Count down to Christmas
JOBURG – Christmas seeming to far away? Here are a few places to tap into to make the wait pass quicker.
A few days could seem like a lifetime if it means waiting around until Santa Clause finally makes a pit stop at your house to bite the biscuit and sip the milk but, with this adventurous and entertaining Advent Calendar being bored will be the last thing on your mind.
Here is a list of events happening up until the long-awaited Christmas Day.
Welridge Academy will host a beautiful night of carols by candle light on the school field on 2 December. Each grade will perform two to three Christmas songs that they have been rehearsing since October. The evening with the theme, Winter Wonderland, will cost R40 for adults and R20 for children. The school has also requested to please bring old toys and blankets along for less-fortunate children.
5 000 meters of fairy lights and more than 200 light displays will create a delightful wonderland and evening of fun and entertainment for the entire family. From 3 December to 3 January, Emperors Palace five-star D’Oreale Grande hotel’s gardens will be lighten up and create a place of magic every night from 7pm to 10 pm. This year, the Garden of Lights will also host Happyland which is a funfair filled with rotating cars and other fun rides and activities for children. There will also be a Ferris wheel at the entrance that will ensure you get a beautiful view of the garden. The entrance is free of charge.
Celebrate the joy of the Christmas season by candlelight under the stars at Rustic Cafe on 4 December. Do not forget to pack your own picnic basked filled with your choice of Christmas treats and snacks. A mini Christmas market will be available where you can gaze and shop around for Christmas gifts and Santa will also be there to entertain the children. The two music bands of the Salvation Army and Parktown Girls Marimba will be there to entertain the crowd. Entrance will be R40 for adults and R25 for children under 12. Bookings can be made in advance on 011 789 3274.
Dress up and in a jolly way and come and enjoy the Christmas spirit at the annual Jackal Creek Night Run on 9 December at the Jackal Creek Golf Estate. The whole family can enjoy this fun-filled event of either a 4km or 8km route. There are loads of prizes, medals and book tickets to be won and also numerous stalls where you can do some Christmas shopping. The run will start at 7.30pm but you can go earlier to stroll around. Details: Jackal Creek Golf Estate, 011 251 6722.
Night Christmas Market
The magical Christmas Night Market has started at Dainfern Square. The square has been transformed into an atmospheric Christmas Market with festive decorated stalls until 12 December. The French-style Christmas market offers a selection of handmade decorations, gourmet delights and Christmas gifts.
The market opens on Thursdays and Fridays from 4pm until 8pm and on Saturdays from 9am until 4pm.
Make your way down to the Outdoor Piazza at Montecasino from 4 to 13 December starting at 4pm until 10pm to experience the Christmas spirit on another level. The enchanting stalls, colourfully crammed with various gifts, gourmet treats and decorations will ensure the feeling of a traditional European Christmas market. Adults can stroll through the isles that will have real Christmas trees while children can play in the play area and also see Santa.
