National Day Parade 2024: A Roaring Showcase of Singapore
Red, White, and a Sea of Cheers
About 27,000 proud Singaporeans turned the iconic Padang into a vibrant sea of red and white, cheering their nation’s 54th birthday with gusto and pride.
Festive Float Parade
- Eight dazzling bicentennial floats roaring through history.
- The ever‑popular Red Lions parachutists, dropping from 3 km, landing one by one to wild applause.
- Fighter jets carving neon trails across the sky, a breathtaking aerial ballet.
- A brand‑new hip‑hop and rap segment, a first‑time splash of rhythm that had heads nodding.
- Multicultural dance showcases, a colorful mosaic of Singapore’s diverse talents.
Mobile Column – 171 Machines of Power
Back on stage from its 2015 debut, the mobile column displayed cutting‑edge military gear.
- Air Force’s Aster‑30 surface‑to‑air missile system.
- Army’s newly commissioned Hunter Armed Fighting Vehicle.
- Other formidable equipment that left onlookers awestruck.
Fiery Celebration by the River
The Marina Bay and Singapore River areas teemed with families and friends, awaiting a grand fireworks spectacle, the first of its kind to honor the river’s storied past.
Countdown: The burst began at 8 pm sharp, lighting up the night for a dazzling five‑minute finale.
Global VIPs On Deck
- Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
- Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
- Bruneian Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
20‑Year‑Old Milestone
With the bicentennial marking 200 years since the British first set foot in Singapore, the parade celebrated the country’s journey from a trading port to a vibrant modern metropolis.
Musical Kick‑Off
A lively rendition of “Our Singapore”, the theme song of the year, opened the ceremony. The performance featured 825 young artists from Academy Of Stars, Danz People, Martial House, and Touch Community Services, setting the tone for the day ahead.
Army’s Red Lions in the Spotlight
The nine parachutists from the Singapore Army performed a series of free falls from 3 km high, landing with precision that had the crowd roaring with excitement.
Dance & Music Fusion
About 120 dancers from Republic Polytechnic, alongside a joint marching band from Bowen and Deyi secondary schools, delivered a high‑energy routine that left everyone humming for minutes afterward.
Singapore’s 200th National Day Parade – A Throwback to Old‑School Glory
Picture this: Ministers, MPs, and foreign dignitaries swooping in on the Padang, ready to cheer as the spectacle unfolds. It’s like a blockbuster movie, but with more military precision and less CGI.
Float‑fizz with History
First on the parade deck were the bicentennial floats that marched forward with a sprinkle of nostalgia. The Singapore Volunteer Rifle Corps—founded back in 1854—paired up with the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, set up a century earlier in 1864. These two were the backbone of early Singapore’s growth and still hold a spot in the eye‑catching parade lineup.
- The Straits Times – the paper that’s been reporting on our island for generations.
- Robinsons – the department store that’s never been out of style.
- Singapore General Hospital – the place where the nation’s heroes are admitted.
- Singapore Fire Brigade – ready to douse any fire, literal or figurative.
- Singapore Police Force – the guardians of peace and order.
- Post Office Savings Bank – now a bank, but not a bank‑er for us.
- Singapore Post – the reliable messengers who’ve been busy all along.
Marching Into the Future
Less than ten minutes later, a whopping 38 marching contingents burst onto the scene. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Home Team Volunteer Contingent, LiHo Tea, and Nanyang Polytechnic all made their first public debut—a cause for a snappy “cheers” in the crowd.
The President’s Flash‑in
In walks President Halimah Yacob for her second NDP appearance. She appears to the National Anthem, and a state flag as huge as a 30‑metre by 20‑metre flag takes flight in a Chinook helicopter, accompanied by two Apache choppers. Talk about a statement.
She then inspects the parade, while a 21‑gun presidential salute rumbles loud from the 24th Battalion, Singapore Artillery at Merlion Park. No better way to bring thunder to the night.
High‑Flying Power Moves
Following that, the sky lights up with two F‑15SG fighter jets and a brand‑new A330 Multi‑Role Tanker Transport aircraft (its first time at the NDP). They waltz in an arrowhead formation, each jet slicing through the sky in a spectacular midair handshake. And the third jet takes a daring vertical climb—because why not add a little acrobatic flair?
