9 Fun & Festive Things To Do At Orchard Road & The Great Christmas Village

Ah, Christmas in Singapore… it wouldn’t be complete without a traipse to Orchard Road to check out the lights and soak in the fun and festivities. And this year, Singapore’s glitziest street will once again be all decked out in sparkle and shine to add cheer to your year-end celebrations. The Great Christmas Village also returns this year in three (!!!) locations — Shaw House Urban Plaza, *SCAPE and Grange Road Car Park, packed with thrills, spills and great food over 7,800 sq ft, more than double the size of previous years. Here’s what you can expect at The Great Christmas Village.

Adrenaline junkies, you’re in for a treat at The Great Christmas Village at Grange Road Car Park, where over 20 exhilarating thrill rides await. Get dizzy on the Penguin Cup, spin up a storm on the Turbo ride (in pic) or go nuts in the bumper cars. Great fun for kids and kidults alike.

Location: Grange Road Car Park

There’s something super festive and nostalgic about a carnival, and the one at The Great Christmas Village is packed with stall after stall of games for carnival lovers. Got good aim? Try your luck and win plushies and other goodies your inner kids will squeal at. There are also Claw Machines, a 3D Shooting Gallery and other awesome games to challenge your pals and loved ones.

Location: Grange Road Car Park

Find the yummiest street food — curated for your dining pleasure — at Nom Nom Nom, food stalls located at the outdoor plaza of *SCAPE. The Street Gourmet offers scrumptious grilled meats like the Japanese Wagyu Beef Cube, Truffle Beef Cube, and Flaming Smoked Duck Cube Donburi, The Goodburger serves up Impossible Burgers, while anyone with a sweet tooth will love the Ice Cream Sandwiches from The Ice Cream & Cookie Co. Also on offer: Bubble tea, beer and other beverages to quench your thirst while you play up a storm.

Location: *SCAPE

The Mini TOYBOX, powered by Hasbro, features loads of activities from your favourite Hasbro brands for the young and young-at-heart. The My Little Pony Christmas Magic area features a Creation Studio where you can design MLP-themed glitter-filled Christmas baubles or gift bags that are exclusively available at Mini TOYBOX, a Makeover Salon where you can get a Pony-rrific makeover complete with hair extensions and temporary cutie mark tattoos, and a My Little Pony bouncy castle (!). If you’ve always wanted to be a Monopoly billionaire, head to the Property Marker to create a personalised Title Deed badge that’s also exclusive to the Mini TOYBOX, or grab some Chance Cards in the Monopoly Chance Vault to win exciting prizes. There’s even a Nerf Nation Racetrack with challenges like a go-kart race, Nerf Disruptor blaster target maze and Shooting Gallery — pit yourself against your best mates to win attractive Nerf merchandise.

Location: Grange Road Car Park

Think you’re good at claw machines? Put your skills to use at The Santa Claw: Christmas Edition at the Mini TOYBOX powered by Hasbro. You get to go into a life-sized human claw machine, be strapped into the Super Claw Harness, slap on a pair of oversized gloves, and get grabby in a pool of Hasbro mystery prizes. Fun!

Location: Grange Road Car Park

Last year’s Duplex Carousel was a hit, and this year, you can head to The Great Christmas Village at Shaw House Urban Plaza for more rollicking family-friendly fun. Pick your favourite steed on the pretty Duplex Carousel, or hop on this smaller one at *SCAPE (in pic). At The Great Christmas Village at *SCAPE, there are more rides and fun — live out your Jack Sparrow dreams on the Pirate Ship, and let the kiddies go for a ride on the London Train.

Location: Shaw House Urban Plaza & *SCAPE

Catch some of Singapore’s best musical talent as they take to the stage at The Great Christmas Village at *SCAPE. Don’t miss bands like Brass Band, Estelle Fly, Midnight Mantras, The Common People and more with live performances at 7pm and 8.15pm nightly.

Location: *SCAPE

What’s a Christmas celebration along Orchard Road without gorgeous decorations? And this year, there are special photo spots along the shopping precinct with unique sets to form a perfect backdrop for your Christmas photos. Snap a pic with Santa and his reindeer at *SCAPE, or take a selfie with the help of the “Stacking Mini Santas”, who can even help hold up your selfie stick. There’ll also be a four-metre immersive tunnel formed by giant Christmas icons — the best place to get a sparkly shot with your mates after an exciting night at The Great Christmas Village at Grange Road Car Park.

Location: Orchard Road

When you’re done bumping around The Great Christmas Village and all its rides and games, go shopping! Even the shopping is more fun, as you can play the Chasing Rooster game to top up your bank account with cash prizes. From Dec 1 to 7, visit facebook.com/sqkii for clues to the location of a Golden Egg that will be hidden in one of six possible locations along the Somerset precinct. The first person to find each Golden Egg will receive $100 cash! You could also unlock additional hints with secret codes redeemed from customer service counters, with a single receipt of $5 spent at The Great Christmas Village or any of the participating malls.

Be rewarded when you shop for Christmas presents along Orchard Road and pay with your Mastercard. Till 1st Jan 2020, charge a minimum of $300 or $500 to your Mastercard at any of the 11 participating malls along Orchard Road to redeem $30 or $50 shopping vouchers. We reckon this is the perfect excuse to treat yourself to an extra present — or five!

The Great Christmas Village is on till Dec 26. For more info and to buy credits for rides and games, go to christmasvillage.orchardroad.org.