Signs of Christmas come earlier each year with the first of Hong Kong's festive decorations being unveiled almost a month ago. With glimpses of Christmas trees or Santa grottos being erected, the general mood of shoppers transforms. A festive spark ignites and there's a spring in each step as purse strings loosen and the chatter of anticipation from children and adults alike resonates along with the joyful ringing of cash registers.
Shopping malls are becoming more inventive, attracting shoppers with creative Christmas themes, events and shopping incentives, adding to the allure and fun of the season.
In the spirit of giving, Harbour City has collaborated with renowned New York artist Brian Donnelly aka KAWS for the fourth time. This year, he has designed a limited-edition red and green Santa tote bag, redeemable on December 17 and 18 when spending more than HK$2,000 at any two outlets at Harbour City with either an EPS, Octopus or credit card receipt, and a donation of HK$150 to Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation.
Staying with the toy theme, Times Square is hosting Barbie's Christmas Party with one of China's top designers, Guo Pei, who debuts her Journey of Childish Dreams collection of 12 stunning haute masterpieces tailor-made for Ken and Barbie at Barbie's Dream House, also designed by Pei, on the second floor atrium. Times Square Piazza has turned into a stunning Christmas Garden with five miniature houses set among glowing trees on which dangle transparent capsules containing Barbie accessories enriched by pink lights. The 'little doll with big dreams' Barbie showcase highlights fashionable tastes, healthy lifestyle and a positive perspective of a doll who has no cultural boundaries.
Another superstar theme is found at Cityplaza with its Silver Screen Christmas Delights. Shoppers can travel through time and explore authentic recreations of movie sets from the silver screen. The theme, inspired by the Christmas season being a 'fantastic time full of imaginative love stories and vivid dreams this side of the silver screen', encourages shoppers to 'run wild and free'. Cityplaza has an array of international performers to wow the crowds over a three-week period, which includes Bubble Show. The show features world-renowned professional bubble artistes Iryna and Alexander from the Ukraine. Award-winning Canadian illusionist Richard Forget will perform his signature act, 'An Urban Phantasy' and Australian Theatrical Troupe will be presenting an original musical, Imagination. Fantasy. Dream. Love. There will also be gift redemptions offered to shoppers.
The IFC Mall is 'Where Dreams Come True' this Christmas and is where Hong Kong's first public-created Christmas decorations are on display in the form of hundreds of sparkling 'wish cubes' filling the air over the Oval Atrium's dreamy white wonderland at Podium Level 1. The mall's festive campaign started in the autumn when the public were invited to participate by sharing their special Christmas wishes, which are now floating high above a four-metre Santa on ice-skates, who is turning the wishes into gifts to adorn the giant Christmas tree, filling the mall with festive cheer. Another first in Hong Kong is the decorative ice-rink that Santa is standing on.
