Get the whole family down to Gateway this holiday season to enjoy a festive light experience with eight magical scenes and popping photo opportunities to make beautiful memories.
Gateway is embracing the festive season on a grand scale, creating unique experiences that bring families and friends together, to make special holiday memories and shopping a pleasure.
“We invite visitors to use what we’ve created as fascinating backdrops to capture holiday fun together,” says Gateway Theatre of Shopping Marketing Manager, Michelle Shelley.
“With enchanting holiday displays stretching the length of the mall, visitors can join the festive light experience at any point and follow the trail of lights to make sure they don’t miss anything,” Shelley says.
Santa has taken over the Expo Explore area to set up a village with a host of interactive scenes to enjoy, let your imagination run free, have fun and take unforgettable pictures. To enhance the experience, Santa’s sleigh will be making virtual flips to deliver presents up until December 23. “Hop on and feel the exhilaration of soaring around the world on our Covid-compliant sleigh,” enthuses Michelle.
The Palm Court promises to be extra-special this summer, dressed up as the “garden of light” with twinkling fairy lights and a suspended swing. “The outdoor area is ideal for relaxing over a meal, and in addition to the Lighthouse & Ocean Play area, we will be hosting live music in the evenings from December 16, turning up the holiday vibe,” adds Michelle.
The mind-bending World of Illusions have been a runaway hit with all six rooms having a festive snap-ready holiday theme. Just imagine yourself in a snow globe?
A “present surprise” starts the trail outside @home, and the grand scale continues to a walk through the giant bauble for a dash of stardom.
In the centre of the mall, couples can snuggle up close on the colour-changing “love in paradise bench”, while kids enjoy “a teddy bear’s Christmas” on the other side of the escalators.
Decorated with plush Disney character toys, the impossibly tall giant Disney tree is back on the glass floor at Food Republic. As a Disney, Gateway, Nedbank and SMILE Foundation initiative, the plushes are generously donated to children.
Giving back to the community and offering a valuable service to shoppers, Reach-for-a-Dream will offer gift-wrapping at a station set up in the mall.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Follow Gateway’s social media, or go to www.gatewayworld.co.za for trading hours updates and more details on live acts in the Palm Court. Stay safe this festive season by wearing your mask and practising social distancing.
Entrance: Except for the Santa Virtual Sleigh ride, which costs R20 a person, all other Festive Light Experiences, including the World of Illusions, are free.
Gateway Festive Season Trading Hours
- Opening 9am.
- Closing: December 15-23, 10pm
- December 24, 9pm
- December 25, voluntary trading
- December 26, 9pm
- December 31, 8pm
- January 1, voluntary trading
- January 2-6, 9pm.