Angry participants demand refunds for ‘delayed’ Sky Lantern Festival in Sentosa

SINGAPORE: Angry participants are now seeking refunds from the organizers of the Sentosa Sky Lantern Festival, which did not proceed as planned on Wednesday (21 February).

They were disappointed when informed that they could not light the lanterns at the inaugural Singapore Sky Lantern Festival.

The festival was supposed to showcase lanterns tethered to the ground with 60m-long strings, floating in the sky for five to 10 minutes until the candles were extinguished. Participants were then expected to bring the lanterns back to the ground at Palawan Green.

A notice at the location on Wednesday stated, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, please note that the Singapore Sky Lantern Festival has been delayed.”

An announcement over the speakers added, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to release the sky lanterns with fire.”

Instead, organizers offered participants a lantern, a bag, and an LED light to pen their wishes. They suggested tying completed lanterns around the barricade or taking them home.

Attendees were informed about the option to request a refund through the Eventbrite website, where tickets were priced at S$50, excluding booking fees.

Outcry on social media: dissatisfied participants deem Sky Lantern Festival “worst-organized”

This led to frustration among attendees, with one individual expressing their disappointment on Facebook, labelling the event the “worst-organized” he had ever encountered and demanding a full refund.

The participant detailed the disorganization of the event, citing a lack of staff to direct the queue, no clear instructions, and an uncertain delay.

He emphasized the significant inconvenience, mentioning that his family had booked the event online and travelled all the way from Australia, leading to a disappointing and wasted experience.

“Fyre Festival”

A TikTok user humorously dubbed the event as the “Fyre Festival” in a video, portraying a conversation with a staff member who verified that there would be no lantern illumination at the festival.

“Lesson learnt, don’t trust everything you see on the internet, guys,” the TikToker remarked.

@onericeplease

Last i checked, “sky lanterns” are meant to be in the “sky” no? 🤔 The viral Singapore Sky Lantern Festival turned out to be a HUGE SCAM! Comment in this video if you want to know the full deets 🤡 #singapore #tiktoksg #sgviral #sgfyp #sentosa #sgdrama

♬ Oh No – Kreepa

Other attendees expressed their frustration on the event’s official Facebook page, questioning why the organizers failed to notify participants in advance about the cancellation of the lantern release.

A concerned netizen, who claimed to have paid S$200 for the event, cast doubts on its legitimacy, suggesting that it might be a scam.

Attendee criticizes the organiser’s lack proper planning

Another participant emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that if the event cannot proceed, the organizers should promptly issue a full refund. He urged the organizers to avoid deceptive practices and maintain clear communication.

This netizen shared their experience upon arriving at the event, highlighting the absence of directional signs and organized queues for entry and described the situation as extremely disorganized, expressing frustration over the perceived lack of proper planning.

“Freaking waste of time yet to believe that the event is by Sentosa? And simply mention due to unforeseen events it has to be cancelled? It seem like a mess up without proper planning.”

Comments also surfaced, mocking the organizers and questioning how they could justify the idea that a lantern, equipped with an LED light, could achieve flight.

One netizen shared a screenshot featuring a contact person for the event, raising inquiries about the pricing structure for a lantern, a pen, and an LED light.

Discussions also highlighted certain online media reports claiming that the event had obtained approval from authorities such as the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), and Sentosa Development Corporation.

A different netizen countered this by referencing an earlier statement from CAAS, emphasizing that the free release of sky lanterns is explicitly prohibited in Singapore.

According to CAAS guidelines, tethered sky lanterns may be released within specific time frames: between 7 pm and 7 am on weekdays, from 1 pm on Saturdays to 7 am on Mondays, and on public holidays.

Moreover, a permit from CAAS is mandatory for the release of tethered sky lanterns in designated areas. For releases outside these areas, not exceeding 200 feet above mean sea level, advance notification to CAAS via email is required at least 7 working days before the intended date.

Some participants have gone a step further by publicly announcing that they have reported the matter to the police.