Chinese New Year 2020: Best movies, music, and events to get into the festive spirit in Singapore

Chinese New Year is happening this weekend. That means you've probably heard the same "Gong Xi Fa Cai" tune in every shopping mall and store you've entered in the past month, hunted down the best homemade pineapple tarts and kuehs across the city, bought a lovely mandarin orange plant to usher in good fortune, and most importantly, girded your loins for questions about your singlehood. If you're dreading the seemingly endless visiting, we've rounded up some exciting ways to liven the spirit and get everyone in a good mood at these gatherings.

Invite your friends and colleagues over.

Chinese New Year might be all about family, but who said your friends — non-Chinese ones included — can't join in the festivities. After all, we can't imagine making small talk with our elderly relatives for the entire day. Futhermore, who's going to appreciate our limited edition Nike and CLOT collab Air Force One Lows? Whip out that Haidilao soup base for a hotpot feast or get some Grab delivery to make it a weekend worth remembering.

Set the mood with a celeb-curated playlist or trending fusion music.

Nothing kills a party more than the sound of silence. Instead of played-to-death tunes, switch it up with Singaporean DJ Wukong's electronic mixes. Expect classic Mando-pop hits from the likes of Jay Chou and JJ Lin mixed with cool EDM that will surely up the ante when the sun sets.

If you're into something a little more pop-focussed, check out homegrown singer Jasmine Sokko's curated playlist on Apple Music that features music from Jolin Tsai and VAVA. "Most people would pick traditional CNY songs like "It's Spring Again" but CNY is a great time for me to recalibrate when it comes to what kind of year I want it to be, so I curate all the songs that make me feel cool", she told Apple Music.

Be entertained by outstanding local and international Asian-specific productions.

Unwind with HBO Asia's Invisible Stories. Perfect for the entire family, the series showcases the heart-breaking struggles of six ordinary individuals who are trying to make ends meet while living in the same fictional heartland neighbourhood in Singapore. From a single mother who works tirelessly as a kopitiam auntie to care for her teen son with autism to a taxi driver who moonlights as a spiritual medium after losing his wife to cancer, these half-hour episodes will not only elicit tears, but will surely remind us all that there's plenty to be grateful for. If it's a little too sentimental for your liking, check out the hit show Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures on Netflix.

Visit the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre.

Book a six-seater van for your family and head down to the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre to check out 'Huat Huat Land'. The garden roof has been transformed with bright lights and interactive installations such as supersized pineapples and illuminated mahjong tiles! Admission is free too.

End the weekend at Gardens by the Bay.

If you're looking to organise an evening with your grandparents, Gardens by the Bay's floral masterpieces never fail to impress. 'Dahlia Dreams' features giant topiary-like sculptures, a spectacular Fu medallion, and other fantastical landscapes that seem to be plucked right out of a Chinese painting!