SINGAPORE -- The country's bonanza for its 50th year of independence promised to be a big one. For this year's National Day Singapore splurged S$20 million (US$15 million) on the parade, which had 12,000 performers and saw a turnout of 26,000 spectators.
Today's party was fun. #ndp2015 #jubileeyear @ndp2015 A photo posted by ϧÄBÊLLÈ ÇHÉØK (@isa.belle.xx) on Aug 9, 2015 at 5:29am PDT
Happy Birthday Singapore !!! A video posted by ~♡~정안안~♡~ (@an1101) on Aug 9, 2015 at 2:52am PDT
Soooo glad t be able t watch the NDP parade LIVE this yr!! Rejoice It's even much significant as it's our little red dot's Jubilee year!! Looking forward t the night of programmes lined up. HAPPYYYY BDAAAAY SINGAPORE!!! #sg50 #ndp2015 A photo posted by Jasmine (@daryjenne_) on Aug 9, 2015 at 3:30am PDT
One of the highlights of the parade was a formation of 20 fighter jets flying in a shape of a "50", 18 metres apart.
50 is just the beginning of even better things to come! #MajulahSingapura #NDP2015 A photo posted by Juncai Huang (@juncai_jc) on Aug 9, 2015 at 3:55am PDT
The parade laid on the nostalgia hard. Here's a contingent from the police force, with the old police uniforms on display.
There's a wave of nostalgia as the Police contingent,Vintage Parade comes into view http://t.co/wjHxlOdh2x #Singapore pic.twitter.com/BcLZJuTjZG— SingaporePoliceForce (@SingaporePolice) August 9, 2015
Everything was red and white.
Majulah Singapura! !! #Singapore today we go hard!!! #SG50 @mediacorp pic.twitter.com/WTTDCQ11Ye— Gerald Koh (@GeraldKoh987) August 9, 2015
If there’s any member of the pioneer generation around you, give him/her a big high five!#NDP2015 #ImHereCos #SG50 pic.twitter.com/Iz9Hz6DSHH— SG50 (@SG50) August 9, 2015
People who didn't make it to the parade had parties and ate SG50-themed food.
happy birthday!! #ndp2015 A photo posted by Soo Lin (@shuttersoo) on Aug 9, 2015 at 5:29am PDT
50 years of Wonder. Food, Friends, Family and so much more. #SG50 A photo posted by Devonne Pei Yi Niam (@devniam) on Aug 9, 2015 at 5:25am PDT
MAJULAH SINGAPURA #SG50 A photo posted by Devonne Pei Yi Niam (@devniam) on Aug 9, 2015 at 5:19am PDT
Happy SG50!!! @derekcai A photo posted by Misato Yamamoto (@mi38rry) on Aug 8, 2015 at 8:06am PDT
Some Singaporeans picnicked to watch the parade and fireworks.
Picnic-ing with thousands of other Singaporeans to watch #NDP2015 on huge LED screens around Marina Bay, drinking milo. #sosingaporean #sg50 A photo posted by Paper Exploits (@paperexploits) on Aug 9, 2015 at 2:24am PDT
Dogs got dressed up.
Proud to be a Singa-pug-rean! A photo posted by Kenchan (@kenchanthepug) on Aug 9, 2015 at 3:38am PDT
Happy SG50 #ndp2015 #poodle #sg50 #cutepoodle A photo posted by Jake (@jakejakemak) on Aug 9, 2015 at 3:42am PDT
And then the fireworks happened, along a 300-metre-long fireworks barge, reported Channel NewsAsia.
Happy 50th, Singapore. #fireworks #ndp #ndp2015 #happynationalday #singapore A photo posted by xogermaine (@xogermaine) on Aug 9, 2015 at 5:29am PDT
There was also a solemn tribute to Lee Kuan Yew, the country's founding prime minister, who passed away in March this year. Lee attended every National Day parade the country had.
Flowers where our late founding Prime Minister #LeeKuanYew would've sat. In loving memory. #sg50 #Singapore pic.twitter.com/Jcl2zs5W9u— PAP Singapore (@PAPSingapore) August 9, 2015