singapore are hard to miss. Every year, Orchard Road is transformed into a land of wonder with Christmas on A Great Street. And while we’re looking forward to the annual light-up, the yearly affair will be taking things down a notch due to the ongoing pandemic.
Going with a heartwarming theme of Love This Christmas, this year’s light-up is a reminder that physical distance should not deter anyone from showing love to those they care about. In dedicating this year’s light-up to frontline workers, the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) said it will be working with platforms such as Lions of Healthcare to reward healthcare staff, security guards, delivery staff, and others with promotions for shopping, dining, and services.
Christmas at Orchard Road: A scaled-down Christmas affair
Part of the annual Christmas on A Great Street, the Great Christmas Village is a carnival packed with amusement rides and pop-up food stalls. This year, however, the line-up of games, food booths, and performances will be called off. ORBA said that the decision was made to minimise the risk of crowds gathering and to safeguard the health and safety of the public.
Despite the social distancing measures in place, the organisers of the event are still promising a dazzling spectacle when Christmas on A Great Street kicks off on 13 November 2020.
360-degree virtual tour
The event will begin with a closed-door Christmas light-up ceremony at ION Orchard, which will be officiated by President Halimah Yacob. Those at home can catch the live stream on Community Chest’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
If you’d like to catch the light-ups, here are the following timings to tune in:
- 6.30pm – 12am, Sundays to Thursdays
- 6.30pm – 2am, Fridays and Saturdays
- 6.30pm – 6am, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
You can also enjoy the precinct’s display of lights and decorations, both physically and virtually, till 1 January 2021. For the first time ever, you can take a virtual drive along the 2.88-kilometre stretch from Tanglin Mall to Dhoby Ghaut in an all-new virtual tour, featuring 360-degree views. This online feature will be accessible to those living in Singapore and around the world.
The main arch at the junction of Orchard and Paterson Roads takes centre stage, as it will be adorned with a giant blue ribbon and glittering reindeer. Meanwhile, decorative streetlights and baubles will line the streets, along with brightly-lit snowflakes and mistletoe in white, gold, and blue strung across Somerset, Orchard, and Tanglin.
Christmas rewards
For the eighth year running, ORBA will also be teaming up with Mastercard, the official card for Christmas on A Great Street 2020, on a precinct-wide rewards campaign.
From 13 November to 24 December 2020, the first 100 Mastercard shoppers who spend S$300 each week at any of the 12 participating malls stand to receive S$30 mall vouchers. These vouchers can be redeemed with a maximum of five same-day receipts from the same mall.
The 12 participating malls are:
1. 313@somerset
2. Forum The Shopping Mall
3. Mandarin Gallery
4. Ngee Ann City/Takashimaya Shopping Centre
5. orchardgateway
6. Orchard Central
7. Palais Renaissance
8. Paragon
9. Scotts Square
10. The Centrepoint
11. Wheelock Place
12. Wisma Atria
*Terms and conditions apply.
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