Marina Bay Sands transformed into a resplendent Christmas wonderland, following a grand unveiling of its property light-up and a resounding burst of confetti. For the first time, the integrated resort has teamed up with Dior Beauty for its annual Christmas Light-up to mark the start of the holiday season over an exciting stable of dining, shopping, leisure and entertainment specials.
Held at the Grand Colonnade South of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, The Christmas Light- up was graced by Ms Pia Wurtzbach, 2015 Miss Universe, Friend of Marina Bay Sands and Dior Beauty, unveiling a stunning 11-metre-tall tree crowned by Monsieur Dior’s lucky star – an emblem of the House – beneath a canopy of 14 garden-inspired floral trees floating in the heart of the mall.
Inspired by the gates of Les Tuileries Garden and designed by Italian visual artist Pietro Ruffo, the installation also features a magical carousel where Dior Beauty’s iconic fragrances are presented as larger-than-life sculptures or nestled in coffrets that open like musical boxes. Across the property, some 300 sparkling trees wrapped in bountiful red and gold ribbons invite visitors to unravel the joy of the festive season at every turn.
Paul Town, Chief Operating Officer at Marina Bay Sands, said, “We are pleased to be collaborating with Dior Beauty this holiday season to present our visitors with a truly magnificent spectacle to behold. 2023 has been an eventful year marked by many milestones in our ongoing transformation.”
The evening’s celebration welcomed the public and over 150 special guests to witness a brilliant display combining lights, performances, and an ensemble starring Christmas characters like gingerbread men, nutcrackers, and ballerinas. The integrated resort embraced its signature festive charm as lights were illuminated and snow-like confetti rained upon the audience.
Australian singer David Campbell, accompanied by the sweet voices of a children’s choir, serenaded the crowd with Christmas hits such as Hark The Herald Angels Sing and Merry Christmas Baby during the finale, signalling the arrival of the most wonderful time of the year.
Throughout the holiday season from 24 November to 25 December, the iconic three towers of Marina Bay Sands, along with the façade of ArtScience Museum and the underbelly of the Sands SkyPark, will also be decorated with enchanting animations, treating revellers around the Bay to a picturesque display at every angle.
Joyous gifting and retail therapy at The Shoppes
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands presents the Magic of a Dior holiday, inviting visitors to experience the Dior Beauty boutique Christmas pop-up at Basement 2. From now till 31 December, bask in the festive spirit and gather with loved ones while discovering Dior’s savoir- faire and art of gifting with bespoke services such as pouch embroidery, engraving and gift- wrapping. Browse limited-edition holiday collections with the House’s fragrance, makeup and skincare icons, including J’Adore, Rouge Dior, and Dior Prestige. Marina Bay Sands exclusives such as Dior Christmas tote bags and Dior stamps are available at the pop-up in limited quantities with a minimum spend.
The Shoppes also inspires an abundance of festive gifting ideas across its impressive repertoire of luxury brands, from BALMAIN’s asymmetric crepe buttoned dress featuring a sweetheart neckline and mother-of-pearl and gold metal buttons, to Chopard’s Happy Sport timepiece, an iconic watch from 1993 starring playful, free-spinning diamonds between two sapphire crystals.
The Gucci Horsebit bag crafted in Demetra leather also makes for a perfect gift with its asymmetrical shape lending a modern feel to the brand’s archival line. Visitors can browse collections at Moncler, including the Zambeze short down jacket, and Panerai, where The Luminor Marina Goldtech™ Sole Blu PAM01112 timepiece celebrates the emblematic history of the collection.
To top off this holiday season, Sands LifeStyle members and invited guests by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will also get to enjoy personalised services with a festive touch across luxury boutiques, such as Ikebana at Grand Seiko, where guests are guided to create the perfect holiday floral centrepiece, and Christmas leather ornament painting at Moynat with an in-house painter. Other delightful experiences lined up throughout December include Christmas calligraphy at Chaumet, Christmas wreath making at Fendi and TAG Heuer, as well as Christmas candle personalisation at Pomellato.
The Shoppes spruces up its retail mix with new brands
This year, The Shoppes has continued to enhance its strong stable of brands to engage with visitors of all ages. The recent transformation of the vibrant Luxury Children’s Precinct saw Kids21 launch its newest flagship boutique, an over 300-square-metre emporium positioned as the leading destination in Southeast Asia for luxury childrenswear and lifestyle accessories.
