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SG60 PARTY IN THE HEARTLANDS

10 Aug 2025 | COMMUNITY

SG60 PARTY IN THE HEARTLANDS

//STORY DARREN KHO /PHOTOS PIONEER PHOTOGRAPHERS

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

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.

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.

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.

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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