Crowds usher in new year at Marina Bay despite wet weather

Crowds usher in new year at Marina Bay despite wet weather
Fireworks at midnight outside Marina Bay Sands ushered in the new year.
PHOTO: The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - The rain that fell across Singapore on the evening of Dec 31 did not hinder a crowd from forming in the Marina Bay area, with revellers determined to save a spot to catch the New Year fireworks.

Amid a drizzle that started from 5pm, people gathered in front of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands - a popular spot to catch the pyrotechnic display - with many pulling out umbrellas and raincoats.

Ms Kathy Lee, who works in finance, was with three friends. The 28-year-old said they arrived at 6pm with a mat, umbrellas and food for a picnic, adding: “I would be very disappointed if we had to go home after going through all that effort. But camping together in the rain is quite fun.”

Domestic helper Jossie Valdez, 50, was there since 5pm, and said she hoped the rain would stop. Last year, she had arrived at 8pm, only to find that there were no more choice spots to watch the fireworks.

“This year, I decided to come earlier to beat the crowd,” she said.

Earlier, the police had said that it would regulate the number of people entering certain areas, and by around 8pm, it had announced on its Facebook page that it would be closing access to selected waterfront areas, “to ensure public safety and prevent overcrowding”.

Eventually, entry to the Merlion Park, One Fullerton, Jubilee Bridge, Youth Olympic Park, The Lawn, Promontory Waterfront, Esplanade Waterfront, Fullerton Waterfront and the Marina Bay Sands Waterfront, were closed due to prevent overcrowding.

MRT trains also skipped Bayfront MRT station for around 20 minutes due to large crowds in the area.

Overcrowding had become a key concern during the festive period ever since the Itaewon Halloween crowd crush in October 2022. An estimated 100,000 revellers had squeezed into the popular nightlife area in Seoul, South Korea, killing 159 people and injuring 196.

In 2022, some 500,000 people turned up for the countdown at Marina Bay.

On Dec 31, enhanced security measures were in place for the night’s festivities, including flashing LED lights deployed by the police to illuminate pathways and guide crowds in the right direction, and drones equipped with lights and speakers for crowd control.

Crowds at Marina Bay Sands sky deck during the countdown to 2024. PHOTO: The Straits Times

About 600 police officers donning body-worn cameras were deployed.

A map showing real-time crowd levels and closure areas at the various firework viewing spots, as well as how crowded MRT stations in the area were, went live at 7pm at https://go.gov.sg/crowd-at-marina-bay

As the night wore on, the rain eased, and clear skies provided the backdrop for the 12-minute fireworks display that illuminated the skyline and ushered in the new year.

Various events were also held in the heartland on Dec 31 to ring in the new year.

At Bukit Panjang, about 100 food delivery riders gathered for an afternoon of music, where they sang karaoke and listened to a live band. A grassroots leader also performed Beatbox, a form of vocal percussion.

Bukit Panjang MP Liang Eng Hwa said the event was organised to show appreciation for the delivery riders. He said: “This year has been challenging (for them) as the number of orders have dropped, and the weather has also been quite extreme lately.” 

Ms Jennifer Hu, 38, who has been a food delivery rider for about three years, said she has been receiving fewer orders each day in 2023 compared to previous years during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Maybe it’s because everyone can go out to eat without masks now... Sometimes I can wait one to two hours for an order to come in,” she said.

“I’m still hopeful that things will get better in the new year.”

Woodlands Ring Road was closed to make way for the party and a carnival. PHOTO: The Straits Times

Over in Sembawang, 5,000 residents turned up for a street party in Woodlands Ring Road which was closed to make way for the party and a carnival.

Rides in the carnival include a pirate ship, train rides, bouncing castle and an inflatable F1-themed play area spanning 23m.

Jugglers, mime artists and stilt walkers lined the street in Sembawang, performing for the crowd. PHOTO: The Straits Times

Jugglers, mime artists and stilt walkers lined the street, performing for the crowd. A zone was also set aside for home-based businesses to showcase snacks such as muruku, pineapple tarts and nasi lemak.

Mr Muhammed Khaled Omar, 42, who was at the carnival with his wife and two children, said: “The atmosphere is very electrifying, because even though it’s late, everybody is so awake and having a good time, and it’s located in the heartland which makes it very convenient.”

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.

homepage

trending

trending
    'He was jealous': Woman allegedly slashed with knife for chatting with 2 men below Jurong West block
    Who doesn't forget easily and who doesn't gossip? Hong Huifang, Cynthia Koh and Pierre Png, cast of new Singapore-Thai thriller, talk people politics
    Singaporean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times
    This revamped Raffles Place food court has Michelin-recognised and cult-favourite brands - here's what to try
    Heartbroken dad dies hours after teen son is killed in motorcycle accident
    'We should not prejudge him': Ex-diplomat Bilahari Kausikan weighs in on Trump's ambassador-nominee to Singapore
    Kaya toast, extra cute please: Breakfast-themed plushies with a local twist at Marina Square pop-up
    Can Singapore run without air-conditioning or fossil fuels? We break down the innovations Temasek Foundation is backing for $2m
    4 women arrested in Yishun for allegedly offering sexual services disguised as massages
    Geylang petrol station employee, 77, dies after being hit by reversing car
    Climbers battle torrential waters after flash floods hit Mount Kinabalu; all 155 persons safe, says park
    Malaysian man strikes $4m lottery after betting on his, girlfriend's IC numbers for 3 years

