By Avelyn Ng
The May Day Fiesta, a hallmark event of the annual May Day Celebrations organised by NTUC, is also on Siti Aisah Sadli’s family calendar. This will be her fifth year attending the Fiesta with her family.
How did you come to know about the May Day Fiesta?
Years back, I heard about NTUC benefits such as bursaries, rebates and merchant promotions, and decided to sign up as a union member. I’ve been receiving and keeping a lookout for their electronic mailers on exciting events ever since.
Are you the only union member in the house?
My husband signed up shortly after me! His case is a little different. The union stepped in to help resolve a workplace dispute in his previous company and he discovered the protection he could get as a member.
Most memorable experiences?
Last year’s Fiesta was the first time over the past four years that it was held outside of Downtown East. At Sentosa, we had access to attractions like the Butterfly Park, which we thoroughly enjoyed. There was another year where we coincidentally bumped into some relatives and friends at the Fiesta. There were over 20 of us in the end!
Who do you usually bring along?
I always try to rally my immediate family, extended family and friends to register for the event. However, it depends on who is available and how many tickets we can get. This year, it was very popular and the tickets got snapped up within days!
How does everyone feel about the event?
The kids love it, of course. There are so many games and coupons to use. The grandparents are delighted to meet the young ones and see them having fun. The Fiesta is always crowded and the queues get inevitably long, but I think it adds to the atmosphere and we can have conversations while waiting. Besides, we have learned to divide and conquer when making purchases!
What is special this year?
Pre-event wise, I think it is great that the tickets collection was done in advance instead of on the actual day. Not only do we not have to fight the crowd, those who cannot make it for the Fiesta do not have to make a trip down just for collection. They can choose to utilise the attraction coupons in the goodie bags another day.
My two kids have been asking me to bring them to the revamped Wild Wild Wet and try some of the new rides. The complimentary passes from the Fiesta give us the chance to do just that. My son, who will be turning eight mid-May, is particularly thrilled. We are thinking of making a birthday celebration out of it!
Family bonding tips?
You do not need to spend a lot or set aside a full day for family gatherings. I try to meet my parents and in-laws once a week, even if it is just for a few hours of chit-chat.
Source: NTUC This Week
