Singapore National Day parade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Singapore National Day parade
A nighttime scene of the National Day Parade at the Padang in 2023.
Status	Active
Genre	Parade
Date(s)	9 August
Frequency	Annually
Venue	The Float at Marina Bay The Padang National Stadium Former National Stadium
Country	Singapore
Years active	59
Inaugurated	9 August 1966 (1966-08-09)

The National Day Parade (NDP) is a big annual celebration in Singapore. It happens every year on 9 August to remember Singapore's independence. This special event includes a large parade with groups from the Singapore Armed Forces and other community groups. After the parade, there's a fun show with music, dance, and a spectacular fireworks display.

The first NDP was held on 9 August 1966. This marked one year since Singapore became independent from Malaysia. Since then, it has been celebrated every year. The parade often takes place at the Padang or the old National Stadium. Sometimes, it was held in different parts of the country so more people could join in.

Since 1984, the Padang has hosted the parade regularly. It happens there every few years, especially for big anniversaries. Other years, the National Stadium usually hosts the event.

The official parade is on 9 August. But there are also "preview" shows that start in mid-June. One of these is the "National Education Show" for students. Because tickets are very popular, they have been given out through an online lottery system since 2003.

When the old National Stadium closed in 2007, The Float @ Marina Bay became a new venue. This is a special floating platform on Marina Bay. It was used while the new National Stadium was being built. Even after the new stadium was finished, The Float became the main place for the NDP. In 2023, the parade moved back to the Padang for three years. This is because The Float is being rebuilt into a permanent place called NS Square.

History of the Parade

A scene from the National Day Parade, 1968, with a contingent from the People's Association in front.

Singapore celebrated its first National Day as an independent country in 1966. This was one year after Singapore separated from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

The very first National Day Parade started at 9:00 a.m. People arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. to get good spots. Singapore's first President, Yusof bin Ishak, and first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, watched from City Hall. The parade included military groups, police, schools, and community groups. They marched past City Hall and into the city streets. Military bands played music, and the Singapore Fire Brigade showed off their firetrucks. The parade ended with lion and dragon dance performances.

In 1967, more groups joined the parade. This was partly because of the new National Service program for the military and police. Street performances and choirs also started that year. The 1968 parade had its first ground performances, even though it rained. In 1969, the Mobile Column, which shows military vehicles, made its first appearance.

The 1970 NDP introduced the Flypast of the State Flag and the Republic of Singapore Air Force Flypast. Combat simulations by the Singapore Army were also new highlights.

In 1971, mobile parade floats from different groups were included. The 1973 parade was the first to be held in the late afternoon to early evening. This helped more people attend. It also marked the official debut of the 1st Commando Battalion. The 1974 parade was the first local TV show broadcast in colour by Channel 5.

In 1975, to celebrate 10 years of independence, the parade was held in 13 different places. This allowed more people to participate. Most venues had route marches on the streets.

The NDP was held at the National Stadium for the first time in 1976. The NDP Guard of Honour, made of SAF and police officers, appeared for the first time. Evening performances also began, leading to future evening NDPs. The 1976 parade featured many female student dancers. This was because it marked the start of the United Nations Decade for Women. In 1977, the parade was again held in different locations. The 1978 parade returned to the Padang. In 1979, it was held in high schools and sports stadiums. This decentralized format was used until 1983.

The 1980 parade was the first to include the feu de joie by the Guard-of-Honour. In 1981, the SPF Civil Defense Command (now the Singapore Civil Defence Force) appeared for the first time. The 1981 parade was held in Jurong and Queenstown Sports Stadiums. In 1982, the parade returned to the Padang. This was the first time the mobile column drove past after the marchpast.

The 1984 parade celebrated Singapore's 25th year of self-governance. It introduced a theme song, "Stand Up for Singapore." It also featured a larger Mobile Column, the first appearance of the Silent Precision Drill Squad, and the first evening fireworks display.

The 1986 parade was the first held in the late evening. It also introduced flashlights for the audience. Other new features over the years included massed military bands (1987), the card stunt (1988), and the Red Lions parachute team (1989). In 1989, the parade was in the afternoon, but it returned to the evening format in 1991.

In 1993, the public could participate more interactively. This helped people feel more connected to the parade. In 1997, the "National Education Show" started. This rehearsal allows invited school students to attend at least one NDP.

