A GIANT revolving ball that plays Christmas tunes and also dispenses sweets and gift-redeemable ping-pong balls at certain times is a highlight of Changi Airport Group's Big Christmas celebrations, which run until early January next year.

Located on Level 2 of Changi Airport's Terminal 3, the 6m-wide musical ball, named Big Musical Bauble, will "perform" from 6am to 10pm at half-hour intervals. During each seven-minute "show", it unfolds like a flower and revolves on a stationary platform, playing Christmas music.

After the music stops, on weekdays from 7pm to 10pm, and from 12pm to 10pm on weekends, sweets and coloured ping-pong balls will be released through tubes into designated areas around the ball.

People can grab pink ping-pong balls with the Changi Airport Group logo to exchange for gifts.

"It's very colourful and fun. I like the music, the sweets and the ping-pong balls that fall out," said eight-year-old Choa Chu Kang Primary School pupil Loo En Aie, who was on a school excursion to Changi Airport and caught the ball in action.

The Christmas celebrations also include a 17m-by-8m inflatable rubber castle, called the Big Snow Fantasy, intended for children aged eight and above. The castle features two rubber slides and an area filled with coloured plastic balls, in which kids can play.

"It is unique and safe because parents like me can watch our kids from a distance while they enjoy themselves. I would gladly come back for this if the opportunity arises,"said 32-year-old Sam Jiang of China, who is on vacation with his family in Singapore.

There is also a promotion that entitles shoppers at Changi Airport to a $5 voucher or a soft toy with every $50 they spend with their Visa card, or $80 through other means, in a single
receipt.

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