Ooh, there is so much to do during the holidays! We have rounded up some of the most fabulous, not-to-be-missed events including merryful markets, theatre shows and where to spot Santa on the North Coast this December.
SMILE WITH SANTA
LA LUCIA MALL
Meet Santa at Centre Court, Lower Level, Entrance 1 at La Lucia Mall and take a photo for R70 including a printed copy and a digital version posted on the mall’s Facebook page between 13 and 24 December, 10am to 5pm daily.
BALLITO LIFESTYLE CENTRE
Share your Christmas wish list with Santa and his elves outside the Lifestyle SUPERSPAR at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre between 14 and 24 December from 10am to 2pm daily.
TIFFANY’S CENTRE SALT ROCK
Father Christmas is stopping at Tiffany’s Shopping Centre for a special Santa Day on 18 – 21 December with candy floss, arts & crafts and more!
BALLITO JUNCTION
Santa is visiting Ballito Junction from 6 – 24 December between 11am and 5pm at Level 4 (outside Edgars). Pop past and take a photo!
WRAP IT UP
LA LUCIA
Have your gifts beautified at the Rainbow and Smiles Gift Wrapping Station at La Lucia Mall between 18 and 24 December from 9am to 5pm.
BALLITO Lifestyle Centre
Enjoy the free gift-wrapping service at Ballito Lifestyle Centre between 14 and 24 December from 8am to 8pm.
BALLITO JUNCTION
Make your presents extra pretty at the Reach For A Dream gift wrapping service at Ballito Junction from 13 – 24 December.
CHRISTMAS MARKET SHOPPING
CAROLS AND SHOPPING
Get into the festive spirit at the Carols by Candlelight Night Market at Sage Centre on 6 December between 5pm and 9pm where adult choristers will be performing live while you do your Christmas shopping. Details: @SageCentre on Facebook and Instagram or www.sagecentre.co.za
PARK SQUARE MARKET
See you at the Park Square Umhlanga on 7 December between 9am and 2pm for a beautiful market filled irresistible goodies, treats and present ideas. Details: @ParkSquare on Facebook and Instagram.
CELEBRATE THE MAKERS
It’s going to be a celebration of Makers at The Litchi Orchard’s Makers Market on the 7 December, followed by their special Christmas Makers Market on 14 December and lastly their Christmas Night Market on 20 December. Times are 9am-1pm for the Makers Market and 4pm – 9pm for the Christmas Night Market. Details: @TheLitchiOrchard on Facebook and Instagram.
I HEART CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
To make sure you get all your Christmas shopping done the proudly-local way, everybody’s favourite I Heart Market is spoiling us with three consecutive markets on 7, 14 and 21 December! Remember, they have moved to a new home – The Hay Store, Durban. The market is from 9am to 2pm. Details: @IHeartMarket on Facebook and Instagram or www.iheartmarket.com
WONDER MARKET
Umhlanga’s beautiful Wonder Market at Chris Saunders Park will be giving shoppers two opportunities to find their hand-made gifts to put under the Christmas tree on 8 and 22 December from 9am to 2pm. Details: Wonder Market on Facebook or @wondermarketkzn on Instagram.
ARTISAN STYLE
Stock up on local crafts, indulge in delicious treats and keep the kids entertained at the Ballito Artisan Craft Market at Sugar Rush Park on 8, 15 and 22 December between 8.30am and 2.30pm. Details: @sugarrushkzn on Instagram and Facebook.
PEARLS MARKET FUN
Fill those Christmas stockings at The Pearls Mall Christmas Market in Umhlanga on 20 December between 4pm and 9pm! Explore over 40 stalls while you jingle your bells to live music, indulge in artisan food and sip on local brews. Santa’s helpers will be at the kiddies play area, and Santa might be there too! Details: @the_pearls_mall on Facebook and Instagram
MERRY NIGHTS OUT
LIGHT IT UP!
KZN’s biggest and brightest holiday event is back for its third year! The Durban Botanic Gardens Trail of Lights, from 12 to 30 December, boasts a bigger trail, new displays, over 1 million lights, nightly entertainment, live music, a festive market and holiday activities. It run from 6.30pm to 10pm and tickets range from R50 to R120.
Details: www.webtickets.co.za / www.trailoflights.co.za or Durban Botanic Gardens Trail of Lights on Facebook. WIN a set of four tickets – enter here!
DARLING DOLPHINS
Celebrate the festive season with a splash at Durban’s cutest and most magical show of the year, Dolphins by Starlight at uShaka Sea World from 13 to 15 December at 6.30pm. Tickets are R199 for adults, R160 for children and kids under 3 are free. Details: www.ushakamarineworld.co.za or @uShakaMarineWorld on Facebook and Instagram.
VALLEY OF LIGHTS
Sugar Rush Park is teaming up with Magic Lighting to create an exciting, wonderland experience for the whole family with the Valley of Lights. A wide range of bespoke food and drinks will be available, kids can take photos with Santa, play night-time putt-putt, go on the forest walk and play at the jump park. It runs from 15 December to 1 January, between 5pm and 9.30pm. Tickets are R60. Details: www.computicket.com or @sugarrushkzn on Instagram or Facebook.
NIGHT MARKET AND MOVIES
Enjoy a family date night at the Night Market & Movie Night at Park Square, Umhlanga starring Arthur Christmas on 18 December from 5.30pm (movie starts at 7pm). Entrance and movie are free. Details: @ParkSquareUmhlanga on Facebook and Instagram
SING A LONG
Sing along and enjoy an evening of Christmas cheer at Carols under the Stars, hosted by Umhlanga Tourism & Rotary, at Granada Square, Umhlanga on 19 December at 6pm. Entry fee is a toy to the value of R100 which will be donated to charity. Details: @GranadaSquare on Facebook and Instagram.