Singapore

Singapore
    • Fulfilling a childhood dream: RSAF pilot enlists after JC, takes part in first NDP
    • 'I believe there will be more opportunities in the future': Fresh poly graduate who took up contract role on job hunting
    • Economic Resilience Taskforce unveils new business grant, support for workers amid global trade jitters
    • 'A seminal leader who shaped Malaysia': Lee Hsien Loong wishes Mahathir happy birthday on his centennial
    • All 12 government parliamentary committees to get new chairpersons, 19 first-term PAP MPs included as members
    • 'You need to do some homework': Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore under fire at Senate hearing
    • Man in Tampines tased by police officers after allegedly brandishing penknife at them
    • Singaporean fugitive nabbed in Thailand for alleged drug trafficking, turned over to CNB
    • Singapore must develop deeper relationships with China, US, Europe: Shanmugam
    • 'Give a positive review': Hidden AI prompt found in academic paper by NUS researchers

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Where Chow Yun Fat was spotted at while in Singapore for Star Awards 2025
    • 'I could not possibly discard the embryo': Lee Si-young pregnant with second child through IVF months after divorce
    • No joke: Woman makes out with Xiao Zhan's standee in Malaysia shopping mall
    • High energy, strong vocals: J-pop boy band Be:First makes explosive debut in Singapore
    • 'I was so excited I wanted to cry': Fans spend up to $50k in auction to experience a day with Jackson Wang
    • Tori Kelly reveals she is expecting her first baby
    • Jay-Z hits out at 'harassment' from man claiming to be his son
    • My Chemical Romance sparks speculation on new music with teasing clues on Instagram
    • Ex-NCT member Taeil sentenced to 3.5 years of jail for sexual assault
    • Sheila Sim takes haircutting course after giving daughter bad trim

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Singapore coffee brand Alchemist debuts 2 outlets in Japan, marking first overseas venture
    • Now you can get Springleaf prata in a cup - with curry - from a vending machine
    • Orh Gao Taproom, popular bar by night and kopitiam by day in Serene Centre, to shutter
    • Singapore Food Festival returns in September, includes SG60 Specials series
    • 'Definitely a big improvement': How Chery went from cheap joke to become a competitive automotive player
    • I try Springleaf prata in a cup from a vending machine - how does it compare to the real deal?
    • Cat A COE prices cross $100k mark again in first bidding exercise for July 2025
    • Sleeping on the job: This company will pay people $7 per hour to nap
    • Chanel shows haute couture in private salon setting at Grand Palais
    • McDonald's launching Chilli Crab Sauce Burger in collab with Jumbo Seafood, also releasing limited-edition Lunch Bag

Digicult

Digicult
    • Slim, sleek, but slightly too short-lived: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review
    • World's best Dota 2 teams to compete for $1m prize pool in Singapore in November
    • 'Report 1 shop, another 10 appear': Hoyo Fest artists on copyright struggles
    • NTU penalises 3 students over use of AI tools; they dispute university's findings
    • Australia social media teen ban software trial organisers say the tech works
    • Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
    • Initiative by IMDA, AI Verify Foundation tests AI accuracy, trustworthiness in real-world scenarios
    • Under siege? Helldivers 2's latest city to be invaded by aliens could be spoof of Singapore
    • Honor 400 Series launches in Singapore with first free in-device AI image-to-video tool
    • Home Team humanoid robots to be deployed by mid-2027, $100m to be invested: Josephine Teo

Money

Money
    • Best credit card promotions in Singapore (June 2025): Citibank, DBS, HSBC, UOB and more
    • Temasek sees $45b rise in net portfolio value to record high of $434b amid global uncertainties
    • 'It's our grandfather's company, we won't sell', says Wong family as shareholders reject GE delisting bid
    • Japan, South Korea hit with 25% tariffs as Trump ramps up trade war in letters to leaders
    • Trump says alignment with BRICS' 'anti-American policies' to invite additional 10% tariffs
    • Regulators warned Air India Express about delay on Airbus engine fix, forging records
    • Higher seller's stamp duty a 'light touch' to curb property flipping: Experts
    • Trump tax bill averts one debt crisis but makes future financial woes worse
    • Seller's stamp duty rates for private homes raised; holding period increased from 3 years to 4
    • Trump escalates feud with Musk, threatens Tesla, SpaceX support

Latest

Latest
  • Daily roundup: Ex-diplomat Bilahari Kausikan weighs in on Trump's ambassador-nominee to Singapore — and other top stories today
  • US wants South Korea to join efforts to counter China in shipbuilding
  • Effigies of refugees set alight on bonfire condemned in Northern Ireland
  • Asean agrees Myanmar election is not a priority, Malaysia says
  • Philippines' president to discuss tariffs in Trump meeting this July, top diplomat says
  • New Zealand braces for severe weather as storm threatens flooding
  • China offers to help resolve Thailand and Cambodia border dispute
  • South Korea, Japan and US conduct air drill as defence chiefs meet
  • US's Marco Rubio to meet China's Wang Yi in Malaysia amid trade tension

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Jail for ex-auxiliary police officer who loaded 1 bullet and accidentally discharged revolver
  • Woman injured on SMRT bus after bottle thrown at vehicle shatters window
  • Singaporean drivers rack up over $17k in fines for VEP violations in 5 days
  • Roblox avatar and lantern: Star Awards 2025 looks that made us go 'huh?'
  • Long time no see! Sharon Au, Li Nanxing, Yvonne Lim and others return to Star Awards stage
  • 'Intimacy was not anything sexual', says man who drove car with lover's husband on bonnet
  • Boy, 9, has kidney removed after falling at Bukit Batok playground
  • 'We just want our money': Income Insurance shareholders disappointed at failed Allianz deal
  • Buying property in Malaysia as a Singaporean: 6 key restrictions to be aware of
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.