Christmas on a Great Street Light Up Ceremony

Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) has launched its annual Christmas on A Great Street! From Saturday 12 Nov 2016 – Monday 2 Jan 2017, the entire Orchard Road, spanning over an impressive 2.88 kilometers from Tanglin Mall – Plaza Singapura, will be transformed into a galaxy of enchanting lights of blue, turquoise and sapphire.

This year’s Christmas lights will be lit from Saturday 12 Nov 2016 – Monday 2 Jan 2017! I had a good time watching the light-up ceremony! Read on for the festive goodies and discounts for you shoppers!

Advancing into its 8th consecutive year, Christmas on A Great Street is organised by ORBA and supported under the Singapore Tourism Board’s Leisure Events Fund. The Main Sponsor is Hitachi Asia Ltd., and the Official Card is Mastercard®. 

This year’s theme “Spread the Joy” encourages visitors and Singaporeans to spread joy in as many ways as possible. Inspired by celebratory and wildly popular elements, glowing reindeer and shimmering stars take center-stage on arches, overhangs, trees and sidewalks, transforming Orchard  Road into a Christmas spectacle for locals and tourists to immerse themselves in the magic of the season.

SJ50 Matsuri, a festival with traditional Japanese culture, pop culture and popular destinations in  Japan, will be held at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 October from 10am-8pm. There will be 40 performances over both days by 34 groups and organisations from Japan, Singapore and other Asian countries. The line-up includes music, dancing, demonstrations and talk shows. Admission is free.

For the first time ever, Mastercard is teaming up with ORBA and ComfortDelGro Taxis to knock $5 off all taxi fares to and from Orchard Road every weekend from 12 Nov 2016 – 1 Jan 2017. The promo code “ORCHARD” is valid with the following parameters: 

a) S$5 off taxi fare, capped at 900 trips each weekend 

b) Applicable on ComfortDelGro (CDG) Taxi Booking App

c) Trips to and from the 10 participating malls: 

313@somerset, Forum The Shopping Mall, Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Central, orchardgateway, Paragon, Scotts Square, Takashimaya Shopping Centre / Ngee Ann City, TANGS at Tang Plaza, The Centrepoint 

d) Payment by Mastercard on Masterpass on the CDG Taxi Booking App 

From Saturday 12 Nov – Friday 25 Nov 2016, the first 200 Mastercard holders per week who charge a minimum of $300 to a Mastercard at any of the participating Orchard Road shopping malls, will receive a $30 shopping voucher. Vouchers may be redeemed with a maximum of 5 same-day accumulated receipts from the same mall. Also, from Saturday 26 Nov 2016 – Monday 2 Jan 2017, vouchers will be issued on a whilst-stocks-last basis. 

The participating shopping malls are: 

313@somerset 

Forum The Shopping Mall 

Mandarin Gallery 

Orchard Central

orchardgateway 

Paragon

Scotts Square

Takashimaya Shopping Centre / Ngee Ann City

TANGS at Tang Plaza

The Centrepoint

Another first this Christmas, visitors will be able to enjoy their favourite Christmas carols and songs which will be piped through 16-20 outdoor speakers lined through the stretch from ION Orchard to Ngee Ann City. Song requests from a pre-selected list of Christmas favourites will be accepted on weekends. This brand new component of Christmas on A Great Street is available from Saturday 12 Nov – Sunday 25 Dec from 5 – 10pm daily. 

The stretch of road between Scotts Road and Bideford Road will be closed to vehicular traffic from 3pm – 11pm on Saturday 12 Nov 2016 for visitors to fully bask in the festive atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy performances by local talents such as Jack & Rai and move to the beat with dancers from Glee Studios.

In addition to the joyous occasion, a one-of-a-kind Christmas Market will be held during the road closure, with 30–40 stalls selling artisanal gifts and crafts for an early Christmas shopping experience. Other features include a trackless train, bouncy castle, Santa’s corner, life-size snow globe, food truck fest and vintage rides. Carollers and musicians from various schools and institutions will also showcase their talents at Paragon and orchardgateway.

Christmas on A Great Street is never complete without the visual feast of the buildings decked out in the spirit of the season. The Best Dressed Building Contest takes place from Saturday 12 Nov – Sunday 27 Nov 2016. Buildings along Orchard Road will be jousting for the Voters’ Choice Award as well as the Judges’ Choice Award. 

The public can vote for their favourite building on the OneOrchard mobile app and Orchard Road Facebook Page. Voters for the winner of the Voters’ Choice Award stand a chance at being one of 15 lucky voters to win up to S$200 worth of shopping vouchers each in a lucky draw! 

The participating buildings are:

Forum The Shopping Mall

ION Orchard

Orchard Central

orchardgateway

Paragon

Plaza Singapura

Tanglin Mall

TANGS at Tang Plaza

The Centrepoint

Wheelock Place

ORBA will be holding a social media contest from Saturday 12 Nov 2016 – Monday 2 Jan 2017. 

How to participate: 

- Follow Orchard Road Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/orchardroad.sg)

- Take a creative photo in Orchard Road 

- Post the photo on Facebook with a caption on what “Spread The Joy” means to you 

- Include hashtag #OrchardRdXmas 

- Participants may submit multiple posts 

- Two winners will walk away with prizes up to $250 each 

Visitors to Orchard Road are also encouraged to use the hashtag, #OrchardRdXmas, as they capture their moments of joy at this year’s celebrations. For more information and updates on Christmas on a Great Street, please visit http://www.orchardroad.org/christmas!

xoxo, kaitinghearts