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CHINESE New Year celebrations are looking to be hip and happening this year, with all-night parties till 4 am and art installations by local contemporary pop artists.
From Feb 5 to 16, Singapore River Hongbao - organised annually to promote Chinese arts and culture - will transform the Esplanade Park into a teeming hub of festivities heralding the Year of the Rat.
New this year - the River Hong Bao will be organised in conjunction with the Chingay parade, throwing an all night party with performances, lights and stalls till 4 am on Feb 17.
Also new - more interactive exhibits like an art installation with different interpretations of a rat by local contemporary artist Ben Phua and students.
Also on the cards - cultural and acrobatic performances by the Lhasa Municipal Ethnic Arts Troupe, a song and dance group from Tibet, as well as breathtaking stunts from 25 Taiwanese performers presenting a modern fusion of acrobatics and dance.
Another first at Singapore River Hongbao 2008 will be fireworks displays launched - not from Marina South as in previous years - but from Esplanade Drive. Visitors will be closer than ever before to the electrifying showcase.
Festival favourites like the cooking demonstrations of traditional dialect food and the National Primary Schools Chinese Calligraphy Competition will feature at the River Hongbao site, back by popular demand.
Visitors will also have the chance to win a $5,000 'hong bao' or red packet by correctly counting the number of decorative 'rats' featured at the site.
Keeping in mind Singapore's multi-racial community, there will also be Malay cultural dance performances and a Malay wedding exhibition organised by Majlis Pusat.
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