SINGAPORE - For the first time, dog lovers celebrating the Chinese New Year can enjoy a fun day out with their furry friends in Chinatown.
In celebration of the Year of the Dog, a dog-themed carnival and a dog costume competition - where the canines can come decked out in their best festive outfits - will take place at Kreta Ayer Square on Feb 3.
Dogs will also make an appearance in the form of 88 larger-than-life dog lanterns adorning the streets of Chinatown.
They are among the 2,188 handcrafted lanterns to be displayed for the annual Street Light-Up from Jan 27 to March 16, organisers said at a media preview on Tuesday (Jan 23).
There will be an 11m-tall centrepiece depicting a family of dogs and their puppies with a giant gold ingot at the junction of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Street.
The lanterns are designed in collaboration with students and faculty from the Singapore University of Technology and Design for the seventh year in a row.
The light-up, which will be powered by around 13,000 environmentally-friendly LED light bulbs, spans more than 800m along Eu Tong Sen Street, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road.
Dr Lily Neo, Jalan Besar GRC MP, said: "Chinese New Year is a time not only to strengthen our family bonds, but to also build harmony in the community. Hence, our line-up of festivities reflects these values and promotes community bonding and harmony by inviting people of other races and nationalities to take part in the festivities and together, usher in the Year of the Dog."
Organised by the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens Consultative Committee, the theme of this year's Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations is "Blossoms of Happiness and Prosperity".
The seven-week long celebrations will run from Jan 27 to March 16 and officially begins with the Official Light-Up and Opening Ceremony on Jan 27, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as the guest of honour.
Other highlights include the 11th International Lion Dance Competition on Feb 2 and 3, the 420-stall Festive Street Bazaar from Jan 26 to Feb 15, the Chinatown Chinese New Year Countdown Party on Feb 15, and the Chingay 2018 @ Chinatown on Feb 25.
