Five things to watch out for in this year's National Day Parade

·Elizabeth Soh

8 May 2015 at 3:49 am

Entries into this year’s National Day Parade 2015 ballot officially began on 8 May. And even if you’re sick of the “everything SG50” syndrome, lots of people are hoping to get their hands on tickets to the Golden Jubilee National Day Parade 2015, which will be held at both The Float @ Marina as well as the historically significant Padang.

Here are five things to look forward to this year, whether you’ll be waving from the stands with the thousands who got their Golden Tickets or celebrating with your television (and family) at home.

1. NDP 2015 will have a tribute segment dedicated to the late Lee Kuan Yew

People pay their respects to the late first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew at a community tribute site in Singapore March 28, 2015. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen revealed in April that the NDP 2015 would still ‘adopt a celebratory tone’.

“We have to move on, as Mr Lee would want us to,” he said.

However, the Parade’s Organising Committee will be adding a tribute segment to the life and accomplishments of Mr Lee, and his seat at the Padang will be kept empty as a mark of remembrance.

There’s more.

2. Black Knight’s special aerial lineup

A Facebook screen grab of Ng Eng Hen's post on special Lee Kuan Yew flypast tribute.

Singapore’s Black Knight fly-past, undisputedly one of the highlights of the Parade, will be doing a special five-star aerial lineup to pay tribute to Mr Lee.

“The Black Knights will thunder over the Padang, lined up as five stars watching over this nation he founded; representing the ideals that Mr Lee spent his life pushing for – democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality,” said Defence Minister Ng.

3. “Majulah Singapura” – Singapore’s rallying cry

SINGAPORE - AUGUST 09: The RSAF Chinook carrying the state flag, flanked by two Apaches AH64D perform a flypast during the National Day Parade at the Float at Marina Bay on August 9, 2014 in Singapore. Singapore celebrates it's 49th birthday with a parade theme of 'Our People, Our Home'. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

The theme for this year’s Golden Jubilee Parade is “Onward Singapore” and centres around the country’s struggle in nation building as well as the contributions of the country’s pioneer generation.

4. The 2015 NDP theme song – Our Singapore

In 1998, homegrown and much beloved local singer-songwriter Dick Lee composed “Home” – a hugely popular, intensely poignant song performed by Kit Chan that continues to bring the country to tears during the yearly Parade and is the unofficial ‘favourite’ song of the nation.

This year, he’s back with “Our Singapore”.

You have less than three months to memorize the lyrics to this song, but don’t worry - you’ll soon be hearing it everywhere you go.

5. Everyone gets a Fun Pack this year

Singapore National Day Parade 2015 Fun Pack (Photo: MINDEF)

Fun-packs have been known to cause frenzied stampedes as eager Singaporeans rush to get their hands on the goody packs, ambushing terrified teen volunteers and yanking the drawstring bags out of their hapless hands.

People start haggling in the stands to swop out items with complete strangers so they can get more of the items they want or the merchandise in the “right” color.

This year, every household gets a Fun Pack.

“This will allow everyone, at home watching their TVs or out, to wave the same banner, slap the same clappers all over the island,” said Dr Ng in Parliament.

There will be an estimated 2 million TV viewers for this year's Parade.