New attractions, air-bound shows, legendary sporting activities – you name it, Singapore will be home to it. Time Out Singapore picks the high-profile events this year that will make our little island shine even more brightly on the world map. 

Chingay Parade of Dreams 2008 
This year, the annual Chinese New Year parade moves to Marina Bay, where it will strut around the Padang and turn into Raffles Avenue, before ending at the Marina Promenade Floating Platform. In addition to the usual neon-lit floats, fireworks and cast of hundreds, new highlights include a fleet of 36 Ferrari sports cars and a post-parade, all-night party. You can get tickets for any of the five ‘viewing galleries’ (aka spectator stands), which include a picnic spot on the Padang, or watch for free along pedestrian walkways. 
15 Feb (preview), 7.30pm, viewing gallery $15-$50; 16 Feb, 7pm, $20-$70, City Hall to Marina Promenade Floating Platform; Chingay All-Night Party: 16 Feb, 11pm, prices TBD (www.chingay.org.sg). MRT: City Hall and Raffles Place. 

Singapore Airshow 2008 
For those who always feel the need for speed, you’ll be glad that Asia’s largest aerospace and defence event will be back with a new name and a new site. The Singapore Airshow 2008 will take place at the 30- hectare Changi Exhibition Centre this year, where you can witness state-of-the-art aircrafts and both military and civil aviation systems. Seriously though, the ‘top gun’ attraction at any airshow has always been the aerobatic flying stunts, and this year’s curtain-raising spectacular will be the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aerobatics team, the Black Knights, making a re-appearance after eight years with a full fleet of six F-16 Fighting Falcons.
19-22 Feb (trade days), 23-24 Feb (public), 9.30am-5pm. $20; children 12 and under $8 (includes one round-trip on shuttle bus service to and from Pasir Ris Bus Interchange and show site). Changi Exhibition Centre, Changi North, off Changi Coast Rd (6542 8660, www.singaporeairshow.com.sg). MRT: Expo, then SBS Shuttle Bus. 

HSBC Women’s Golf Champions 
Singapore is fast becoming the place for golf in Asia. The inaugural HSBC Women’s Champions tournament will make its debut with a prize purse of US$2 million (S$2.88 million). The winner gets US$300,000 (S$432,000) – the biggest for a women’s event in Asia. Sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), it’s already attracting the interests of top golfers such as Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak and – dare we hope – Michelle Wie, if she can make the cut. Even if you are not into golf, getting an autograph from any of the famous marquee names will at least get you a good deal on eBay. 
28 Feb- 2 Mar, 8am-4pm. Prices TBD. Tanah Merah Country Club, 25 Changi Coast Rd (www.hsbcgolf.com). MRT: Tanah Merah. 

Singapore Flyer 
Call it the Singapore Eye. At 42 storeys high, this giant observation Ferris wheel offers panoramic views of the Singapore cityscape, the Southern Islands and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. And yes, it’s true: the attraction is already booked for the first three months during weekdays from 6.30pm, and all day on weekends and public holidays. The management, however, assured TOS that ‘about 10 per cent capacity has been kept aside for those who booked through the internet and walkins, so it is possible for the general public and tourists to get on the ride, subject to ticket availability.’ Set to open officially on 1 March, the Flyer will start rolling by February, as Valentine’s Day packages and corporate bookings were sold in advance. 

2008 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Who are we kidding? This is the event everyone’s waiting for. Yes, F1 is finally here and – we being superlatives-obsessed Singapore – ours will be the first street grand prix in Asia, the first in the world to be held at night and one of the three races in the 2008 F1 calendar to run anticlockwise. The proposed 5.05km-long circuit, with 14 left-hand turns and ten right hand turns, will take place on a number of public roads around the Marina Bay area. 

Barclays Singapore Open 2008 
First the ladies, now the gents. The flagship Singapore Open golf tournament will once again lure the world’s top male golfing stars to our shores, or more precisely, the award-winning Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, by being Asia’s richest national Open. This year, the dangling carrot has been raised from US$4 million to US$5m (S$7.2m). While Argentinian Angel Cabrera is certain to be back to defend his title, let’s hope that world No 1 Tiger Woods makes it this time, and that homegrown pro Mardan Mamat won’t get himself disqualified again for submitting a wrong score. 
6-9 Nov, times and prices TBD. Sentosa Golf Club, Sentosa (www.visitsingapore.com). MRT: HarbourFront, then Sentosa Express. MT