The Istana held their open house yesterday (1 May) for Labour, and the event saw attendees flocking to the venue by the hundreds.
In fact, according to videos shared online by netizens who attended the event, the queue was so long that it snaked across Dhoby Gaut all the way to Plaza Singapura.
Visitors were ready for “war”, armed with umbrellas and hats as they braved the heat and stood in line under the sweltering heat and humidity as they queued to enter the Istana.
A netizen who was in the queue, shared that she managed to enter the Istana after a 30 minute wait, and added that the worst part of the experience was the sun.
Netizens pointed out that the long queue was probably because the Istana open house only opens 5 times a year, and that it is a form of tourist attraction.
It was also closed for a while during the pandemic and only resumed back in 2021.
Istana Open House
The Hari Raya Puasa – Labour Day Istana Open House (IOH) will be held on Monday, 1 May 2023, 8.30am to 6.00pm. The IOH will be open to all visitors. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents enter for free. All other visitors (four years old and above) are required to pay an entrance fee of $2 per person. By entering the IOH, visitors agree to the Terms and Conditions stipulated below.
Visitors can look forward to visiting the enhanced Swan Pond, which was launched by President Halimah in early April. The enhanced Swan Pond also includes a new viewing deck and garden stream, with a curated selection of flowering and fragrant shrubs. Members of public can also enjoy a series of live performances and participate in the various activity booths at the IOH. The programme and fees are listed in the tables below.
There will also be food and beverage stalls, food trucks, as well as merchandise booths with limited-edition Istana souvenirs and President’s Challenge souvenirs. All fees collected and proceeds from the merchandise booths will go towards charities supported by the President’s Challenge.
@igotnorules Reporting live at 10am. Thankfully I’m just a passerby. Hello, President! #mayday #labourday #onthegowithlynn #istana ♬ original sound – Lynn
@sgsweetheart Insane number of people trying to visit the Istana on Labour Day! Stretched for kilometres! #istana #mayday #istanaopenhouse2023 #labourday ♬ original sound – Sweetheart the Clown