Because the event is so popular, people used to queue overnight for tickets. In 2003, an electronic "ballot" system was introduced. Residents could register online or by phone for a chance to get tickets. This helped manage the large crowds.

In 2005 and 2010, parts of the parade were also held in local neighborhoods.

A scene of the 2007 parade at The Float.

In 2005, it was announced that the parade would move to The Float at Marina Bay in 2007. This was because the National Stadium was closing for redevelopment. The Float is a temporary floating platform with 27,000 seats. It also has a large area for 150,000 more spectators along the waterfront.

The 2013 parade featured a TV show called Sing a Nation. Ten groups performed songs for a chance to lead a performance at the parade. The 2013 theme song, "One Singapore," was sung by the show's cast.

In 2014, Third Warrant Officer Shirley Ng became the first female Red Lion parachutist to jump at the NDP. The 2014 parade was also the last one attended by Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. He had attended every NDP since 1966.

For 2015, parts of the celebration were held at Marina Bay. Screens showed the parade at the Padang, which hosted the main event for Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence. Fireworks were held at Marina Bay and the Marina Reservoir.

In 2016, the NDP was held for the first time at the new National Stadium. This required changes to the parade's format. After 2017, The Float was named the main venue for the NDP when it's not at the Padang. The Float will be redeveloped into a permanent venue called NS Square.

For the 2018 parade, combat divers from the Republic of Singapore Navy performed free-fall water jumps. This was a first for the NDP. The Singapore Army's Red Lions also jumped from a record height of 3800m.

The 2019 parade was held at the Padang. This marked 200 years since the founding of modern Singapore.

A Red Lions parachutist during the parade in 2022.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the 2020 parade was broadcast only. It started with the Prime Minister's message and a smaller parade at the Padang. The Mobile Column, Red Lions, and F-15SG fighter jets flew over different parts of Singapore. Traditional Funpacks were sent to every home. Online activities and social media campaigns were also organized. A cultural show with fewer performers took place in the evening. Organizers wanted to bring the event "across the island into every Singaporean's home."

In July 2021, it was announced that the 2021 parade would return to The Float. It would be smaller and closed to the public. Only "everyday heroes" received tickets. All attendees had to be fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19. On 22 July 2021, the parade was postponed to 21 August 2021 due to new restrictions. A smaller "ceremonial" parade was held on 9 August.

The 2022 parade returned to full capacity. All attendees over 12 and performers needed to be fully vaccinated. This was the last NDP at The Float before its reconstruction as NS Square. The 2023 parade was held at the Padang. Plans were discussed to hold the parade at the National Stadium again in 2024. In September 2023, it was announced that the parade would continue at the Padang for 2024 and 2025. These years mark the 40th anniversary of Total Defence and 60th anniversary of independence. Both parades will have extra events in Marina Bay and local neighborhoods.

NDP Venues

The Padang has been a historic venue for the parade. It's where Singapore's independence was declared. In 1976, the parade was held at the National Stadium for the first time. Its larger size allowed more people to watch live.

Even with 60,000 seats at the National Stadium, tickets were always in high demand. This led to efforts to hold the event in different places. From 1975 to 1983, the NDP switched between being spread out and being focused at the Padang or National Stadium. From 1984, the parade was at the Padang every three years, with other years at the National Stadium. This changed to a five-year cycle starting in 1995. Exceptions happened in 2019 (for Singapore's bicentennial) and from 2023 to 2025 (due to NS Square construction).

The Padang is historically important but has challenges. It has fewer seats and requires closing nearby roads. Temporary stands must be built. However, it's the only place where the heavy vehicles of the mobile column can be driven. The Padang was the main venue in 2005, with other activities in Marina South, Jurong East, Yishun, and Tampines.

Other locations were considered, including using the Padang more often. In 2010, the Padang was again the main venue. Other activities were held in Bishan, Eunos, Woodlands, Sengkang, and Choa Chu Kang.

Parade Segments

The NDP program changes a little each year. But some parts and the overall flow have stayed the same for decades. Sometimes, due to the venue or weather, parts of the show might change. For example, the Mobile Column can only be done at the Padang or Marina Bay.