Rolling Through the Parade
After the marching and flying guys made a grand exit, the mobile column rolled in—marking the 50th year since the first engines roared onto the Padang back in 1969. This year’s convoy stretched a full 1.3 kilometres and included the SAF, Singapore Police Force, and Singapore Civil Defence Force.
It took the troops approximately 14 minutes and 30 seconds to drive past, a show that nicely spells out Singapore’s readiness and unwavering commitment to protect the city-state.
Final Stage – The Acknowledgment
All in all, it’s a grand op‑score that straddles centuries, all wrapped up in ceremony, history, and a dash of cinematic gusto. From the roots of Singapore’s early industry to the flying machines that cut through the skies, this parade paints quite a picture of where we came from and where we’re going.
Catch the Party: Singapore’s National Day Parade 2025
Picture this: the Padang’s sky blazing with fireworks, a floodgate of cheers straight from the crowd, and a morning that felt less like a formal ceremony and more like an all‑out celebration of everything Singapore is and never forgets.
Act 1 – The “Merdeka Generation” Salute
- Honest‑to‑God “raw‑raw” salute: More than 30 servicemen in nostalgic ‘old uniforms’ stepped up, nailed a salute, and the crowd went collective six‑pack. Non‑stop applause.
- Why it mattered: A nod to the folks who had Singapore’s early security on lock. The crowd gasped, then cheered louder.
Act 2 – No description, just “We’re Not into a Train” vibes
Skipping ‘Act 2’ because that day the parade folks went straight to the juicy cuts—no description needed! The powerful, lived‑in feeling was built from the foundations laid in Acts 3 and onward.
Act 3 – “Our River” (A Wild West of Colours)
- 380 performers from the People’s Association plus an additional 40 from the Music & Drama Company danced in vivid, ethnic gear.
- Background? Sunset hues painting the Central Business District. Think: fibres of sunrise, but instead flares of sunset.
- What else? A multimedia short film from Royston Tan that spun the story of Singapore’s global family – languages, dialects, weddings, festivals, folklore, and arguably the most drool-inducing part – food.
Act 4 – “Our Nation” (Hip‑Hop & Rap? Because why not)
- First ever hip‑hop rap segment. Why? Because life’s too short to skip a beat.
- Three storytelling clips followed the rap, each spotlighting a hard‑knocked Singaporean overcoming adversity with stunt‑style grit and courage.
- Featured personalities include: Iris Verghese Sim (retired healthcare adviser), Anil David (social entrepreneur & ex‑convict), Helen Joseph (war survivor), and Danial Bawthan (aka Wheelsmith) – all performing.
Act 5 – “Our Dreams” (Laser, Lion, and the Mount‑aint‑of‑Students)
- Laser light‑show that made the Padang glow like a disco chair.
- Nova 6‑metre‑tall metallic lion: the largest prop ever! Think 1,000‑kg ferocious beast gentle enough for a parade.
- About 850 students from Hua Yi Secondary, Juying Primary, Pasir Ris Crest Secondary, and Temasek Secondary strutted in silver tunics with lion masks. Picture a sea of silver, the lion roar echoing amid the crowd.
The Grand Finale – “We’re All G‑How‑You All Are”
- All performers from Acts 3‑5 marched together, turned the stage into concert ground. The anthem? Our Singapore + Kit Chan’s “Home”.
- Veteran singers such as Clement Chow, Jacintha Abisheganaden, Mel Ferdinands, Rahimah Rahim made the crowd gasp.
- Young voices were flagged: Caitlin Tan (11), Heema Izzati Zainudin (13) – future kings (and queens) of Singapore’s song scene.
- Local rock legend Ramli Sarip (Papa Rock) delivered a soulful rendition of the National Anthem. The Padang became a gigantic sing‑alongoid party: “We Are Singapore,” “We Will Get There,” “Stand Up For Singapore.”
- Fireworks marched simultaneously, turning Padang into a sky‑music machine.
What If You Missed the Friday Fireworks?
- On Saturday, the four‑minute fireworks, mobile column, and carnival will hit five heartland areas.
- Bishan, Wisma Geylang Serai, Jurong East, Punggol and Woodlands. Missed that? Good luck!
So there you have it: a whimsical, flamboyant recap of the NATIONAL DAY PARADE — a full package of proud history, tambourine music, mighty lion props, and these gentle yet blunder‑prone daring hearts wearing audacious smiles.
