The Singapore skyline lit up with fireworks on the evening of Saturday, August 9 as the island-nation celebrated its 60th year of independence (SG60).
This city-state’s diamond jubilee brought about many firsts and record numbers, signifying just how far Singapore has come since it became an independent republic in 1965.
For the first time ever, the organisers of this year’s National Day Parade (NDP) extended the event to the Marina Bay area, in an effort to bring the celebrations closer to more Singaporeans.
The previous NDPs were usually held at the Padang – an open playing field located in downtown Singapore.
The extended celebrations witnessed an attendance of about 200,000 people, 27,000 of whom were at the Padang.
Among the attendees were regional leaders, including Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, Johor’s Regent Tunku Ismail and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Celebrations in The Padang and Marina Bay
The SG60 festivities began in the Marina Bay area at 10 am, hours before the main parade was set to begin.
A sea of red and white flooded the streets as people flocked to enjoy street performances and try out several fun and interactive activities, such as painting traditional fans and making ketupat – a rice cake wrapped in coconut leaves – keychains.
At 4:25 pm, local artists Shabir Sulthan, Shazza and Regina Song performed for the Marina Bay crowd at The Promontory.
The authorities had to close Merlion Park and the area in front of One Fullerton in the Marina Bay area as more people came. It was later reopened when the crowd eased.
A slight drizzle greeted the spectators, but that did not dampen their excitement as the main parade kicked off at 5:40 pm, beginning with the pre-parade video “Makin’ Our Way”, where Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made a surprise appearance with his electric guitar.
The attendees outside the Padang got an up-close view of the naval divers who did a free-fall from an H225M medium-lift helicopter at a height of about 1,830 metres down to the Marina Bay as part of the inaugural Jump of Unity.
Closely after them came the much-anticipated arrival of seven Red Lions parachutists, who smoothly descended at the Padang to the loud cheers of the crowd.
Back at the Marina Bay area, the public witnessed four 25-pounder guns on a raft in the bay fire 21 times for the customary salute to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who simultaneously reviewed the parade at the Padang.
Throughout the main parade in the Padang, spectators at Marina Bay also enjoyed a maritime vessel display, four water floats and a live performance by singer Benjamin Kheng on a floating stage.
They also feasted their eyes on light projections on The Fullerton Hotel and UOB Plaza.
READ MORE: Make some noise! Tomorrowland music festival heads to Asia
Notable firsts
The SG60 celebrations involved about 6,000 participants across the pre-parade, parade and ceremony, mobile column and show segments.
NDP 2025 recorded its largest-ever assembly of marching contingents at 2,100 individuals across 40 marching contingents, along with a 100-piece combined band comprising members from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and local schools.
The event saw the debut of a Singapore Civil Defence Force guard-of-honour contingent at the parade and ceremony segment.
It will permanently join the four other contingents from SAF and one from SPF.
To mark its 10th anniversary, the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps also showed a full contingent at the parade for the first time.
The city-state also boasted its military prowess as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) conducted eight aerial displays as part of the mobile column, which had never been done until NDP 2025.
A total of 22 aircraft flew past the Padang in four formations, including the traditional State Flag fly-past and a “bomb burst” manoeuvre by RSAF’s fighter jet pilots.
Performances from young and established artists
During the show segment, the audience at the Padang were treated to performances of local experienced and young artists.
Singer-songwriter Charlie Lim and singer Kit Chan performed the parade’s theme song “Here We Are”, while local indie band Electrico returned to the stage for the first time since NDP 2009 to sing that year’s parade theme song “What Do You See”.
Dick Lee returned from a hiatus to perform “We Will Get There”, the first National Day song he wrote that was sung in 2002.
Singer-songwriter Linying headlined the younger generations of artists as she performed “I Will Walk With You”, her original composition, while Heema Izzati sang Lim’s “Room At The Table”.
The spectators also saw the electrifying drum performance of Aldrich Jai Kishen, 31, whose story as a resident youth worker at Boys’ Town was featured in a film screened in between the show’s four acts.
Singer Kit Chan concluded the show with her performance of “Home”, which she first sang at NDP 1998.
The evening closed out with a dazzling fireworks display accompanying the Republic’s National Anthem.
ALSO ON NJN: Uttarakhand floods expose South Asia’s rising monsoon danger
Honouring the past and looking ahead
In a Facebook post after the event, Prime Minister Wong described this year’s NDP as a “proud celebration” of how far Singapore has come, as well as a “heartfelt tribute to the generations who built our nation.”
“As we mark SG60, we honour our past and look ahead to a new chapter. Our solidarity, resilience, and unity will stand us in good stead for the road ahead. The best of our journey is yet to come. Onwards, together – Majulah Singapura!”
Singapore gained independence from the British Empire in 1963 and then briefly joined the Federation of Malaysia.
However, “deep political and economic differences” between the ruling parties of the two countries prompted Singapore to become an independent and sovereign state on August 9, 1965, which is now considered the Republic’s official independence day.
READ NEXT: Mohamed Salah challenges UEFA over tribute to ‘Palestinian Pele’
Shameeka Voyiya 
Lucia Caporalini 
Kamille Q. Cabreza