Pre-Parade Fun

The pre-parade part of the show includes performances. These can be mass displays, choir singing, school band shows, and sky-diving displays. These fun acts entertain the crowd before the main parade starts. They also encourage people to find their seats early. This segment used to be just a filler, but now it's a key part of the parade. It's even shown live on TV. The hosts also use this time to teach the audience actions they can do during the main parade.

Since 2002, motivators from TOUCH Community Services have helped with the pre-parade. They now mentor students from polytechnics and Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs). These motivators wear colorful costumes and perform dance moves.

Parade and Ceremonies

The parade itself is a traditional part of the NDP. Participants include members of the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force, and Singapore Civil Defence Force. Also joining are representatives from political parties, labor unions, government ministries, and schools. Students in uniformed groups like the National Cadet Corps and Scouts also march.

The parade participants are divided into two main groups. These are the Guard-of-Honour contingents and the Supporting Contingents. The Guard-of-Honour has six groups. They come from the Singapore Army, Navy, Air Force, Digital and Intelligence Service, Police Force, and Civil Defence Force. All members wear their special ceremonial uniforms. Behind them are the Regimental Colours Party, carrying the flags of different SAF units.

The parade's military bands come from the SAF and SPF. Recently, marching bands from cadet organizations like the Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band have also joined.

The parade usually starts with the Parade Regimental Sergeant Major forming up the groups. Then, the Parade Commander takes charge. Both are usually high-ranking officers from the SAF. The parade salutes important guests as they arrive, including Members of Parliament, Cabinet members, and the Prime Minister of Singapore.

When the President of Singapore arrives, the National Anthem, Majulah Singapura, is played. The State Flag is flown past at the same time. The Presidential Standard is also unfurled. After an aerial salute by the Air Force, the Parade Commander asks the President to inspect the parade. The President is joined by the Chief of Defence Force and the Parade Commander. A 21-gun salute is also given by the Singapore Artillery. The President usually speaks to some Guard-of-Honour members. After the inspection, the Guard-of-Honour performs a Feu-de-Joie. Finally, the Parade Commander asks the President for permission to start the Marchpast.

Marchpast

The Parade Commander leads the contingents to prepare for the Marchpast. They then march out of the parade grounds, with the massed bands at the back. Since the 1990s, Tentera Singapura is the first march played. In 2009 and 2010, there was a City Marchpast. The contingents marched around the Central Business District and Marina Bay. In 2011, the "Onward March" was brought back. This is when supporting contingents march through the stands. The Onward March made its official Padang debut in 2024.

In recent years, the order of the march past has changed. Military and civil uniformed services march first. Then come economic firms, social organizations, and youth uniformed groups.

Mobile Column, Flypast, and Defence Display

In the first NDP in 1966, a small mobile column with military and police vehicles took part. The first full Mobile Column was in 1969. It showed newly acquired vehicles from the SAF, police, and fire trucks. The Mobile Column has been a part of important anniversary parades. It was featured in 2019, 2020, 2023, and will be in 2025. In 2019 and 2020, the vehicles drove through different parts of Singapore. This allowed residents to see the equipment up close.

Almost every NDP since 1971 has included a flypast. This features jets, training aircraft, transports, and helicopters from the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

When the NDP is held at The Float in Marina Bay or NS Square, the Mobile Column and flypast become the Dynamic Defence Display (D3). This shows the military and public security abilities of the uniformed services. The D3 will make its Padang debut in 2024, combined with the traditional Mobile Column.

Show Segment

Show Highlights

Fireworks during parade day in 2011

The exciting show segment follows the parade. It usually lasts about 45 minutes. The show follows the year's theme. It has several main acts that end with a Grand Finale. This finale usually features the year's theme song and a much-awaited fireworks display. The entire parade ends with everyone singing National Day Songs, taking the mass pledge, and singing "Majulah Singapura". In 2007, the fireworks were synchronized with a medley of songs. In 2009 and 2015, all parts of the NDP were combined into one integrated program.

The show started as mass displays by community groups or schools. These early performances focused on themes like racial harmony and youth strength. They included ethnic dances and mass gymnastics. Over the years, this section became more theatrical. It grew from large card stunt displays in the 1980s to multimedia projections and theatrical shows with local artists. Recently, performances have included short movies by local filmmakers. In 2021, these movies became animated for the first time.

Float displays were also important in the 1970s and 1980s. These floats promoted government campaigns or highlighted companies. They returned in 1991, 1993, 1998, 2005, 2009, and 2010. Floats also appeared in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2023. Boats and floats on Marina Bay were highlights in 1993 and 2018.