Presenting the best premium brands in the world all in one stop, Kids21 brings a series of new collaborations, partnerships and pop-ups into its experiential boutique space. Designer brands such as Thom Browne, Christian Louboutin, Caroline Bosmans and Rick Owens are exclusive to The Shoppes boutique, while Jacquemus, Etro, Kindred x ByWalid and Phaidon will be introduced to the line-up soon. Other brands that are slated to join the children’s precinct include Emporio Armani Junior and Burberry Kids in December and Aimer Kids in January 2024.
Over in the beauty department, Estee Lauder opened its first luxury concept store in Southeast Asia showcasing the luxury skincare and makeup line Re-Nutriv with two dedicated treatment rooms, which are the first in Singapore and exclusive to The Shoppes. Jo Malone London has also recently refreshed its boutique, highlighting elegant interiors inspired by the early 1900s British black and white colonial houses and paying homage to the brand’s distinct British origins. It is also the first Jo Malone London in Singapore to house the Cologne Intense collection and a cozy fireplace inspired by its London townhouse headquarters. Come December, YSL Beaute will be revealing a new kiosk concept to bring its iconic make-up, fragrance and skincare collection to The Shoppes for the first time.
Earlier this month, The Shoppes welcomed Parisian designer clothing label Ba&sh’s first boutique in Singapore while premium home and lifestyle brand Uchino Touch will soon reveal its first flagship in Singapore. Come December, Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe and premium luggage brand Tumi will be refreshing their spaces with new concepts for visitors to rediscover on their next shopping escapade.
Front Row 2023 takes luxury to new heights
As part of Marina Bay Sands’ year-round ‘Festivalisation’ strategy, visitors have been engaged through immersive experiences across cultural themes such as art, food, wellness and music at Marina Bay Sands. In October, fashion took centre stage with Front Row 2023, further extending the luxurious and immersive experiences presented by The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
Headlined by Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi, the by-invite-only show held on 19 October at Singapore’s biggest nightclub MARQUEE was the ultimate celebration of glitz and glamour. The evening shone a spotlight on Koizumi’s signature hand-ruffled neon-bright organza in bold silhouettes across almost 30 looks from his archive and present-day collections, including Spring/Summer 2024 which marked its second stop in Singapore after its Paris Fashion Week debut. Models strutted the runway in embellished footwear from French eponymous shoe label Roger Vivier, complete with opulent works of Koizumi that complemented every look.
Amongst some 250 fashion forward attendees at the show were Japanese actresses Ayaka Miyoshi and Nicole Ishida, as well as local stars Iman Fandi, Julie Tan, Xu Bin and Zong Zijie. Hazel Chan, Senior Vice President of Retail at Marina Bay Sands, said, “Front Row 2023 showcased the allure of Asia’s premier luxury shopping destination and the integrated resort’s ability to leverage the versatility of its venues to deliver unparalleled experiences for our most discerning customers. Through these out-of-the-box events, we are able to curate the finest shopping experiences while cultivating high quality relationships with our shoppers.”
Visitors had much to be excited about in the same month with the return of The Shoppes’ annual signature kids’ fashion event Little Luxury Stars on 28 October. The Luxury Children’s Precinct set the stage for a Halloween-themed celebration as it welcomed close to 500 guests, including parents and their little ones, setting a record attendance in the event’s history.
The afternoon’s highlight was a luxury childrenswear fashion show showcasing 50 looks from BOSS, Dolce&Gabbana Junior, Kids21, Ralph Lauren Children and Young Versace. Guests were also treated to sweet and savoury bites from Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, and activities specially curated for the whimsical Saturday afternoon, including polaroid photography at Gucci Kids, paper pumpkin lantern decorating at the newly revealed Kids21 boutique, slime making at Young Versace and a meet and greet with the Ralph Lauren bear at Ralph Lauren Children, to name a few. Later that afternoon, guests along the runway enjoyed a captivating dance performance inspired by the popular television series Wednesday.
The exuberant holiday season extends through the rest of the year through fashion and beauty collaborations, private shopping experiences and atelier-style workshops.
Bask in the euphoria of entertainment and attractions
MARQUEE Singapore’s December line-up will bring together some of electronic dance music’s most sought-after power players, anchored by the likes of Chinese rapper Pg One, and world- renowned DJs Marshmello and Steve Aoki.
