Chingay 2018 – “Make Some Noise!”

I love, love, love a parade – the color, the bands, the people watching – everything about them! Singapore’s annual Chingay Parade is the largest street performance and float parade in all of Asia and I was sooo excited to be going.

The parade started back in 1973, when the People’s Association (an organization charged with nation-building programs to promote social cohesion and multiracialism) teamed up with the Singapore National Pugilistic Federation (an organization to promote and advance martial arts) to hold a street parade depicting aspects of Chinese culture, i.e. dragon and lion dances, martial arts and street opera.

It was so well received, organizers made it an annual festival, held the first weekend of the Lunar New Year. Two years after its inception, the parade was made more inclusive of the country’s other ethnic groups — Malays, Indians and Eurasians. Chingay is now billed as epitomizing “the dynamism of Singapore’s vibrant and multicultural society.”

The event has a very proud, patriotic feel. The enthusiastic and very loud emcees encouraged crowd cheering and participation. “You are all part of this celebration! We are all Singapore! Here, we celebrate together as one!”

The Chingay Parade is held in Singapore’s F1 Pit Building, which contrary to its name, is outside. In all of our time here, we have never felt a drop of rain — until Parade Day! Rain ponchos were the fashion accessory of choice and necessity!

Fortunately, ponchos were thoughtfully provided in the cool Chingay swag bags!

It takes over 2,000 volunteers to put on the show.

Teen volunteers were charged with being “Crowd Motivators”

The young volunteers by us were adorable!

Loved the corsages we received while waiting for the parade to start!

Please don’t rain on my parade . . .

. . . and it didn’t!! The skies cleared just before the pre-parade activities were to begin.

This group of teens warmed up the crowd with an amazing, acrobatic hip hop performance.

I couldn’t get enough of these cuties waiting for their call to perform.

Chingay 2018 Opening performance

Chingay 2018 Opening performance

Chingay 2018 Opening performance

The guests of honor, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, arrived in the first float to officially begin the Parade.

Let’s make some noise Singapore!

The young kids’ float and dance were a highlight!

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