Soon it'll be X'mas day

'Twas the weekend before Christmas and crowds were out across the island

It was the last weekend before Christmas and the crowds were out in full force across the island to soak in the festive cheer.

Some headed around the corner to malls in the heartland, while others thronged the Orchard Road shopping belt to pick up some last-minute gifts.

At Paragon, families and friends seized the opportunity to create lasting picture-perfect memories as they gathered for a shot before a 12m-tall Christmas tree decked in swirls of gold and red ribbons.

Over at City Square Mall, children enjoyed various game booths and capped the day's activities with 30 minutes of "snowy" playtime.

Back for its second year, Gardens by the Bay's Christmas Wonderland brought back old holiday favourites, such as Baroque-style light sculptures, a vintage carousel and funfair rides.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 21, 2015, with the headline Soon it'll be X'mas day. Subscribe