COCKTAILS & CHRISTMAS
For an evening of musical celebration and foodie delights, join The Oyster Box for Cocktails & Christmas – a four-course dinner paired with Christmas themed cocktails and a rocking show by The Black Lapels at The Pearl Room on 20 December from 6pm to 11pm (over 18’s only). Tickets are R590 per person.
Details: www.quicket.co.za
FESTIVE FAMILY FUN
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
The year is not complete without a KicksArts festive season pantomime at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre! With zany, topsy-turvy characters, including an array of colourful puppets, magical scenery, vibrant costumes, topical jokes and toe-tapping songs, Alice in Wonderland will be a delight for the whole family! The show runs from 29 Nov to 5 January at 11am, 2.30pm and 7pm. Ticket Prices: Adults R250 / R200 / R150. Children, Students, Pensioners R200 / R180 / R120. Schools’ and Preview Performances: R140 throughout (No discounts).
Details: www.computicket.com
LIV CHRISTMAS PLAY
Enjoy a festive morning while you see the story of Christmas come to life at the LIV Christmas Play performed by children, staff and volunteers at LIV Village. Pop into their shop for some feel-good Christmas shopping and enjoy food, drinks and horse rides, on 7 December at 10am. Tickets are R50 and children under five are free. Details: www.itickets.co.za
ALADDIN AT ROCKWOOD
Gorgeous costumes, song and dance will wow the whole family at the Aladdin, the Princesses and a Lamp pantomime at Rockwood Theatre, Sibaya Casino from 7 to 14 December at 1pm. Tickets are R80.
Details: www.rockwoodtheatre.co.za or 031 161 0000.
THE GRINCH AT THE MARKET
Bring the kiddies to The Market at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre on 11 December at 10 am for movies and popcorn and watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Details: @LifestyleCentreBallito on Facebook of Instagram.
LITCHIS AND TRACTOR RIDES
Take a trip on the tractor into the orchard, eat as many litchis as you can and pick 1,6 kilograms to take home at the 14th Annual Litchi Festival from mid December until early January. Picking is from 9am to 3pm daily and tickets are R150 for adults and R50 for toddlers (cash only). Visit The Litchi Festival on Sheffield Beach road just past The Flag Animal Farm.
Details: Follow @LitchiFestival on Instagram or on Facebook or email [email protected]
DISNEY’S FROZEN 2 ENCHANTED LANDS
Slide into the Enchanted Lands and discover adventurous waterfalls, visit the Earthkeepers to make magical slime, capture a memory under the Wishing Tree and explore the Unknown on your own journey through Disney’s Frozen 2 Enchanted Lands activation at Gateway! Visit the exciting activities from 6 December to 5 January (closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) from 9am – 7pm at The Expo Explore court. Tickets start from R30 and children under 2 enter free. Details: www.webtickets.co.za
NORTHERN DREAMS DIGITAL ART EXPERIENCE
Gateway’s Northern Dreams digital art experience is a not-to-be-missed activation taking place from 28 November – 11 January. The giant, walkthrough festive gift box, at the Palm Court, gives a nostalgic and immersive experience of our childhood imaginings of Lapland and the North Pole. This bespoke exhibition is unlike any other digital activation malls in SA have undertaken and will transport you to vast landscapes of winter wonderlands, swirls and glows of the northern lights, spectacular celestial colours lighting up the night sky and magical snowflakes. Entre is free.
BALLITO JUNCTION
Catch a breather and chill in the Snow Globe at Ballito Junction’s Level 2 Urban Eatery. Open daily from 11am-5pm, 2-31 December, except 25 December. Prizes up for grabs! Visit the Free Frozen Slime Station between 6 -24 December, 11am-5pm daily while stocks last.
PARTY INTO 2020
SIMBITHI COUNTRY CLUB
Welcome the new year in Mardi Gras style at Simbithi Country Club, complete with Mexican street food, DJ and photobooth on the deck. Tickets are R595 per person. Details: [email protected] / 032 946 5409.
FIAMMA GRILL
Get wild for 2020 at Fiamma Grill’s Into the Wild New Year’s Eve party in Ballito. The theme is Safari Chic, so think lots of animal print. Celebrate the end of 2019 with bubbles, good food and even better people. Time: 6.30pm until late. Tickets are R850pp (R1000 at the door), which includes tapas, bubbles and DJ. Details: 032 946 1029 or [email protected]
THE SHED
Join The Shed at The Litchi Orchard as they delve into a mystical world where everything is nonsense, everyone’s mad, and it doesn’t matter which way you go, as long as you’re grinning like a Cheshire Cat at their Mad Hatters NYE party! With a massive line-up including Desmond and the Tutus, Majozi, Jerry And The Bandits, Tanner Wareham Music, Freddy L (LIVE) and more, you are sure to have an absolutely bonkers party into 2020! Time: 5pm until 3am. Tickets are R250 (early bird), R300 (main bird) or R350 (late bird). Details: www.webtickets.co.za
EAT STREET
Choose your flavour – be it Mexican, Italian or anything in between – to see the New Year in at one of the many fabulous restaurants on Eat Street at Ballito Lifestyle Centre. To make it extra festive, Take Note will be performing live into 2020! Bookings essential at the individual restaurants.
Details: www.ballitolifestylecentre.co.za
COMPILED BY: ELANA WAGNER
