Chingay parade

[1] In November 2024, Singapore and Malaysia announced a joint effort to nominate the Chingay Parade for inclusion in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This collaboration aims to recognize the parade's cultural significance in both countries and is scheduled for submission in March 2025, with a decision expected by the end of 2026.

[4] It is a street art where the performer balances a giant flag that ranges from 25 to 32 feet (7.6 to 9.8 m) in height and about 60 pounds (27 kg) in weight.

[12] As a result, the inability to set off fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year caused general unhappiness and reduced public enthusiasm among the largely Chinese population in Singapore.

According to People's Association (PA), prime minister Lee Kuan Yew decided to hold a Chingay parade to liven up the occasion.

[14] The largely Chinese parade became a multi-cultural one from 1977 when Malay and Indian groups started joining in the performances, which was to mark a major precedent in the overall flavour of the parade into one which has become largely multi-cultural in character, despite the continued presence of traditional Chinese acts such as lion dances and stilt walkers to this day.

In 2000, the parade was shifted out of Orchard Road to the Civic District centering at City Hall, an area steeped in Singaporean history and culture.

Construction works at the City Hall area resulted in the parade marching through the streets of the Chinatown district for the first time.

For the 2009 parade, it was centralised around Parliament House with the performers going around the Padang and also featured a magical Grand Finale (MAGICBOX@Chingay 2009).

[15] It also included activities in which the public could participate, such as the Teresa Teng Look-Alike Photo Contest[16] and the Chingay Paparazzi competition.

The 2018 Chingay was the first year to have a free street parade and carnival as part of the celebration, and followed a 1.5 kilometre route, double the length of the usual 720 metres.