As Singapore turns 58, its National Day celebrations are all set to bring the festivities to the heartlands. Spanning the weekend of Aug 5 and Aug 6, a host of activities, from sports try-outs to live performances, will be organised at five designated heartland sites. These initiatives aim to bring the spirit of the National Day closer to more Singaporeans.
Diverse Heartland Celebrations
The celebrations are organized at five locations: ActiveSG Bedok Sport Centre, ActiveSG Jurong West Sport Centre, ActiveSG Toa Payoh Sport Centre, ActiveSG Woodlands Sport Centre, and Our Tampines Hub. Each venue will host the festivals from 4pm to 9pm on both days, with an exception at Our Tampines Hub, where the festivities will take place only on Aug 6.
Colonel Teng Shin Fong, Chairman of the NDP 2023 Heartland Celebrations Committee, expressed his enthusiasm about the ‘GetActive! Singapore Heartland Festivals’. These events, organized in partnership with Sport Singapore, are designed to encourage community participation in celebrating the nation’s independence.
Activities for All
There’s something for everyone in these festivals. Sport tryouts for athletics, basketball, floorball, football, hockey, table tennis, and tennis will test participants’ competitive spirit. Experiential activities like archery, skateboarding, roller skating, Nerf, and Zorb ball promise thrilling experiences.
Relive the nostalgia with traditional Kampung games, and join in family fun activities like bouncy castles, community mural painting, and snack booths. The live stage performances and fringe activities will further enhance the celebratory ambiance. Admission to these festival sites will be ticketed based on site capacities, and ticket details will be made available on the NDP website.
Aerial Spectacle on National Day
On Aug 9, in addition to the parade at the Padang, a spectacle in the sky awaits Singaporeans. Two CH-47SD Chinook helicopters, each escorted by two AH-64D Apache helicopters, will execute the “Fly Our Flag” segment, displaying the state flag as they fly across Singapore from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
An A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, six F-16D+ and three F-15SG fighter aircraft will execute the RSAF55 Island Flypast from 5.40pm to 6.10pm, soaring over the five heartland sites. Concurrently, a fireworks display at the Padang and the heartland sites will add sparkle to the National Day celebrations.
Conclusion
ActiveSG chief, Tan Hock Leong, extended an open invitation to residents near these sites to join the celebrations with family and friends. The broad array of festivities, community involvement, and the vibrant celebration of Singapore’s 58th National Day indeed promises a weekend of memorable experiences for Singaporeans of all ages.
