TORONTO — Singapore is gearing up for a jam-packed year of festivals and events, all of which will highlight the country’s colourful culture, innovative experiences and fascinating traditions.

Here are just five not-to-be-missed events to mark on your calendar:

Avatar: The Experience. Inspired by the film ‘Avatar,’ this immersive walkthrough experience brings movie magic to life with its bioluminescent environments, mystical creatures and flora in the alien world of Pandora. The experience, which is available at the Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest, also includes an artistic sculpt representation of the new marine creature ‘the Ilu,’ from the upcoming film ‘Avatar: The Way of Water.’ The experience runs until March 31, 2023, with tickets available at www.klook.com and www.gardensbythebay.com.sg.

Light to Night Festival. Running from Jan. 6-23, 2023, Light to Night 2023 embraces the theme of ‘Here and Now,’ exploring what it really means to be in the present. Guests will marvel over large-scale installations, digital art projections on the exterior of the National Gallery, live performances as well as other drop-in activities.

Chinese New Year Celebrations. The streets of Chinatown will come to life from Jan. 1 to Feb. 19, 2023 to ring in Chinese New Year. Festivities kick off with a street lighting ceremony followed by weekend live performances, a street bazaar selling delicious treats and more.

River HongBao at Gardens by the Bay. Taking place from Jan. 20-28, 2023, this lively event will be a celebration of light and love, with a special Chinese New Year-themed greeting cards exhibition, nightly live performances, an amusement zone, a flower blessing activity, a lantern riddle corner, and an array of food, drink and handicraft stalls.

Singapore Cocktail Festival 2023. Artisanal concoctions will be on full display during this popular annual event. Since its inception in 2017, over 35,000 visitors have come to imbibe in unforgettable cocktail moments. This year’s edition will once again bring together legendary bartenders from around the world in Singapore’s gorgeous Civic District.

For more information on travel to Singapore, go to www.visitsingapore.com.

Safe Travel Information

From Aug. 29, 2022, all travellers can enjoy quarantine-free travel in Singapore, regardless of their vaccination status.