Ring in 2016 with a bang

What better way to round off this year - with more SG50 activities - and usher in the new one than by partying the whole night long?

Live it up this New Year's Eve at Mediacorp's Celebrate 2016 countdown party at The Float @ Marina Bay.
Live it up this New Year's Eve at Mediacorp's Celebrate 2016 countdown party at The Float @ Marina Bay. PHOTO: MEDIACORP CHANNEL 5

As the final few SG50 events wrap up, it is time for another round of partying - this time to send off the jubilee year and welcome the new year. But before we put on our countdown party hats, there is still some time left for SG50 celebrations.

The People's Association has events throughout the month to round off the year-long festivities, such as the Jurong Spring Time Capsule event on Sunday.

Youths will place into the time capsule items which hold special meaning for Jurong residents such as a sketch of the Jurong Spring market and their wishes for SG100. The capsule will be opened in 2065.

Mediacorp's Celebrate 2016 countdown party will reflect the spirit of SG50.

Ms Debra Soon, Mediacorp's head of Family (English) and Premier Segments, says the bash at The Float @ Marina Bay will "applaud local talents with an injection of international glamour, and through music, dance and fireworks, a projection of exciting times ahead".

The seven-hour extravaganza will feature headline act, American singer Adam Lambert, and a star-studded line-up of local celebrities including actor Shane Pow and the cast of TV series Tanglin.

If welcoming the new year alongside thousands of others is not your cup of tea, there is a plethora of smaller affairs taking place across the island - from dancing the night away at one of the many nightclub parties on Dec 31 to tucking into a festive dinner in a fancy restaurant.

Iconic nightclub Zouk will throw its final countdown party at its Jiak Kim Street premises before it moves to Clarke Quay next year.

Says Ms Sofie Chandra, Zouk's head of marketing and events: "It will be emotional and sentimental for many of us - staff, regulars and customers alike. I have spent 10 years counting down to a new year at Zouk at Jiak Kim, so it is something close to my heart."

The club is going bigger this year too, upping the budget for the set design by 25 per cent to about $35,000.

For those who want something different - and much quieter - non-profit society Asian Spiritual Classics is holding a special yoga and meditation session on New Year's Eve.

The folks at Artistry cafe in Jalan Pinang are also joining the celebrations this year and have come up with an overnight brunch party.

Co-owner Prashant Somosundram says: "Instead of the usual supper options, we wanted to flip things around and make our signature brunch staples available for revellers before they stumble into bed."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 18, 2015, with the headline Ring in 2016 with a bang. Subscribe