Lunar New Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is a time to exchange well wishes and gifts of good fortune. The streets of Chinatown become lit with red lanterns, twinkling lights and elaborate decorations, fireworks colour the sky and busy street bazaar stalls are laden with Chinese delicacies and symbols of prosperity and good luck. Part of the festivities is the Chingay Parade, the largest and grandest street procession in the country, which is a multi-cultural and cosmopolitan parade featuring some of the finest performing groups from around the world. This colourful event presents lavishly decorated floats, stilt-walkers, lion dancers, fire jugglers, and music performances. Another annual New Year extravaganza is the River Hong Bao, which is a cultural event including a range of performances from top national artists, as well as art and craft stalls and floats; spectacular fireworks displays take place on the opening and closing nights.

Venue: Chinatown (Parade in Orchard Road, River HongBao in Esplanade Park)

Date: 23 January 2012

Website: www.visitsingapore.com