Long queues, no light-up: Anger at S$50 sky lantern festival in Sentosa as participants seek refunds
The inaugural Singapore Sky Lantern Festival held at Palawan Green left some attendees confused and frustrated.

A crowd is seen at the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival at Palawan Green on Sentosa Island on Feb 21, 2024. (Photos: CNA reader, Eventbrite website)
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SINGAPORE: A sky lantern festival in Sentosa on Wednesday (Feb 21) left participants disappointed and angry after the promised candle light-up was cancelled, prompting many to seek refunds.
The inaugural Singapore Sky Lantern Festival was supposed to feature lanterns lit by burning candles.
These lanterns were meant to float in the sky for five to 10 minutes while being tethered to the ground via 60m-long strings at Palawan Green.
The event, billed as a programme "filled with fun, positivity, happiness, unity, hope, love and great memories", was scheduled to run from 3pm to midnight, with the lantern release scheduled for 7.30pm.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, please note that the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival has been delayed," read a notice at the location on Wednesday.
An announcement was also heard over the speakers: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to release the sky lanterns with fire."
"Nevertheless, we are giving away a lantern, a pen and an LED light for you to pen your wishes," it said, adding that participants could tie their completed lanterns around the barricade or take them home.
People were informed that they could request a refund via the website of ticketing platform Eventbrite. Tickets cost S$50, excluding booking fees.
A participant who did not want to be named told CNA that staff on the ground said: "All I can say is we don’t have a permit to light up the lantern."

In response to CNA's queries, a spokesperson from event organiser Asian Couture and Boutique on Thursday said the sky lanterns could not be released as they wanted to "prioritise the safety" of attendees.
"We are unable to release the sky lanterns with (fire at) the event," the spokesperson said, without elaborating on the nature of the safety concerns.
He also reiterated that pens and LED candles were provided so that attendees could still participate in the tradition of writing wishes on the lanterns.
Regarding those seeking refunds, the spokesperson said discussions were ongoing and that an update will be provided within the next two weeks.
LONG QUEUES, S$50 LANTERN
Angry participants complained on the event's Facebook page about the abrupt cancellation of the light-up.
"Instead you let people queue for hours without knowing what’s going on, just to collect 50$ lantern for a souvenir as they are not able to light it anywhere in Singapore," one Facebook user said.
Another wrote: "Is it cancelled? Walked in and everyone said to get my refund as there’s no more lanterns, food or music festival."
TikTok user sheryllim80 said that many participants in the queue were unaware of the change as only a small sign was put up.
She added that she was told a refund would not be given if people chose to collect the lantern and the LED light.


"Got lantern but no light up," an event employee told TikTok user onericeplease when asked when the lanterns would be going up.
She also noted that the promised food stalls appeared to be "non-existent" and compared the event to Fyre Festival.
Fyre Festival, billed as a luxury event, was supposed to take place over two weekends in the Bahamas in 2017. Customers arrived to learn musical acts were cancelled, with the accommodation and food they were promised falling far short of expectations.
Responding to queries from CNA, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said on Thursday evening that the event organiser did not obtain the necessary licences and clearance to meet mandated safety requirements.
The event was organised by a third party, Asian Couture & Boutique, which rented the venue, said an SDC spokesperson.
“As the event organiser was unable to obtain the necessary licences and clearance to meet safety requirements mandated by local authorities such as Singapore Civil Defence Force, the event could only continue with music entertainment.”
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