It looks like the “inaugural” Singapore Sky Lantern Festival may have been the last. 

On Wednesday (Feb 21), hundreds of attendees at Sentosa were dismayed at being informed that they would not be able to light lanterns and release them into the night sky.

In one of the biggest “expectations vs reality” let-downs in recent memory, they had to instead content themselves with tying light-emitting diode (LED) candles to barricades. So much for living out their Tangled dreams for the low, low cost of S$53.47 per pax.

Social media posts by eventgoers showed crowds of people queuing or standing around Palawan Green aimlessly, empty stalls where food and drink offerings had been promised, and a few A4-size signs saying that the event had been “delayed” due to “unforeseen circumstances”. 

Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers were also seen patrolling the grounds. No official announcements were made, but word spread that the lantern release segment had been cancelled by the authorities.

The videos quickly gained traction online, several of which garnered thousands of views within hours. The event was instantly dubbed “Singapore’s Fyre Festival” — in reference to the 2017 fraudulent music festival that had made headlines everywhere for failing to deliver on its extravagant promises.

RED FLAGS

Many netizens pointed the finger at Sentosa and local authorities for what they perceived to be poor oversight and enforcement over an event that was so clearly not up to snuff on Singapore’s rigid safety standards and requirements. 

They wondered: How had Sentosa Development Corporation allowed organisers to book the venue and set up stalls without first demanding the proper submission or showcase of appropriate permits? Why was SCDF only coming to run checks and tests on the day of? 

For its part, SCDF said on Thursday that it had informed organisers of safety requirements on Oct 31, 2023, and then “reiterated” the need to adhere to these “on multiple occasions leading up to the event”. 

The organiser had also on Feb 19 conducted a trial that was deemed “unsatisfactory”, said SCDF, as one of the lighted lanterns caused a small fire on the artificial turf.

Given all these red flags, some commenters asked: Why hadn’t anyone stepped in to shut the event down before it even happened? 

However, a hefty chunk of public responses directed the blame elsewhere: The attendees themselves.

The event was an “obvious scam” from the start, many claimed. If you “fell” for it, that’s on you. 

After all, they pointed out, shouldn’t common sense inform any Singapore resident that a lantern release event would never happen here? Environmental risks, dozens of open-flame hazards, the dangers of obstructing airspace for flight paths — really, with our track record on permits for events like these? You should all know better.

Some went even further: Good things never happen in Singapore, they advised. Just go overseas instead.

THE NAME OF THE BLAME

There’s good value in exercising healthy scepticism in any and all things. But jumping at this debacle as a chance to say “I told you so” just isn't very helpful. 

Contrary to popular assumption, attendees did not “fall” into an obvious sucker trap. 

From the beginning, the event was marketed as using tethered lanterns (not free release, which is widely known to be against regulations). 

It had also been reported by various established outlets as either being approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and SCDF, or as being planned in accordance or compliance with CAAS rules. 

Whether or not the Singapore Lantern Festival was a Fyre-style attempt at defrauding unsuspecting entertainment-seekers, is there really a need to heap unnecessary blame on attendees?

Wanting to have some innocent, harmless fun is not a crime, nor is it a character flaw. Being willing to pay money for it is no shameful failing, either. (Admittedly, as far as cheap thrills go, S$50+ doesn’t quite live up to the first half of the phrase — but hey, it’s each one’s money to use as they wish.) 

‘LUCKY NOT ME’

Several netizens had dodged the Lantern Festival bullet for themselves: “OMG! Lucky I didn’t buy ticket(s)!” exclaimed one TikTok user. “I even ask(ed) my friends to come with me.”

But dodging one particular bullet isn’t always a testament to our Matrix-level skills. Sometimes we just happen to be unavailable for said bullet; sometimes we never encounter it in our own path; sometimes we just get lucky. 

Surely, we’ve all said yes to equally harmless, “silly” ideas for various reasons. If those experiences had ended poorly, would we deserve derision and ridicule as well?

Either way, it doesn’t cost us a cent to try a little more empathy before passing judgment. 

The event page on Sentosa’s website has since been taken down, and now leads only to a “404: Page Not Found” error. 

“Don’t let that break your fun,” encourages the text, offering up links to other attractions and events listed on the website.

Wise words to live by — if a little late. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melissa Lee Suppiah is a deputy editor at TODAY where she oversees commentaries.