River Hongbao Will Still be On This Year But Visitors Must Book Slots Instead

The show must go on, as they say. 

However, these days, before a show can actually go on, it has to adopt a multitude of safe management measures.

Thanks to the pesky coronavirus that is still roaming our streets, all our celebratory events and shows have to be a more subdued affair.

But considering there are places in the world where stepping out of your house for too long is illegal, we should count ourselves lucky.

And fortunately for us, one CNY show will go on as planned.

River Hongbao Will Still be On This Year But Visitors Must Book Slots Instead

River Hongbao will take place this year, but will be moved to the Gardens by the Bay to ensure the safety of visitors.

The event will begin on 10 Feb and will last till 16 Feb, according to ST.

First held in 1987, the annual event has become an iconic part of the Chinese New Year celebrations here, and used to be held at The Float @ Marina Bay.

While the event is free, visitors will have to book slots on the River Hongbao website. Time slots will be released in batches from Wednesday (3 Feb) at 11am.

Each time slot is either 90 minutes or two hours long, and a maximum of 2,000 people are permitted per time slot.

Up to four people can be registered per booking.

So, what can visitors look forward to?

Floating Lantern Display & Pre-Recorded Dances

While visitors are used to watching dance troupes from abroad, this year’s celebration will feature local performers.

The only thing is that they won’t be there showing off their moves in person. 

Pre-recorded dance and getai performances will be screened on a stage set up in Gardens by the Bay nightly for the seven-day event.

One of the few physical displays will be the 24-lantern sets in the shape of peacocks, butterflies and the 12 zodiac animals on exhibition.

The main attraction of the lantern display is a towering 18m-tall God of Fortune, which is displayed next to a golden ox, gold coins, and dollar notes.

While it’s not mentioned, we can guess that this year, the God of Fortune won’t be throwing lucky numbers, so don’t bet on crowding around him.

The show will feature two other lantern displays, one of which depicts butterflies perched on blossoms.

Visitors will also be treated to an exhibition on the history of lion dance in Singapore, which will include artefacts from as far back as the 1950s.

100 volunteers, safe distancing ambassadors, and uniformed auxiliary police officers will be deployed to ensure that visitors are abiding by safe distancing rules, so don’t fret about crowding.

“While this year’s edition has been scaled back in line with the muted celebrations, we hope that the occasion will still bring some cheer and joy to our community,” Gardens by the Bay chief executive Felix Loh told ST.

Featured Image: River Hongbao 2021 Organising Committee