Individual Assignment 2 - Christmas arrives at Orchard (and so does the crowd)

The annual light-up is now on - and hordes of locals and tourists alike have flocked to the streets to see it with their own eyes!

(watch in 720p for better visuals!)

Last weekend, the iconic streets of Orchard Road lit up in an elegant blue and white.

Yes, it’s the time of the year again – the annual Christmas light-up in town. This year, the primary light colours are on the conservative side, reportedly to not confuse motorists, according to the Orchard Road Business Association (Orba). Netizens have been abuzz about the decision; after all, which driver would actually be so ignorant as to mistake fairy lights for traffic lights?

Winter Wonderland: Orchard Road brimming with blue and white Christmas lights.

Whatever the colours, the light-up is no less stunning than previous years. The blue and white combination adds a touch of sophistication to the streets and likens the atmosphere to a white Christmas – something one can only dream of here in sunny Singapore.

The crowd on Sunday - unsurprisingly larger than on a normal day - was a mix of locals, curious tourists and photographers honing their skills. Almost everyone along the pavement was capturing their moments with a smartphone, DSLR camera, or even an iPad. 

Photoception! A tourist poses with a festive sculpture outside Wheelock Place

The lighted streets are a playground for photographers. "Every year, the decorations are different, and every year, we get different kinds of shots," said freelance photographer Arthur Wong, 45. "It's like documenting the how Orchard Road has changed."

Feeling blue? The exterior of and steps outside Wisma Atria were adorned in similar colours too.

What's Christmas without the trees? Aside from the fairy lights, the gigantic Christmas tree located just outside ION Orchard is another symbolic feature of the annual light-up. Adorned in colour-changing LED lights, its interior is big enough to accommodate 30-40 people at one time. Within the tree hangs even more fairy lights.

Watt a tree! Iconic LED light Christmas tree outside ION Orchard

Tree of Luxury: Iconic Christmas tree inside Ngee Ann City - decorated in Tiffany & Co. style this year.

The equally iconic Ngee Ann City tree, towering at 16 metres, gives the ION Orchard tree a run for its money. This Christmas tree sports a different theme each year, and this year, luxury jeweller Tiffany & Co. adds a touch of glamour and royalty to it. The tree draws a huge crowd every year, and its gleaming silver, blue and bronze Tiffany ornaments are sure to bring in many admirers once again this festive season.

Retailers are also cashing in on the festive season, launching seasonal sales and new products. Several makeshift stalls and pushcarts hawking Christmas wares have also sprouted in town. 

Cashing in: A makeshift stall on the first level of ION Orchard hawking festive ornaments

Coffee, tea of me? A pair of teenage girls pose for the camera in front of a gift box decoration outside Wisma Atria

Some locals even make it a habit to visit Orchard Road to view the lights every year. Housewife Kelly Lim, 43, was strolling along the streets with her son on Sunday. "My son saw pictures of the light-up on the papers and he wanted to see them for himself," she explained in Mandarin, "We come here every year to soak in the festive atmosphere."

Indeed, the Christmas atmosphere is nowhere as lovely anywhere else on the island. Aside from the lights, other prominent scenes include various groups of choirs carolling, their harmonious voices filling the December air. Dance enthusiasts were also grooving to festive tunes on Sunday as Santas and Santarinas made appearances from time to time. 

"Christmas at Orchard Road has a very nice atmosphere. I love it," added Arthur. 

Naughty or nice? A model posing as Santarina for a shoot on the steps of Wisma Atria

The Light-Up Period is from Saturday 23 November 2013 – Sunday 5 January 2014 and will take place at the following times of the day:
- 6.30pm to 6am on Christmas Eve and both New Year’s Eves;
- 6.30pm to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays;
- 6.30pm to 12 midnight on Mondays to Thursdays and on Sundays.