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SG50 Public Holiday on 7 August 2015

Employment practices
  1. As Singapore marks 50 years of independence this year, the President has declared 7 August 2015 (Friday)1 a public holiday. This will make for an extended Jubilee Weekend over the 7 to 10 August period so as to enable all Singaporeans to participate in commemorating this special milestone in our nation’s history.
  2. “SG50 is a unique moment in our young nation’s history. It is a time for us to show appreciation to our pioneers, to strengthen our ties as one big Singaporean family, and to celebrate all that is special, all that we love, about our home. Many Singaporeans and organisations have come up with ideas on how to make SG50 meaningful and personal.”
  3. “I am pleased that we can have the SG50 Public Holiday and a Jubilee Weekend filled with meaningful and inspiring activities, for Singaporeans to come together and celebrate as one. I hope everyone will take part in the activities and events organised around the island, and spend this special time together with your loved ones,” said Minister Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of SG50 Steering Committee.
  4. Over the Jubilee Weekend, special programmes have also been prepared for Singaporeans around the island. Our museums and heritage galleries2 will remain open for Singaporeans to revisit and experience afresh the journey of Singapore’s story.
  5. Said Minister Heng of the Jubilee Weekend programmes, “These activities celebrate what we cherish – our aspirations to be a caring society, our values and families, our rich multi-cultural, multi-racial heritage, our achievements in the music, arts and sports, and all the places around Singapore that hold a special place in our hearts. In short, it is about our journey together as a people. I encourage everyone to enjoy the Jubilee Weekend fully, and make it a time filled with reflection, celebration, inspiration, and the love of family and home.”

    Programmes at Marina Bay area
  6. The Jubilee Weekend will kick off with the ComChest Heartstrings Walk 2015-SG50 Community Heartbeats at Marina Bay on 7 August as an expression of our aspiration as a caring and compassionate society.
  7. Special programmes will be held around the area over the weekend, including Families for Life picnics at the Marina Barrage, and aerial display performances by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Black Knights Team. Gardens by the Bay will create a floral depiction of Singapore’s Story and a SG50 edition of the Garden Rhapsody music and light show.
  8. These will culminate in the National Day Parade on 9 August, which will, for the first time, span the whole Marina Bay area from Gardens by the Bay to the Padang.

    Programmes at Singapore Botanic Gardens
  9. The Singapore Botanic Gardens will host a series of activities from 7 to 9 August showcasing the rich cultural and botanical heritage of the Gardens and shared memories of the Gardens as a much-loved civic space. Several performances will also be held on 7 to 8 August as part of NParks’ SG50 Concert Series in the Park. Visitors will be able to relive the Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat or “People’s Variety Show”, held in the Botanic Gardens in 1959, which was groundbreaking then as it was the first time that cultural performances by different races were featured in the same event.

    Programmes in the Parks
  10. Families for Life and NParks will organise a series of picnics at the West Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park and Sembawang Park on 7 August. Both young and old can bond over food and drinks, performances and movie screenings.

    Programmes at Singapore Sports Hub
  11. The Singapore Sports Hub will come alive with a celebration of our love for music and sports. Those who wish to enjoy some Singapore music by international and local talents can catch the Sing50 concert at the National Stadium on 7 August, featuring iconic songs popular with Singaporeans across the decades.
  12. At the Sports Hub on 8 and 9 August, Singaporeans can also take part in a community carnival and enjoy local games, music and snacks from the past 50 years.

    Programmes Islandwide
  13. All across the island, many Singaporeans have come together to organise community projects to mark our 50th year. These activities will peak over the Jubilee Weekend, with carnivals and mini-parades being held in our neighbourhoods for families, friends and neighbours to spend time together.
  14. As part of SG Heart Map, Singaporeans will be treated to special bus tours on 7 and 10 August that take them to their favourite places islandwide. The stops along the tours will be composed by Singaporeans’ choices of the most endearing places around this island that we call home.

    Special Concessions at Public Attractions and Facilities
  15. To enable Singaporeans to spend a memorable weekend with friends and family, several attractions and facilities have initiated discounted or free admission for Singaporeans over the Jubilee Weekend (7 to 10 August). These include Jurong Bird Park (50% discount); Flower Dome and Cloud Forest (50% discount, with free entry for seniors age 60 and above) at Gardens by the Bay; and free admission to the National Orchid Garden, Science Centre Singapore3 and ActiveSG swimming pools and gyms islandwide.
  16. More information on the Jubilee Weekend programme calendar will be available at www.singapore50.sg.

1 Employers should give their employees a paid public holiday on this day, just like for any other public holiday. For more information on the Public Holiday provisions, please visit MOM’s website.
2 This includes the National Museum of Singapore and Asian Civilisations Museum, the new Indian Heritage Centre, the Peranakan Museum, the Singapore Philatelic Museum, Reflections at Bukit Chandu, Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Malay Heritage Centre, Sports Museum, Civil Defence Heritage Gallery, Singapore City Gallery and Marina Barrage Sustainable Singapore Gallery.
3 Including “gated attractions” such as KidsSTOP, Snow City, Human Body Experience and the Omni-Theatre

About Singapore50

Singapore is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its independence in 2015. It is a time to celebrate what we have been through as a nation, the little things that make us Singaporean and our hopes and dreams for the future. Singaporeans can look forward to a variety of national and community programmes in the year-long celebrations. They are also invited to plan and organise their own activities, which could be supported by the SG50 Celebrations Fund. To guide and coordinate the plans for the 50th anniversary celebrations, a Singapore50 Steering Committee has been formed, comprising representatives from the public, private and people sectors. 

For more information on SG50, please visit www.Singapore50.sg.

About Families for Life

Families for Life aims to promote strong and resilient families in a genuine and positive way. Through engaging Singaporeans about families and providing platforms for family bonding, we aim to inspire Singaporeans to renew their commitment to their families. The Families for Life Council is headed by Mr Ching Wei Hong, Chief Operating Officer, OCBC Bank.

For more information, please visit www.familiesforlife.sg and www.facebook.com/familiesforlife.sg

About NParks SG50 Concert Series in the Park

NParks’ SG50 Concert Series in the Park encompasses six free public concerts held in various parks and gardens from March to December 2015. This series of concerts will showcase a host of well-known local talents and community performing groups. Catering to both young and old, these concerts will bring nostalgic melodies to the parks with a wide repertoire of jazz, classical, evergreen classics and local favourites.

For more information, please visit www.nparks.gov.sg/sg50 or www.facebook.com/nparksbuzz.

About SG Heart Map

Home is where the heart is. Each generation of Singaporeans can name a place in Singapore which evokes special memories and warm feelings. In a unique collaboration with Singaporeans, SG Heart Map is the first-ever crowd-sourced map of the nation’s ‘heart’ and special moments. It is “drawn” by ordinary Singaporeans who are invited to share their stories of places in Singapore that are dear to them. Curated in a living, growing map that will be hosted online, as well as through a series of public events, activities and exhibitions during Singapore’s Jubilee year, it seeks to bring Singaporeans together across the generations, evoke shared memories, and inspire their hopes for Singapore’s future.

SG Heart Map is an SG50 Programme. Visit www.heartmap.sg.