SINGAPORE: The organiser of a sky lantern festival at Sentosa that failed to deliver on its main event did not obtain the necessary licences and clearance to meet mandated safety requirements.
The much-publicised event, held at Palawan Green on Wednesday (Feb 21), cost S$50 per person excluding booking fees.
Participants had been sold on the promise of a photogenic lantern light-up with 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.
However, many ticketholders were left disappointed and angry when they arrived to find that “unforeseen circumstances” had changed these plans, with attendees offered LED candles instead. They were also provided with pens to write their wishes on the lanterns before tying them to the barricades.
In response to queries from CNA, a spokesperson from Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said that the event was organised by a third party, Asian Couture & Boutique, which rented the venue.
“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.”
A crowd is seen at the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival at Palawan Green on Sentosa Island at about 7pm. (Photo: CNA reader)
Sentosa Development Corporation was informed by both SCDF and the event organiser of a delay to the start of the event on Wednesday afternoon.
“We took immediate action to ensure that guests were informed of the situation through signages at key locations from Sentosa Express Beach Station to the site at Palawan Green. Live updates were also provided by the organiser at event ground,” said the spokesperson.
SDC apologised for any inconvenience caused to guests. It also directed ticketholders to contact the event organiser for refunds: Steven Lau at 9455 5212 and Shiermie Bautista at shiermie85 [at] gmail.com and 84248725.
Ms Bautista told CNA that during a site inspection of the venue on Wednesday, SCDF noticed an "inadequate supply of fire extinguishers for such a big crowd".
"We were advised to re-schedule the segment to release the tethered lanterns to another day instead," she said, adding that existing tickets are still valid for the rescheduled event "until further notice".
Ms Bautista is behind a similar lantern event that was supposed to have taken place on Valentine's Day last year in Dubai's Qudra Desert. But instead of tethers, the lanterns were to be released.
She promoted the event on her personal Facebook page in November 2022.
However, the event was later "postponed until further notice". The Dubai Sky Lantern Festival 2023 said in a Facebook announcement that the postponement was due to "issues" with the aviation authority and that refunds would be provided.
Ms Bautista told CNA on Thursday the rescheduled Dubai event will be held on Apr 9.
The event, scheduled to run from 3pm to midnight, was meant to begin with a music festival before the lantern release at 7.30pm.
However, as participants arrived at the venue, a notice read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, please note that the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival has been delayed.”
Responding to queries from CNA, a spokesperson from event organiser Asian Couture and Boutique 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 said 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 earlier on Thursday that discussions were ongoing and that an update will be provided within the next two weeks.
TikTok user onericeplease said the food stalls at the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival were "non-existent". (Image: TikTok/onericeplease)
Angry participants left complaints 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.
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."
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.
Additional reporting by Grace Yeoh and Lee Chong Ming.
Continue reading...
The much-publicised event, held at Palawan Green on Wednesday (Feb 21), cost S$50 per person excluding booking fees.
Participants had been sold on the promise of a photogenic lantern light-up with 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.
However, many ticketholders were left disappointed and angry when they arrived to find that “unforeseen circumstances” had changed these plans, with attendees offered LED candles instead. They were also provided with pens to write their wishes on the lanterns before tying them to the barricades.
In response to queries from CNA, a spokesperson from Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said that the event was organised by a third party, Asian Couture & Boutique, which rented the venue.
“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.”
A crowd is seen at the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival at Palawan Green on Sentosa Island at about 7pm. (Photo: CNA reader)
Sentosa Development Corporation was informed by both SCDF and the event organiser of a delay to the start of the event on Wednesday afternoon.
“We took immediate action to ensure that guests were informed of the situation through signages at key locations from Sentosa Express Beach Station to the site at Palawan Green. Live updates were also provided by the organiser at event ground,” said the spokesperson.
SDC apologised for any inconvenience caused to guests. It also directed ticketholders to contact the event organiser for refunds: Steven Lau at 9455 5212 and Shiermie Bautista at shiermie85 [at] gmail.com and 84248725.
Ms Bautista told CNA that during a site inspection of the venue on Wednesday, SCDF noticed an "inadequate supply of fire extinguishers for such a big crowd".
"We were advised to re-schedule the segment to release the tethered lanterns to another day instead," she said, adding that existing tickets are still valid for the rescheduled event "until further notice".
Ms Bautista is behind a similar lantern event that was supposed to have taken place on Valentine's Day last year in Dubai's Qudra Desert. But instead of tethers, the lanterns were to be released.
She promoted the event on her personal Facebook page in November 2022.
However, the event was later "postponed until further notice". The Dubai Sky Lantern Festival 2023 said in a Facebook announcement that the postponement was due to "issues" with the aviation authority and that refunds would be provided.
Ms Bautista told CNA on Thursday the rescheduled Dubai event will be held on Apr 9.
“UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES”
The event, scheduled to run from 3pm to midnight, was meant to begin with a music festival before the lantern release at 7.30pm.
However, as participants arrived at the venue, a notice read: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, please note that the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival has been delayed.”
Responding to queries from CNA, a spokesperson from event organiser Asian Couture and Boutique 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 said 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 earlier on Thursday that discussions were ongoing and that an update will be provided within the next two weeks.
TikTok user onericeplease said the food stalls at the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival were "non-existent". (Image: TikTok/onericeplease)
LONG QUEUES
Angry participants left complaints 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.
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."
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.
Additional reporting by Grace Yeoh and Lee Chong Ming.
Continue reading...