News Releases
Hari Raya Istana Open House 2017
22 June 2017
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Hari Raya Istana Open House on 25 June 2017
The Istana grounds will be open to the public on Sunday, 25 June 2017, from 8.30am to 6.00pm, in celebration of Hari Raya Puasa.
Programme highlights
The public can look forward to music performances by Novo Winds Symphony Band, Naval Base Secondary School Symphonic Band, Sembawang Wind Orchestra and Yishun Secondary School Band. There will be dance performances by the Kolam Ayer Bhangra Dance Group – Bhangre De Sitare, Sheng Yi Heng Dances Group, Kampong Chai Chee’s Dance Group and Power Dances Group.
Other features include a display of birds by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, a balloon sculpturing booth by SingTel and a Henna painting booth by Cognizant. The programme line-up can be found in Annex A.
Members of the public can choose to sign up for the Nature Guided Walk at the Istana, a collaboration between the President’s Office and the National Parks Board (NParks) which will showcase the Istana’s flora, fauna and biodiversity, or take a guided tour of the Istana main building led by volunteers from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division of the National Heritage Board and view selected function rooms and display of gifts presented to the President and the Prime Minister by foreign dignitaries.
Visitors can also do a self-guided tour with the help of the “Istana Garden Walk” mobile application, which includes features such as a self-guided Plants Trail to discover 10 types of beautiful plant species in the Istana Gardens and maps of Places of Interest and Plants Trails.
The Istana Heritage Gallery (IHG) at the Istana Park (opposite the main gate of the Istana along Orchard Road) will also be open from 10am to 6pm. For a self-guided interactive tour of the IHG and the Istana Park, visitors can download the LocoMole mobile application to embark on the Istana Mobile Educational Trails and gain more insights to the heritage, flora and fauna of the Istana.
Istana souvenirs will be on sale during the Open House. Proceeds from the sale of souvenirs and all entrance fees collected will be donated to charity.
Admission Details
Entry to the Istana grounds is free for Singaporeans and Singapore permanent residents. All others visitors are required to pay an entrance fee of $2 per person. Entry to the Istana grounds is via the main gate at Orchard Road. The nearest MRT station is Dhoby Ghaut.
Additional fees as specified in Annexes C and D are applicable for the guided tours.
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
21 June 2017
ANNEX A
Main Highlights of Istana Open House
Table caption
Time | Activity | Venue |
|---|---|---|
8.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. | Display of Birds by Wildlife Reserves Singapore | Centre Gate |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Balloon Sculpturing by SingTel Recreation Club | Centre Gate |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Sales of Istana Merchandise by President’s Challenge | Centre Gate |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Drinks Booths by President’s Challenge | Centre Gate and Tent near Ceremonial Plaza |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Snacks Booth by NCSS | Near Main Tent |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Henna Painting Booth by Cognizant | Main Tent |
8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. | Istana Main Building Self-Guided Tour | Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
9.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. | Istana Main Building Guided Tour by National Heritage Board | Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
9.30 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. | Performance by Novo Winds Symphony Band from Toa Payoh South Community Club | Main Tent |
10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. | Nature Guided Walk organised by NParks | Ticketing Booth near Ceremonial Plaza |
10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. | Istana Garden Walk Mobile Phone Application Booth by Temasek Polytechnic | Centre Gate |
10.00 a.m. – 10.20 a.m. | Dance performance by Kolam Ayer Bhangra Dance Group, Bhangre De Sitare | Ceremonial Plaza |
1.15 p.m. – 2.15 p.m. | Performance by Naval Base Secondary School Symphonic Band | Main Tent |
2.30 p.m. – 3.30 p.m. | Performance by Sembawang Wind Orchestra | Main Tent |
2.30 p.m. – 2.40 p.m. | Chinese Fan Dance Performance “荷塘月色” by Sheng Yi Heng Dances Group | Ceremonial Plaza |
2.45 p.m. – 2.55 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. – 4.10 p.m. | Dance Performance “Ketipang Payung” by Sheng Yi Heng Dances Group | Ceremonial Plaza |
3.00 p.m. – 3.10 p.m. and 4.40 p.m. – 4.50 p.m. | Racial Harmony Cultural Dance Performance by Kampong Chai Chee Community Arts and Culture Club (CACC) | Ceremonial Plaza |
3.45 p.m. – 4.45 p.m. | Performance by Yishun Secondary School Symphonic Band | Main Tent |
4.10 p.m. – 4.20 p.m. | Dance performance “Make in India” by Wisdom Forest Art Centre | Ceremonial Plaza |
4.55 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. | Line Dance “Chiki Cha Cha” Performance by Power Dances Group | Ceremonial Plaza |
ANNEX B
FEES FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE ISTANA MAIN BUILDING
The following fees are applicable for the tours of the state room, banquet hall and reception room in the Istana main building:
Table caption
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents | Unguided | Guided* |
|---|---|---|
Children (4 to 12 years) | $2.00 | $2.00 |
Adult | $4.00 | |
Package for family of four | Not applicable | $12.00 |
Others | ||
Children( 4 to 12 years) | $2.00 | $2.00 |
Adult | $4.00 | $10.00 |
Package for family of four | Not applicable | $30.00 |
ISTANA MAIN BUILDING GUIDED TOURS
Guided tours are conducted by volunteers from the Preservation of Sites and Monuments division of the National Heritage Board. The tours are limited to 15 persons per group, and depart every 20 minutes from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
All fees collected will be donated to charity.
ANNEX C
FEES FOR NATURE GUIDED WALK AT THE ISTANA
The following fees are applicable for the Nature Guided Walk at the Istana:
Table caption
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents | Guided* |
|---|---|
Children (4 to 12 years) | $2.00 |
Adult | $4.00 |
Package for family of four | $12.00 |
Others | |
Children( 4 to 12 years) | $2.00 |
Adult | $10.00 |
Package for family of four | $30.00 |
Guided tours are conducted by volunteers and are limited to between 12 to 15 persons per group, and depart every hour from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
All fees collected will be donated to charity.