COMMUNITY

SG60 party in the heartlands

10 Aug 2025

National Day may be over, but the celebrations continued into the weekend with festivities across the island!

SG60 party in the heartlands — Cheers erupted as the Red Lions made their descent at Bishan — a fitting start to an evening of community celebrations, static displays, and a dazzling fireworks finale.

Story by Darren Kho

Photos by PIONEER photographers

Cheers erupted as the Red Lions made their descent at Bishan — a fitting start to an evening of community celebrations, static displays, and a dazzling fireworks finale.

From the thrilling Red Lions’s jump to an impressive display of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team assets in the mobile column, to a fighter jet flypast and fireworks, there were plenty of activities for Singaporeans to enjoy on 10 Aug.

The National Day Parade (NDP) heartland celebrations took place at Bishan, Punggol, Yishun, Geylang and Bukit Gombak. Check out the action!

A sea of red and white filled the field at Bishan, as hundreds looked skyward in eager anticipation for the Red Lions. These elite military parachutists last performed a jump in the heartlands in 2022.

“We try to come every year (for the NDP heartland celebrations), our kids love it!” said Mr Marcus Low (centre), 36, who was at the Bishan site with his wife, Ms Dorea Chin (left), 36, and their children Isaiah, 7, Hannah, 5, and Ezrah, 2. The family’s wish for SG60? “A more inclusive and empathetic society, where everyone can be kinder to one another”.

The Red Lions (pictured) undergo tough and rigorous preparation ahead to deliver a spectacular performance for the nation’s 60th birthday. Today’s jump marked the Red Lions’ return to the heartlands for the first time since 2022.

A Red Lion parachutist gliding gracefully towards the Bishan landing zone during a rehearsal.

Red Lion 1st Warrant Officer Francis Xavier has a total of about 500 jumps under his belt. To him, every successful jump is a celebration in itself. “As far as traditions go, we usually have a ‘Boost Cheer’ just before we exit the aircraft, to reinforce the sense of camaraderie and pump ourselves up to build confidence.”

This year, the Mobile Column – featuring 60 different assets – travelled to the five heartland sites, with pitstops along the way for the first time. Pictured is one of the convoys making its way to Bukit Gombak ActiveSG Stadium.

Big smiles all around! Residents of all ages posing for a photo with SAF personnel and impressive defence assets – from missile systems to armoured vehicles –at the Mobile Column Pitstop at Jurong Town Hall Bus Interchange (first two photos) and Hougang (last photo).

SAF personnel aboard the Light Strike Vehicle travelling past Wisma Atria.

Did you manage to catch the Fighter Island Flypast? Four F-16 jets flew in a diamond formation through the heartlands!

Families enjoying the rare opportunity to get up close with SAF and Home Team assets and personnel at Bukit Gombak ActiveSG Stadium (first and fourth photo) and One Punggol (second and third photo).

First-time visitors to the NDP heartland celebrations, Mr Letchumanan Puvaneswran (right), 37, and Ms Kayyathiri (centre), 35, joined in the Bishan festivities with their 2-year-old daughter Jaasritha. For SG60, the family wishes for “many more peaceful years for Singapore!”

“(The celebrations are) very happening! My son really enjoys the military assets,” said Ms Nur Raudha (left), 36, who is at the Bishan festivities with her husband Muhammad Sarmani, 41, and 3-year-old son Hanan Naim.

From games to bouncy castles to sports, there was a myriad of activities for all to try out at the celebration sites.

Star power: Singer Benjamin Kheng (on stage, right) performing for audiences at the Punggol celebration site.

Drones danced in perfect sync in the night sky at Punggol, forming SG60 icons and symbols of unity.

A perfect ending to a joyful day: The night sky over Bishan lit up in a burst of colours, as the SG60 fireworks finale brought the NDP heartland celebrations to a spectacular close.

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