On 1 December, globally acclaimed electronic music producer and DJ Marshmello is set to dominate the mainstage to deliver a tirade of his greatest smash hits that have racked up millions of streams and views across the globe. Following his performance is revered Chinese rap sensation PG One, who will be making his official debut at MARQUEE on 2 December making a highly anticipated return to the stage to deliver his signature rap tracks. Best known for his Billboard chart-topping club anthems, Grammy-nominated DJ Steve Aoki will return to take over MARQUEE on 9 December to deliver a rousing performance which promises to take the party experience to unparalleled highs.
Tickets and VIP passes to the performances are now available on MARQUEE’s official website. For more ticketing information, please refer to the table below:
| Prices for Online Tickets (Prices are exclusive of booking fees & GST) | ||
| Date | Event | Prices |
| 1 December 2023 Doors open at 10pm | MARQUEE presents: Marshmello | General Admission:
· Online tickets have sold out. · Limited tickets will be made available at the door on the event day. |
| 2 December 2023 Doors open at 10pm | MARQUEE presents: Pg One | Ladies: S$80 Gentlemen: $90 Expedited entry: S$200 |
| 1-2 December 2023 Doors open at 10pm | MARQUEE VIP December Weekend Pass: Marshmello & Pg One | Ladies: S$450 Gentlemen: S$450
*VIP passes will not be available for purchase at the door. **Each VIP pass includes five complimentary drink vouchers per night |
| 9 December 2023 Doors open at 10pm | MARQUEE presents: Steve Aoki | Ladies: S$80 Gentlemen: $90
Expedited entry: S$200 |
For table reservations and enquiries, e-mail [email protected]. For more details and updates on MARQUEE’s event line-up, follow MARQUEE Singapore on Instagram and Facebook, or visit www.marqueesingapore.com.
Decorate the Crystal Tree at Digital Light Canvas by teamLab
As the festive season draws near, Digital Light Canvas by teamLab located within The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands will be transformed to deliver a magical Christmas experience. From 1 to 31 December, Digital Light Canvas will feature a seasonal exhibit where the massive interactive light installation overhead will be aglow with a giant luminous Christmas tree.
Digital Light Canvas ticketholders are invited to interact with the art installation within the space by using their smartphones to scan designated QR codes and selecting decorative pieces of their preference, which will be translated into large, three-dimensional ornaments that will adorn the digital Christmas tree. The spectacular art installation will be dynamic and evolving as guests interact and play with the installation, promising to be a delightful and creative activity suitable for guests of all ages.
| Prices for Online Tickets (tickets are inclusive of booking fees and GST) | |
| Date and Timings | Prices |
| Daily, 11:00AM – 9:00PM | General Entry: S$12 per person Entry with Badge: S$15 per person Entry with Tote Bag: S$30 per person
Entry with T-shirt (Child): S$30 per person Entry with T-shirt (Adult): S$35 per person |
Wrap up the year in style at Countdown in the Sky 2024
Come 31 December, the annual Countdown in the Sky party is set to take place 56-stories atop Marina Bay Sands’ iconic SkyPark Observation Deck, welcoming guests to wrap up the year and bid adieu to 2023 in style. At midnight, guests will get to toast to the new year with front row seats to the New Year’s Eve fireworks spectacle. Stay tuned to Marina Bay Sands official website for more details on Countdown in the Sky 2024.
Curated Sands LifeStyle rewards this festive season
This holiday season, Sands LifeStyle Shopping Fest celebrates the highly anticipated Single’s Day (11 November) and Black Friday (24 November) over a slew of generous rewards. Members can earn 11 per cent (usual 3 per cent) Reward Dollars respectively when they shop and dine, while Mastercard holders will receive an additional $100 worth of rewards with an accumulated minimum spend of S$3,000 at The Shoppes. Visit here for the full list of participating brands, members’ exclusives and more information.
Come Christmas, shoppers will have more reasons to indulge in retail therapy. From 14 November to 25 December, members who spend S$3,500 can redeem $150 bonus Reward Dollars, while those who spend S$10,000 can redeem $350 Reward Dollars. Visit www.marinabaysands.com/Christmas from 17 November for the list of participating outlets.
