NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk: A National Day Community Event
In 2025, Singapore celebrated a milestone like no other — SG60, the nation’s 60th year of independence. Across the island, communities came together to mark this occasion with pride, gratitude, and a renewed sense of solidarity. Among the most significant SG60 celebrations was the NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk, a large-scale community event that brought together thousands of Singaporeans from every walk of life to walk as one in honour of the nation’s journey.
Get Out! Events was entrusted with the end-to-end event management of this landmark National Day event — from initial planning and government liaison through to on-ground execution. Here is how we brought the NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk to life.
Get Out! Events — Government & Large-Scale Events Specialist
Get Out! Events was appointed by NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) as the official event management company for the SG60 Solidarity Walk, Singapore’s landmark National Day community event in 2025. This engagement reflects our established track record managing large-scale government and national events in Singapore. Since 2012, we have delivered over 1,000 events — including mass participation walks, national day celebrations, government agency roadshows, and community events — for audiences ranging from hundreds to thousands of Singaporeans.
The Brief: Uniting a Nation Through a Community Walk
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) envisioned a large-scale community walk event that would commemorate Singapore’s 60th year of independence while fostering solidarity among workers, families, and communities across the island. This was not an ordinary charity walk or fun run. It was a nationally significant event tied to SG60 celebrations, with high expectations around scale, safety, and symbolism.
The brief was ambitious: create an inclusive, accessible, and memorable walking event that would inspire national pride, encourage community participation, and serve as a powerful symbol of unity. The event needed to accommodate thousands of participants across diverse age groups, manage complex logistics across public roads, and deliver an experience worthy of a National Day milestone.
As an experienced large-scale event management company with over 1,000 events delivered since 2012, Get Out! Events was well-positioned to take on this challenge.
The Challenge: Logistics at a National Scale
Managing a large-scale community walk event in Singapore is a fundamentally different challenge from organising a corporate dinner or indoor conference. The NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk presented several layers of complexity:
- Crowd management at scale: With thousands of participants expected — including families with young children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and union members — every aspect of crowd flow had to be meticulously planned to ensure safety and comfort.
- Government liaison and coordination: An event of this magnitude on public roads required close coordination with multiple government agencies, including the Singapore Police Force, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and relevant town councils. Permits, road closures, traffic diversions, and security arrangements all needed to be secured well in advance.
- Route planning: The walking route had to be safe, scenic, and symbolically meaningful — while being logistically feasible for large crowd movement. Route planning involved site recces, risk assessments, and contingency mapping.
- Safety protocols: With a large public gathering, comprehensive safety measures were non-negotiable. This included medical standby teams, hydration stations, first-aid points, and emergency evacuation plans.
- Weather contingency: Singapore’s tropical climate meant that rain contingency plans were essential. Every element — from staging to wayfinding to participant welfare — needed a wet-weather alternative.
Our Approach: Planning a Government Event in Singapore
Get Out! Events brought a structured, experienced approach to the NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk. With a decade of experience delivering corporate events in Singapore — including government events, community activations, and large-format outdoor experiences — our team was able to anticipate challenges and build solutions from day one.
Government Liaison and Permits
Our team led all government liaison efforts, working directly with the relevant authorities to secure the necessary permits and approvals. This included coordination with police for road closures and security, LTA for traffic management, and local agencies for venue and route approvals. We managed the entire application process, attended liaison meetings, and ensured full regulatory compliance.
Route Coordination and Site Planning
We conducted multiple site recces and walkthroughs to finalise a route that was safe, manageable, and meaningful. Key considerations included participant flow, bottleneck prevention, accessibility for persons with reduced mobility, and positioning of rest stops, hydration points, and medical stations along the route.
Participant Management
For a community event of this scale, participant management was critical. We designed and implemented a registration system that could handle high volumes, created participant packs, and planned the check-in and flag-off process to minimise wait times and congestion. Wave starts were considered to manage crowd density along the route.
Event Logistics and Infrastructure
The physical infrastructure for the walk included staging areas, start and finish gantries, directional signage and wayfinding, marshalling points, barricades, portable facilities, F&B stations, and a main stage for the opening ceremony. Every element was planned with scalability and safety in mind.
Marshalling and Crowd Flow
A large team of trained marshals was deployed along the entire route to guide participants, manage intersections, provide assistance, and maintain orderly crowd flow. Communication between marshalling teams and the central command was maintained via radio systems to enable real-time adjustments.
Medical and Safety Standby
Comprehensive medical coverage was arranged, including ambulance standby, first-aid stations at regular intervals along the route, and roving medical teams. A detailed emergency response plan was prepared and briefed to all crew members.
Rain Contingency
Given Singapore’s unpredictable weather, a full rain contingency plan was developed. This covered sheltered assembly areas, modified route options, accelerated programme timelines, and communication protocols for participant updates in the event of inclement weather.
