10… 9… 8… 7… we do not usually start articles with numbers, but this was needed because that was the countdown to a magical evening of the media launch at the Garden of Lights held at Emperors Palace.
The launch took place on November 28 where several publications were invited, with their loved ones, to witness the switching on of the lights, which officially opened to the public on November 30.
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This was the first time that I had attended the launch (the event is in it’s 11th year) and I can say that if I summed up Emperors’ hosting skills into one word, it would be magnificent-welcoming-friendly.
Okay, that’s not ‘one word’, but let’s pretend that the hyphen makes it one meaningful word.
While I am on the note of ‘pretending’, I would like to mention that the Garden is a great escape from reality.
Peermont Gaming and VIP operations executive, Bob Yearham, is the man behind the Garden of Lights and he took to the stage to share his gratitude for the staff and members of Emperors Palace who were involved in making the launch a success.
We enjoyed snacks and drinks at Aurelia’s Restaurant while awaiting the night sky to fall upon us.
Ryan Sharp the magician was nothing short of amazing with his wit and humour which kept the young and old entertained as the night approached.
And then, the ‘highlight’ of the evening approached – where the sun set and the lights were switched on by two children in the crowd who were celebrating their birthdays.
What a bright start to their year!
The walk through the Garden began with mushroom lights followed by the Garden Princess who showed nothing but smiles, almost like she was covered in pixie dust.
And we just could not ‘let it go’ when we saw Olaf waving at everyone as they journeyed through the Garden.
At the centre of the walk, Santa Claus was sitting waiting to have a chat with the little ones while taking photographs, because once a moment passes, a memory – and photograph is all that’s left.
The walk took us about 15 minutes, but that was probably because the youngsters who accompanied me could not wait to visit the funfair rides.
With rides for babies from the cup-and-saucer to the rides for adults like the Break Dancer – Emperors Palace gave us a night to remember.
The dazzling Garden of Lights is open until January 2.
Visitors to the Garden of Lights will be delighted to know that proceeds from the R25 entrance fee will be donated to Reach for a Dream, and the Peermont Children’s and Education Trusts.
And in celebration of the resort’s 20th birthday, a further R200 000 will be donated to 20 charities that its employees support.
Children will also have an opportunity to take pictures with Santa Claus, the Enchanted Fairy, Gift the Present, the Gingerbread Man, Frosty the Snowman, Santa’s Special Elves and Emperors Palace’s very own beautiful Garden Princess.
If that’s not enough, for the first time in South Africa, illusionist Ryan will present his show The Magic of Christmas every day of the display.
This is an amazing show featuring grand scale illusion, ventriloquism, comedy magic, complimented with dazzling special effects and costumes will bring magic to children young and old.
Tickets to The Magic of Christmas are R80 per person.
Tickets to the Garden of Lights are R25 per person or R100 for a family of five.
A combination ticket for the Garden of Lights and The Magic of Christmas is also available at R100 per person.
Children under the age of two years enter for free.
The fun-fair rides are only available from December 3.
Visit www.tixsa.com for show times and to book tickets.
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