Today's parades, held from dusk to night, end with amazing fireworks displays. These are a key feature of every parade. After the fireworks, there's a medley of songs, the pledge, and "Majulah Singapura". In earlier daytime parades, the finale was often mass lion and dragon dance displays. These troupes would perform with drums and flag dancers. They were also part of the 1985, 1990, and 1993 NDPs.

Participating Groups

Many public and private companies take part in the show. Three main groups are always involved: the Peoples' Association (since 1984), the Soka Gakkai Singapore (SGS) (since the 1970s), and the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education provides the Combined Schools Band and Combined School Choirs. These groups have been a regular part of the NDP since the 1980s. Since 2020, the Combined Schools Choir has been a pre-recorded segment. The Ministry also provides a School Display Band for the pre-parade. Since 2016, volunteers from Team Nila help as ushers and safety aides.

Multimedia Show

High-tech multimedia equipment has been used in the show segment since 2003. This includes large image projectors, water-curtain visuals, and LED displays.

Post-Parade Party

Post-parade parties were first shown on TV in 1997. They feature celebrities and performers. These parties celebrate the parade's success and entertain the audience. The celebrations usually last an hour. They end with the Chief of Defence Force, the NDP EXCO Chairman, and organizers cutting a cake. They also give speeches to thank the audience and participants. The SAF Music and Drama Company usually hosts the party.

NDP Logos and Slogans

Since 1998, a unique logo has been chosen for each NDP. These logos are used everywhere, including social media. Before 1998, logos were only used for special anniversaries, like in 1984 and 1990. Slogans, now called taglines, have also been used. For example, "Our Singapore, Our Future" was first used in 1997.

Every logo since 1998 is designed to match the year's theme. A tagline is usually added to the logo. For example, in 2005, the tagline "The Future is Ours to Make" was part of the theme "40 Years of Nation Building." These taglines often come from past National Day Rallies. They aim to unite the nation to face future challenges. The tagline "Together We Make The Difference" was introduced in 1999. It was replaced by "Together, A New Singapore" in 2002.

Most logos use a lot of red. However, in 2007, blue was used more to represent the water around Marina Bay. The themes and taglines are usually different. The parade or show segment is based on the theme.

The designers of each year's NDP logo are often mentioned in official galleries. These logos are created by designers or agencies based on the year's theme. While some designers are known, others remain uncredited.

National Day Songs

Popular National Day Songs

Many community songs have been written for the Sing Singapore Festival, which started in 1984. Only a few National Day songs are still sung every year at the parade. These are known as the Sing Singapore Medley. It plays after the fireworks display during the Grand Finale. Since 2008, it has been the final part of the display.

Other National Day songs are also featured during the parade. They can be in the Pre-Parade, Parade and Ceremony, or Show segments. During the Parade and Ceremony, four songs are performed. Each is in one of Singapore's official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil. In past years, the final English song before the President's arrival was the NDP theme song. In 2008, all songs played during arrivals were past NDP theme songs. This song tradition returned in 2017, but only in the pre-parade. The music performed has changed over the years, showing different musical styles and Singapore's multi-ethnic culture.

In 2010, there were three songs during the Parade and Ceremony. All were in English, with one song having lyrics in the other three languages.

In 2011, there was a "Fun Pack Song" to the tune of Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance'. The song was quickly removed.

The 2013 medley had a record ten NDP songs. These included "Stand Up For Singapore," "Home," and "One Singapore."

In 2014, no new songs were produced for National Day. This was a break from tradition. Instead, classic NDP songs were re-recorded. Past NDP theme songs were played during the arrival segments. The Sing Singapore Medley was sung as an epilogue after the national anthem. This was repeated in 2015. Both times, the 1998 theme song "Home" was part of the medley.

In 2016, special needs students from seven organizations performed the medley using hand-signing. This was another first. The 1998 theme "Home" was also sung. Since 1989, a deaf representative has signed the Pledge for deaf viewers.

The 2023 medley included theme songs from 2021 and 2022, which was a new addition.

Theme Songs

NDP Theme songs started in 1984 with "Stand Up for Singapore." "Count on Me Singapore" was performed in 1986. Other famous songs include "We are Singapore" (1987–1988) and "One People, One Nation, One Singapore" (1990).

