SINGAPORE – It was the night before Christmas and Orchard Road was stirring with people impatiently waiting for the Great Christmas Eve Street Party to start.
At 6pm, revellers, shoppers, tourists and middle-aged aunties were already gathered on the pavement near Wisma Atria.
The party was to take place from 8pm, between the Paterson Road junction next to Ion Orchard and the Bideford Road junction near Ngee Ann City.
Several roads into the area were closed for the event, which was supposed to run until 12.15am on Dec 25.
Music blared from speakers dotting the area, fighting for attention from visitors who were enjoying the Christmas decorations and twinkling lights.
A magician stepped up to entertain the crowd near Ion Orchard, and a short distance away, a puppet master pulled strings, to much amusement.
Ms Mary Lim, 57, was there with two older sisters to soak up the atmosphere. The Indonesian, who is married to a Singaporean and lives here, said it was her first time attending the event.
Her sisters – Ms Minah Lim, 64, and Ms Monika Lim, a year younger – had travelled to Singapore to join Ms Mary. They made sure they dressed in the festive colours.
“During Christmas, we must wear red and green,” they said excitedly.
Indonesian sisters (from left) Monika, Minah and Mary were among the revellers soaking up the atmosphere at the event.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
It was the third Great Christmas Eve Street Party.
The annual event was first organised in 2023, as Singapore and the world shook off the constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic.
