SINGAPORE: The annual Chingay festival next year will have a new entertainment element – an all-night party of music and dance.

The party, to be held at City Hall from 11am on February 16 till four o'clock the next morning, will be the culmination of the Chingay Parade of Dreams 2008.

The parade will also take a new route next year, from City Hall to Raffles Avenue.

People's Association Youth Movement, the event organiser, is tying up with St James Power Station on the party, which will be open to those aged 16 and above. But alcoholic drinks will only be available to those who are 18 and above.

"A lot of youths that came to us said that they may not have enough opportunity to participate. So in order to fulfil their wish, what we have done is to think of... (this) all night party so that those youths who participate in this Chingay... are able to join us in the party," said Lee Hong Chuang, chairman of People's Association Youth Movement's Central Youth Council.

"Our involvement will be... the entertainment part on the stage, and obviously Chingay has its own great processions and parades and it will be very colourful... we will be able to bring in the different partners," said Dennis Foo, CEO of St James Power Station. - CNA/ac