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peaking of where to go on New Year’s Eve, one is always spoilt for choice in Singapore. Some of the city-state’s most popular shindigs, like the Marina Bay Countdown and the Siloso Beach Party, are also making a return for your entertainment on Dec. 31.

For those who happen to harbor great hopes for the year ahead, the Marina Bay Countdown (marinabaycountdown.sg) is not to be missed. The quintessentially Singaporean celebration will have you set a “wishing sphere” afloat the bay and witness as it becomes part of a visual arts installation together with 20,000 other wish-filled spheres.

This year’s program lineup at Marina Bay includes Taiwanese rocker David Tao rocking it on the Floating Platform, and homegrown duo Jack & Rai performing both original and chart-topping hits to dance your night through.

From across the Causeway, there’s One Nation Emcees with their brand of high energy hip hop, Singapore Idol icons Sezairi Sezali and Sylvia Ratonel showing off their spectacular voices, and contestants from Singapore’s One Moment of Glory talent show strutting their stuff through songs, dance performance and acrobatics.

The dawn of the New Year will then unfold with a massive annual fireworks display over the Esplanade waterfront. Stay-in celebrants can catch the event live on Channel News Asia.

Also taking place in the city center is an array of masquerade parties held by some of Singapore’s trendiest clubs.

The Butter Factory (thebutterfactory.com) on Fullerton Road, for one, is inviting guests to come as they aren’t to the Mask-A-Rave NYE bash that bumps “the best of hip hop, R&B and dance” under one roof. Make sure to grab a pair of 3D glasses from the joint to make the midnight fireworks display even more spectacular.

Moving on to Sentosa Island, beach lovers are in for a treat at Siloso Beach Party (sentosa.com.sg/silosobeachparty), which annually sees the area’s resident clubs join together in celebration of New Year.

DJs and groovy music aside, party people can expect cool pyrotechnics and various fringe activities across Siloso’s 1.2 km stretch. As many as five party zones are laid out alongside a giant foam pool and a sandy dance floor, so grab those bikinis and broad shorts now!

Not too keen on partying hard, showing off some skin or getting sand in your crack? Then opt for a high-brow program such as the one happening at Singapore Conference Hall on the night of Dec. 31.

“Nodame! Live” is a showcase of popular classical numbers as featured in the popular Japanese manga and TV drama series Nodame Cantabile, which doubly serves as a refined way to celebrate the turn of the year.

This performance by Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra features conductor Adrian Tan and crew with some special numbers brought to life by young Singaporean music talents Azariah Tan (piano), Selina Tang (violin), and Jeremy Wong (oboe).

Tickets for Siloso Beach Party and Nodame! are both available via sistic.com.sg