Execution on the Day: Bringing the Solidarity Walk to Life
Event day began well before dawn. Our operations team was on-site in the early hours to set up infrastructure, conduct final safety checks, and brief the marshalling teams.
Pre-Event Setup
Staging areas were assembled, signage installed, barricades positioned, and all F&B and medical stations activated. A final walkthrough of the entire route was completed to verify that every element was in place. Communication checks across all radio channels confirmed that the marshalling network was operational.
Participant Registration and Assembly
Registration counters opened early to accommodate the expected volume of participants. The check-in process was designed for speed and efficiency — participants collected their event materials, were directed to their designated wave zones, and received final briefings on the route and safety guidelines.
Flag-Off and the Walk
The flag-off ceremony featured remarks from NTUC leadership and distinguished guests, reinforcing the significance of the SG60 Solidarity Walk as a National Day event. Participants were flagged off in waves to manage crowd density, with marshals guiding each group along the designated route.
Along the route, participants passed through key landmarks and activity zones designed to celebrate Singapore’s 60-year journey. Hydration stations and rest points ensured participant welfare throughout the walk.
Crowd Flow and Safety Management
Throughout the event, our central command team monitored crowd flow in real time, coordinating with marshals to manage any congestion points, assist participants who needed help, and maintain the overall pace and safety of the walk. Medical teams were on standby and responded promptly to any incidents.
Post-Event Wrap
As participants crossed the finish line, they were directed to a celebration zone with refreshments, photo opportunities, and community activities. The post-event programme allowed participants to celebrate together before the event concluded. Teardown operations commenced immediately after, with all infrastructure removed and the route restored within the agreed timeline.
Results and Impact
The NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk was a resounding success. Key outcomes included:
- Thousands of participants: The event drew a strong turnout of union members, families, and community groups from across Singapore, making it one of the largest community walk events of the SG60 celebrations.
- Zero major safety incidents: Comprehensive planning and on-ground execution ensured that the event was completed safely, with no major incidents reported.
- National significance: As a marquee event in the SG60 calendar, the Solidarity Walk received coverage and recognition as a meaningful expression of national unity and solidarity.
- Client satisfaction: NTUC expressed strong satisfaction with the planning, coordination, and execution of the event, noting the professionalism and responsiveness of the Get Out! Events team throughout the engagement.
The success of the NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk reinforced Get Out! Events’ reputation as a trusted partner for large-scale community events and government event management in Singapore.
Key Takeaways: What Makes a Large-Scale Community Walk Event Succeed
Having delivered the NTUC SG60 Solidarity Walk and numerous other large-format events, here are the key takeaways we believe make a community event Singapore audiences will remember:
1. Start Government Liaison Early
For any event involving public roads, large crowds, or national significance, government liaison must begin months in advance. Permit applications, traffic management plans, and security arrangements all require lead time and multiple rounds of coordination.
2. Plan for Scale — and Then Plan Again
Large-scale event management demands contingency planning at every level. What happens if turnout exceeds projections? What if it rains? What if there is a medical emergency at the furthest point from the nearest aid station? Every scenario must be anticipated and planned for.
3. Invest in Crowd Management Expertise
Crowd flow is not something you improvise. It requires experienced marshalling teams, clear wayfinding, wave-start systems, and real-time communication networks. The difference between a smooth event and a chaotic one often comes down to crowd management.
4. Choose an Experienced Event Partner
Events of this scale and significance require a partner who has done it before. Get Out! Events has delivered over 1,000 events since 2012, including government events, community activations, and large-format outdoor experiences. That experience translates into better planning, faster problem-solving, and a smoother event for everyone involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you manage crowd safety at a large-scale community walk event?
Crowd safety starts with detailed route planning, risk assessment, and coordination with authorities. On the day, trained marshals are deployed along the entire route, medical teams are stationed at regular intervals, and a central command team monitors crowd flow in real time. Communication systems ensure that any issues are flagged and addressed immediately.
What government approvals are needed for a large community event in Singapore?
Large community events on public roads in Singapore typically require permits from the Singapore Police Force, coordination with the Land Transport Authority for road closures and traffic diversions, and approvals from relevant town councils or land-owning agencies. The scope of approvals depends on the event’s scale, location, and nature.
How far in advance should you start planning a national-scale event?
For a large-scale community event with government liaison requirements, we recommend a minimum planning lead time of four to six months. This allows sufficient time for permit applications, stakeholder coordination, route planning, logistics procurement, and participant registration.
Can Get Out! Events manage government and community events?
Yes. Get Out! Events has extensive experience delivering government events and large-scale community activations in Singapore. From National Day events and solidarity walks to corporate family days and public roadshows, we bring the planning rigour, safety expertise, and on-ground execution that these events demand. Learn more about our corporate events in Singapore.