National Day Parade 2024: Rain fails to dampen high festive spirits of attendees

It rained on this parade, not once, but twice - but nothing can dampen the spirits of parade attendees.

At about 4.50pm and 5.30pm on Friday, the parade square at the Padang saw some light showers as attendees were streaming in for the National Day Parade.

The gloomy weather however, did not seem to dampen the spirits of the 27,000 attendees, who were seen whipping out their umbrellas and ponchos.

Even as it continued to pour, the smiles on their faces were still visible as they looked forward to the evening’s show.

Speaking with AsiaOne, Gary Tan, 40, was all smiles as he stood in line, ready to enter the venue to get to his seats.

He shared that although being caught in the rain did slightly upset him at first, his spirits lifted once again as the event started.

Attending the parade with his family and in-laws, Tan said: "We're looking forward to finding the best seat with the best views!"

Tan also shared that he and his family were most looking forward to the Red Lions' descent during the parade this year.

The Red Lions, who made their appearance at about 6.30pm, landed smoothly despite the rain - perhaps a little too smooth as some unavoidably slipped on the wet parade grounds of the Padang.

Despite the slight slip-ups, crowds cheered nonetheless, giving whole-hearted cheers and applause for their brave descent despite the cloudy, rainy skies.

Lawrence Wong's first NDP as prime minister

Later in the evening, as Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong stepped into the Padang, crowds could be heard cheering as the former PM waved his flag, smiling at the attendees.

The announcer also thanked SM Lee on behalf of the people of Singapore for his contributions to country before a short video played, recounting multiple quotes by Lee on Singapore's success thus far.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong then arrived by vehicle, waving at the crowd as he stepped out.

Attendees could be heard cheering as he stepped up to his seat, shaking SM Lee's hand as he walked by him.

This is Wong's first parade as PM. 

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam then arrived soon after, similarly being escorted out of his vehicle by military personnel.

He waved at the crowds before the National Anthem began playing, just as an Chinook helicopter flew over the Padang, the Singapore flag fluttering in the sky.

Five F-16 fighter jets blitzed over the skies of the Padang soon after, fanning out in a "bomb burst" formation as they roared past.

The feu de joie (fire of joy) that took place as part of the salute to the President filled the air with the cracking sound of gunshots as some attendees covered their ears.

This is Tharman's first parade as president - he was sworn in as Singapore's ninth president in September 2023.

Smell of gunpowder

The crowd was also wowed by the Dynamic Defence Display segment which showcased the military capabilities of Singapore. 

It left audience members enraptured as the air was filled with the sounds of gunfire and aircraft roaring overhead.

The faint smell of gunpowder also wafted in the air as multiple pyrotechnic devices went off.

As the music came to a brief halt, Leopard tanks rolled up to the Padang, firing off shots accompanied by bursts of flame, with heat that could be felt from the front row of seats.

Later amid the show performances, fireworks lit up the sky in a multitude of colours in stark contrast with the dark of night.

At the apex of the performance, Benjamin Kheng took the stage to sing the theme song for this year's NDP, Not Alone.

Fireworks went off again, reflecting against the glass windows of the Marina Bay Sands.

'NDP's number one fan'

Speaking with AsiaOne, Kenneth Chiang, who referred to himself as "NDP's number one fan", said that his favourite part of the show was when singer Amni Musfirah stepped out from a blooming orchid background during the show segment, which wowed him to no end.

"When I first saw the flower open, my jaw dropped," he gushed.

The 29-year-old Chiang, who was attending with a friend, said he attended his first NDP in 1998, and subsequently attended every single parade from 2009 till the present.

However, this year's parade is one "to remember for many years to come".

"I thought this year's show is quite heartwarming... especially with all the visuals. Everything really came together to create a very nice spectacle for Singapore," he said. 

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khooyihang@asiaone.com
claudiatan@asiaone.com