It rained on this parade, not once, but twice – but nothing can dampen the spirits of parade attendees.

At about 4.50pm and 5.30pm on Friday, the parade square at the Padang saw some light showers as attendees were streaming in for the National Day Parade.

The gloomy weather however, did not seem to dampen the spirits of the 27,000 attendees, who were seen whipping out their umbrellas and ponchos.

Even as it continued to pour, the smiles on their faces were still visible as they looked forward to the evening’s show.

Speaking with AsiaOne, Gary Tan, 40, was all smiles as he stood in line, ready to enter the venue to get to his seats.

He shared that although being caught in the rain did slightly upset him at first, his spirits lifted once again as the event started.

Attending the parade with his family and in-laws, Tan said: “We’re looking forward to finding the best seat with the best views!”

Tan also shared that he and his family were most looking forward to the Red Lions’ descent during the parade this year.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong then arrived by vehicle, waving at the crowd as he stepped out.

Attendees could be heard cheering as he stepped up to his seat, shaking SM Lee’s hand as he walked by him.

This is Wong’s first parade as PM.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam then arrived soon after, similarly being escorted out of his vehicle by military personnel.

He waved at the crowds before the National Anthem began playing, just as an Chinook helicopter flew over the Padang, the Singapore flag fluttering in the sky.

Five F-16 fighter jets blitzed over the skies of the Padang soon after, fanning out in a “bomb burst” formation as they roared past.

The feu de joie (fire of joy) that took place as part of the salute to the President filled the air with the cracking sound of gunshots as some attendees covered their ears.

This is Tharman’s first parade as president – he was sworn in as Singapore’s ninth president in September 2023.

Top Stories Tamfitronics Smell of gunpowder

The crowd was also wowed by the Dynamic Defence Display segment which showcased the military capabilities of Singapore.

It left audience members enraptured as the air was filled with the sounds of gunfire and aircraft roaring overhead.

The faint smell of gunpowder also wafted in the air as multiple pyrotechnic devices went off.

At the apex of the performance, Benjamin Kheng took the stage to sing the theme song for this year’s NDP, Not Alone.

Fireworks went off again, reflecting against the glass windows of the Marina Bay Sands.

Top Stories Tamfitronics ‘NDP’s number one fan’

Speaking with AsiaOne, Kenneth Chiang, who referred to himself as “NDP’s number one fan”, said that his favourite part of the show was when singer Amni Musfirah stepped out from a blooming orchid background during the show segment, which wowed him to no end.

“When I first saw the flower open, my jaw dropped,” he gushed.

The 29-year-old Chiang, who was attending with a friend, said he attended his first NDP in 1998, and subsequently attended every single parade from 2009 till the present.

However, this year’s parade is one “to remember for many years to come”.

“I thought this year’s show is quite heartwarming… especially with all the visuals. Everything really came together to create a very nice spectacle for Singapore,” he said.

ALSO READ:‘Nobody loves Singapore more than us’: Man gets national flag sunburn on chest to win NDP tickets

[email protected]
[email protected]