Theme songs were not as common in the 1990s until 1998. That year, "Home," composed by Dick Lee and sung by Kit Chan, became very popular. Its popularity led to new versions in 2004, including a rock version by JJ Lin. This helped new National Day songs from the Sing Singapore Festival become more known.

In 2003, the National Day theme song was separate from the Sing Singapore theme song. Stefanie Sun's "One United People" was the theme song for "A Cohesive Society." Sean Wang's "A Place In My Heart" led the Sing Singapore 2003 Festival.

Before 2007, theme songs came in English and Mandarin. To promote the songs, music videos were made. They showed local landmarks and lifestyle. These videos were shown on TV and online a month before National Day. Songs were also played on local radio. Legal MP3 downloads were available from 2010.

Famous local singers like Kaira Gong, Kit Chan, Corrine May, Stefanie Sun, and Tanya Chua have performed NDP theme songs. Taufik Batisah, winner of Singapore Idol 2004, sang the 2005 theme song "Reach Out for the Skies" with Rui En.

In 2007, there were two theme songs. 2009 was the last time a Chinese version of the English song was featured.

In 2013, the NDP theme song was sung by Singaporeans from the "Sing A Nation" reality competition. This was a first.

In 2014, there was no new official theme song. This was due to criticism of the previous two songs. Instead, three classic NDP songs were remade into two music videos. Dick Lee's 1996 song, "Big Island," debuted during the show.

The theme song tradition returned in 2015 with "Our Singapore." In 2018, the theme song was a remake of 1987's "We Are Singapore." In 2019, "Our Singapore" was remade.

In 2020, a new theme song, "Everything I Am," was composed and sung by Nathan Hartono.

The list of NDP theme songs:

1. Also used in the 1985 parade.
2. The MTV versions were choral renditions performed by Young Voices, which comprises the choirs from the Tanjong Katong Girls' School and Tampines Primary School.

National Songs and Nation Building

National songs are taught in schools and shown on TV. The government used communal singing to unite the country. A National Folks Song Committee was started in 1980 for this purpose. National Day theme songs are a part of these national songs.

National Day theme songs help define what it means to be Singaporean. They highlight the Singaporean work ethic as key to the country's success. Songs like "Stand Up For Singapore" (1984) and "Count On Me Singapore" (1986) encourage hard work. The unity of Singaporeans, despite their race and religion, is also shown. For example, "We Are Singapore" (1987) uses the idea of a collective 'lion's roar'.

National Day theme songs show Singapore's progress over time. They tell the story of Singapore's fast economic growth. Songs from 1959 to 1983 aimed to create a national identity. Between 1984 and 1996, the government worked to fully define this identity. "We Are Singapore" (1987) includes lyrics like "There was a time when people said that Singapore won't make it, but we did." This helps increase pride in Singaporeans. Songs from the 1990s to the 2010s use less obvious patriotic lyrics. "Love At First Light" (2012) did not even mention "Singapore."

National Day theme songs also look to Singapore's future. They act as a call to action. "Home" (1998) showed Singapore's place in a global world. It encouraged Singaporeans living overseas to return home. The 1999 theme song "Together" referred to the country's Vision Statement. The music video for "Stand Up For Singapore" (2000) showed a modern Singapore. The 2009 theme song "What Do You See?" was the first by an indie rock band.

A 2021 survey found that songs released before 2000 were more popular. These songs focused on dreams, home, and nation building.

NDP Funpacks

Funpacks were first given out in 1991. They contain different goodies each year. These include food, drinks, and vouchers from companies. They also have items for use during the parade, like a special torchlight and the Singapore flag. For most years, members of the Singapore Armed Forces pack the funpacks. In 2009, prisoners helped pack them through the Yellow Ribbon Project.

Most funpacks are designed by students from local polytechnics and community services. For the 2015 funpack, people from all walks of life created 50 different designs. The funpack included a Singa Lion figurine, snacks, and games. It was given to every Singaporean and permanent resident household.

In 2019, funpacks were redesigned to be more eco-friendly. The 2024 funpacks were designed by students from special education schools. Their designs were based on the ideas of Total Defence. National servicemen built the funpacks. In 2024, the NDP started using powered exoskeletons and mobile robots to help with production.

See also

• Singapore National Day Rally