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Chinese New Year with kids is always a balancing act between tradition and keeping things fun, meaningful and manageable. You want the red packets, the decorations, the food and the rituals, but you also want experiences that don’t feel rushed, overly commercial or exhausting. This year, City Square Mall feels like it has quietly figured out that balance.
From 23 January to 1 March 2026, the mall transforms into a cheerful, family-friendly Chinese New Year destination with its PAW Patrol-themed celebrations, festive installations, sustainability activities and cultural performances. It’s colourful, yes, but it’s also thoughtful. The kind of place where children get excited, parents feel relaxed and the whole experience feels more like quality family time than a mall event.
A festive walk-through that kids genuinely enjoy
If you’ve ever tried to walk through a mall with a child during festive season, you’ll know how quickly it can turn chaotic. What works here is that the experience is spread across the mall rather than concentrated in one crowded spot. Five PAW Patrol photo stations are set up around City Square Mall, each styled with floral backdrops and bright festive colours that symbolise new beginnings for the year ahead.
It doesn’t feel like a single rushed photo opportunity. It feels like a playful treasure hunt as you move through the mall. Kids get their excitement, parents get their photos, and no one feels pressured to queue endlessly in one space.
A sustainable Chinese New Year celebration
What sets this apart from many festive mall activations is the sustainability element woven into the programme. City Square Mall’s recycling collection drive runs throughout the festive period, inviting families to drop off items like used red packets, clean bubble wrap, disposable chopsticks and milk bottles for reuse and creative projects.
Instead of sustainability being a background message, it becomes something kids can actively participate in. The collected materials are then transformed through Blooming Crafts Workshops, where children and parents can make decorations, keepsakes, photo frames, magnets, keychains and even upcycled grocery bags together. It’s hands-on, creative and quietly educational, without feeling like a “lesson”.
This is the kind of activity that turns a simple outing into a memory. It’s not just about taking something home. It’s about making something together.
Traditions that still feel meaningful
Chinese New Year isn’t complete without cultural elements, and City Square Mall keeps these rooted in tradition while making them accessible for families. The Zodiac Forecast Display by Way Fengshui Group offers a visual, engaging way to reflect on the year ahead, making zodiac readings feel less abstract and more interactive for younger audiences.
There’s also the Chinese New Year Fair at the Level 1 Atrium, where families can browse festive goodies and gifts, and the Lion Dance and High Pole Performance at City Green Park, which brings the spirit of tradition, symbolism and celebration together in a powerful visual experience for all ages.
These aren’t filler activities. They are the cultural anchors that remind you why this season matters.
Festive rewards without the stress
Shopping rewards are part of any mall celebration, but here they’re kept simple and festive rather than overwhelming. Shoppers can redeem PAW Patrol red packets, e-vouchers and even a beautifully designed prosperity teapot set, making the rewards feel like keepsakes rather than just promotions.
It feels less like a spending race and more like a gentle bonus for families already doing their festive shopping.
A natural place for reunion meals
What also makes City Square Mall work as a Chinese New Year destination is the food mix. From Chinese classics and Cantonese dining to Taiwanese favourites and vegetarian-friendly options, it becomes an easy reunion dining location without the stress of hopping between places. It’s practical, comfortable and genuinely family-friendly, especially for multi-generation outings where everyone has different preferences.
Why this celebration feels different
Some festive activations feel loud, busy and transactional. This one feels warm, layered and intentional. It blends play, tradition, creativity and sustainability into something that feels designed for real families, not just footfall.
It’s the kind of Chinese New Year experience that lets kids have fun, parents slow down and families actually enjoy being together. Not rushed. Not chaotic. Just festive, meaningful and easy.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what a good celebration should be.
Learn more at https://www.citysquaremall.com.sg/!
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