Sitting relaxed on foldable camping chairs at the edge of the venue were a family of four – including Ms Audrey Ang, 40, who was helping her five- and eight-year-old daughters put on temporary tattoos of national symbols as her husband prepared a stash of refreshments to survive the afternoon’s heat.
The human resources practitioner said it was the first time her daughters had physically attended such celebrations, and her daughter Elsa Lim, five, said she was looking forward most to the fireworks, giving a thumbs up as she quipped: “I want louder fireworks (tonight)!”
Ms Ang said the NDP was a “good occasion” for families like hers to come together to celebrate the nation’s birthday as “one Singapore”.
Fiances Nurul Syafiqah, 25, and Muhd Firdaus, 27, showed off their food stash of pizza and bubble tea as they basked in the atmosphere, which was “something different from celebrating at the Padang”, Mr Firdaus said.