On Saturday 20 February 2010 from 8.00 to 9.30 p.m., Chingay Parade 2010 was held at the Formula 1 Pit Building, next to Singapore Flyer. It was attended by more than 10,000 spectators and visitors. The Guest of Honour for the event was President S.R. Nathan, who launched the Parade together with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, from the top of the Flying Horse Float. Other guests included cabinet ministers, members of parliament, community leaders and ambassadors and high commisssioners.

This year, Thailand, once again was represented by a cultural troupe and a performance entitled "Friendship from Siam", choreographed by Prof. Niparat Karnchanachote and sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The performers are mostly students of Pibulsonggram Rajabhat University, Phitsanulok.

Chingay Parade (Zhuāngyì Dàyóuxíng) is an annual street parade held in Singapore as part of Chinese New Year festivities. The term Chingay itself originated in Southeast Asia, particularly in Penang, Malaysia, which is a phonetic equivalent of the Chinese words "Zhuāngyì ", which means "a decorated miniature stage" or float. There is no historical record of how the word “Chingay” originated. But records show that as early as the 19th century, Chingay appeared in Southeast Asia, beginning in Penang . The word was coined from its phonetic Hokkien equivalent, which means “the art of costume and masquerade”. It alluded to a Chinese styled decorated miniature stage or float borne on the shoulders of performers. This miniature stage depicts an important historical scene. It was probably the beginning of the manual float. During New Year processions in old China , such floats were carried through the streets on men's shoulders while dancers, jugglers and magicians entertained the crowds. Huge animals, both real and mythical took part in the processions, which were essentially religious in nature and aimed at honouring deities at the beginning of each new year.

In Penang , the Baba or Straits Born Chinese carried on the practice. Some claimed Chingay originated even before the arrival of Sir Francis Light. The procession was specifically Chinese and religious: To honour the five deities who serve as guardians or patron saints each for a different dialect group. In pre-war years, the annual procession was a three-day fiesta which involved the whole town. The main elements included giant triangular flags and lanterns, which were the trademarks of Penang's Chingay "The Giant Flags Procession".

Chingay was held in Singapore for the first time in 1973. Today, it is associated with an explosion of colours and most of all, joyous noise of cymbals, drums and voices. Many did not remember that Chingay was introduced as a substitute for a different kind of noise: firecrackers. In 1972, the Singaporean government banned firecrackers after a fatal explosion in the Lunar New Year period killed two people. The ban, although necessary, disappointed many who felt that it dampened the festive spirit. The former Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, felt that some other activities should make up for the absence of the traditional sound. As the Chingay Procession in Penang organised by the Chinese Pugilistic Associations there, the former Prime Minister then proposed to get the pugilistic associations in Singapore to mount a really massive procession and display for Chinese New Year. 

Today, the parade has evolved into a massive multi-cultural and international event which is telecast on television every year.  The Parade took place in the Marina District on 19 and 20 February, and in various communities in other areas of Singapore on Sunday 21 February. This year, more than 6,000 performers were involved, with a few thousands members of the People's Association volunteered to handle various tasks in addition to the event organizers. 

Apart from Thailand, other foreign participants included Bhutan, Japan, Indonesia and Taiwan.