This year’s National Day Parade (NDP) will be broadcast on TV and online, while more of the physical celebrations will be brought to the heartlands for everyone to enjoy. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect.
The parade
Before the parade at the Padang in the morning, tune in to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s annual National Day Message. The parade will consist of small marching contingents from the Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Singapore Police Force (SPF) and a band from SPF and the Singapore Armed Forces. It will also include an inspection by President Halimah Yacob, the traditional gun salute and a special salute to frontline workers and other individuals who are fighting against the pandemic.
What’s different this year is that parade favourites such as the state flag fly-past (10.30am to 11.30am) and fighter jet aerial display (10.45am to 11.15am) can be witnessed in different areas around Singapore. (Look out for the flags and F-15 fighter jets from your windows!) While the two flags (eastern and western route) make their way across the island, the National Anthem will be played at the Padang (10.20am) and viewers will be asked to sing along from their homes and at flag-raising ceremonies across the island.
The classic mobile column of armed forces vehicles (10am to 1pm) and famous Red Lions team of parachutists (11.10am) will also be making appearances in various neighbourhoods. Plus, there’ll be a maritime sail-past off Marina Bay (11am). The mobile column will heading along five special routes across the island, while the Red Lions will be landing in Seng Kang and Jurong East. For more details, head to the NDP website.
In the afternoon, the NDP organising committee will be offering fun activities to do at home, from workouts and cooking to pledges and arts and crafts.
The concert
Instead of the annual outdoor mass performance, this year’s evening show will be held at a smaller scale at The Star Performing Arts Centre. Starting at 7pm, it will also be available to watch on TV and online.
Viewers can look forward to live small group performances and videos featuring local celebrities (such as Dick Lee and Nathan Hartono, who sang the 2020 NDP theme song “Everything I Am”) and other Singaporeans. It will feature the inaugural NDP Virtual Choir singing the National Day song “We Are Singapore”. The show will also pay tribute to front-liners and community members who are working hard during the pandemic. The night will end with the singing of the National Anthem and reciting of the pledge (8.20pm).
The fireworks
Who else is looking forward to this? For the first time, fireworks will be set off across 10 different heartland locations. They are Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Buona Vista, Jurong Lake Gardens, Marina Reservoir, Punggol, Sembawang, Tampines, Woodlands and Yew Tee. Residents in neighbouring estates will be able to see them too – the fireworks will reach heights between 15 and 62 storeys! They’ll start right after the pledge and last around five minutes.
Note that in line with safe distancing, The Jurong Lake Gardens, Marina Reservoir and areas around Marina Bay will be cordoned off.
Visit the NDP website for updates.
For more helpful tips head to our Living in Singapore section.
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