If you are looking for the perfect place to find the right Christmas gift, look no further than the Christmas Market at Montecasino, 3 to 7 December.
Modelled in the style of a European Christmas market, this event features Christmas inspiration a plenty, including cakes, homemade decorations, Gluwein, hot roasted nuts and more.
You can also enjoy Christmas movie screenings on the huge Outdoor Piazza screen on 3 – 5 December at 6pm and on 7 December at 3pm.
To get you in the festive spirit, don’t miss the Mzansi Youth Choir Christmas carols concert on 6 December at 6pm.
The Montecasino Christmas Market is giving much more than the exciting experience of a European Christmas market to its visitors – with enchanting stalls colourfully crammed with gifts, decorations, and edible treats.
It is also providing a wonderful platform for many non-profit organisations and small enterprises to sell their products while creating awareness for their various causes.
“Corporate social investment forms a strong part of our business strategies – and we are constantly on the lookout for areas where we can integrate these policies with the objectives of the campaigns and programmes within the precinct,” says Glenn Joseph, Montecasino General Manager.
“The Christmas Village is the ideal opportunity for us to not only give Gauteng residents a truly authentic experience of Christmas, but also to highlight the true spirit of Christmas by supporting self-employed entrepreneurs, small local businesses, and not-for-profit enterprises.”
An extensive two-week radio campaign aimed at enticing small businesses to submit applications resulted in over 250 hopeful Christmas Market applicants from which the best and most varied array of exhibitors was selected on the basis of their product range and the merit of their enterprises.
Exhibitors include Just My Job Trust that evolved from a feeding scheme for orphans and vulnerable children in 12 villages in Mpumalanga to a job creation project for the children when they reached the age of 15.
Kanyekanye is an enterprise development initiative that creates employment for young adults in the welfare system and produces sewn fabric products from waste fabric, which will be on display at the Christmas Market.
The income helps to support Siphumelele Children’s Home for 14 abandoned, abused or neglected children aged between five and 18.
Dorothy started a small home business making costume concert outfits when her daughter inspired her based on a need she identified when she was auditioning for various productions. A range of home-sewn items will be available for sale at the Market.
Church Mouse Chocolate was born when home chocolatier Laura Church was making more handmade chocolate than her friends could eat. She was also looking for an outlet for her autistic son to be gainfully employed.
The two came together and Laura participated in her first Christmas market last year with her son as her able assistant, which led to a regular stand at a market and other autistic children also helping out on the stand in whatever capacity they were comfortable with.
The Topsy Foundation, an enterprise development programme, is run by skilled entrepreneurs Christine Fischer and Janine Purdy who teach local women in
Grootvlei and Balfour a variety of beading and sewing techniques to make a range of traditional and modern designs, with the aim of empowering the women
to develop their own small businesses. A range of these colourful products will be on sale at the Christmas market.
The Sweet Bake Shop is a Christmas-focused bakery that thrives on the unique
and creative and will feature delightful confectionery such as a 3D gingerbread
nativity scene, a 3D cookie Christmas tree with all the trimmings, lots of
Christmas cookies, edible advent calendars, chocolate truffles in mason jars,
as well as delectable nostalgic candy, and much more.
Nela has just
launched her own craft business and makes hand-painted cloths, cushion covers,
baby duvets, and many other items.
“We believe this
will be a Christmas to remember for everyone who visits the Market – but
possibly more importantly, it will make a tangible difference in the lives of
many beneficiaries of these worthy enterprises,” says Joseph.
Traditional
homemade Christmas gifts, goodies and treats from the above entrepreneurs and
more will be available to purchase at the Christmas Market at Montecasino which
will open from 17:00 to 22:00 on 03, 04 and 05 December, from 10:00 to 22:00 on
06 December and 10:00 to 17:00 on 07 December. You can also enjoy Christmas
movie screenings on the huge Outdoor Piazza screen from Wednesday 3 December to
Friday 5 December and on Sunday 7 December. The family-friendly movies that
will be screened are: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (3 December at 18:00), Elf
(4 December at 18:00), Jingle All the Way (5 December at 18:00) and Fred Claus
(7 December at 15:00). Then, to get you in the festive spirit, don’t miss the
Mzansi Youth Choir Christmas carols concert on Saturday 6 December at 18:00.
Entry is free.
