Lunar New Year Istana Open House 2023: Enhanced Swan Pond, Performances & Activity Booths

Entry to the National Day Istana Open House
Image: Istana
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The Lunar New Year Istana Open House is one of several times during the year when the public is able to pay a visit to the grounds of the official residence of the President of Singapore.

For 2023, Lunar New Year Istana Open House, or Istana Chinese New Year Open House,  takes place on Monday, 23 January. From 8.30 am to 6 pm, members of the public will be able to pay a visit to the verdant grounds of the Istana.

This year, it is also a chance to view a newly opened enhanced Swan Pond. This includes a new garden stream and viewing deck too.


Visiting the Lunar New Year Istana Open House

The Istana Lunar New Year Open House 2023 is open to all visitors. Admission is free for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. All other visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of $2 per person. Only cashless payments via SGQR will be accepted.


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Those who are visiting the Istana grounds can also join guided tours and enjoy performances scheduled to take place throughout the day.


Highlights of the Lunar New Year Open House at the Istana

Performances

Highlights of the Lunar New Year Open House at the Istana
File picture

From 9 am to 5 pm, visitors can catch drum, dance, and band performances by student groups from Hwa Chong Institution, Maris Stella High School, Montfort Secondary School, Nan Hua Primary School, and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) School of Young Talents at the Ceremonial Plaza, Main Tent, and Reception Room.

The schedule of performances at the Lunar New Year Istana Open House 2023 is as follows:

Performances 
9.00am – 10.00am  Chinese Drum Performance by Nan Hua Primary School  Ceremonial Plaza 

10.30am – 11.30am 

Chinese Dance Performance by Hwa Chong Institution (Alumni)  Ceremonial Plaza 
2.00pm – 3.00pm  Band Performance by Montfort Secondary School  Main Tent 
2.00pm – 3.00pm  Dance Performance by NAFA School of Young Talents  Ceremonial Plaza 
3.40pm – 4.00pm  Musical Performance by NAFA School of Young Talents  Reception Room 
4.00pm – 5.00pm  Chinese Drum Performance by Maris Stella High School  Ceremonial Plaza 

 


Activities

Visitors to the open house will be able to participate various activities like candle-making and Chinese calligraphy-painting at the Main Tent and Centre Gate Tent. These activity booths will be available from 8.30 am to 5.40 pm.

Sharity Booth by Community Chest

Centre Gate Tent

Chinese Calligraphy Booth by Cairnhill Community Club 

Main Tent 

Candle-making Workshop and Booth by Anaya Soul Retreat 

Main Tent 

Henna Booth by Cognizant 

Main Tent 

 


Guided Tours

Guided Tours

The Istana Main Building will also be opened for guided tours. These tours will be conducted at 10 am, 11 am to 2.30 pm, and 4.30 pm to 5 pm. The tours will allows visitors to view selected function rooms and have a closer look at a collection of State Gifts presented to Singapore’s leaders.

There will also be the option for visitors to go on their own self-guided Istana Main Building tours.

Nature Guided Tours by NParks introducing the Istana’s flora and fauna will also be held from 10 am to 4 pm. Tours are limited to 15 persons per group.


Food and Merchandise

In addition, there will also be food stalls and a food truck as well as merchandise booths selling limited-edition Istana souvenirs and President’s Challenge souvenirs.

The food trucks will be near the Main Tent, where food stalls will be located. Drink booths will be available at the Main Tent, Centre Gate Tent and Ticketing Booth.

Thos who wish to President’s Challenge merchandise can head to the Main Tent.

All proceeds from the merchandise booths will go towards charities supported by the President’s Challenge. Only cashless payments via the SGQR will be accepted.


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Lester Ng
Lester firmly believes that it is not what you look at that matters, it is what you see (nod of the hat to Thoreau).