Melrose Arch officially welcomed the festive season together with the Smile Foundation as they lit up the streets and retail galleria with spectacular Christmas lights on 16 November.
These bright decorations, which come in all shapes and sizes including a giant teddy bear, reindeer, Santa, gifts and more, form part of an old Christmas tradition that Melrose Arch is determined to revive.
“We’re very excited about the festive season,” said Mike Vermaak, managing director of Melrose Arch.
“The holiday season is a special time of the year, a time for families to celebrate and enjoy spending time together, and what better place to do that than at Melrose Arch? It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else in Johannesburg.”
The evening saw many parents with their little ones turn up for the much-anticipated show, which included appearances by Loyiso Bala and Tshedi Mholo of Malaika, who sang a South African classic, Destiny.
Parents and children waited anxiously for the moment the lights would be switched on which was done in true South African fashion.
#MelroseXmasMagic is taking off with some great music to get everyone in the #festivespirit! ???? pic.twitter.com/vNjgEtINHj
— Sandton Chronicle (@Sandton_News) November 16, 2017
Are you at the #MelroseXmasMagic event tonight? Let us know! ????@looklocalsa pic.twitter.com/PZVQR7a2Uf
— Sandton Chronicle (@Sandton_News) November 16, 2017
The Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir walked through the crowd before gracing the stage and it was at the very sound of their voices that all the beautifully crafted decorations came to life and lit up the streets.
https://twitter.com/nikifernandes4/status/931212565463683073
Guests were able to purchase candles with the proceeds donated to the Smile Foundation – a South African NGO that helps children with any type of treatable facial abnormalities such as a cleft palate, burn victims and Moebius syndrome, by offering corrective plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Photo: Priyen Naidoo
Hedley Lewis, Smile Foundation executive director, said the foundation was grateful for the support from Melrose Arch.
“Christmas is such a special time for children; they are captivated by its magic, which elicits such a sense of wonder in them,” he said.
“Through festive initiatives like this with Melrose Arch… we are able to help hundreds more South African children, and give them the gift of a smile. By correcting facial anomalies and burn scarring, we help give these children a shot at a normal life, so they too may experience everyday joys, like the magic of Christmas.”
Every weekend now until 24 December, there will be a host of family fun, including choirs, Christmas carols, street entertainment, Santa Claus, magicians and more.
Details: Visit Melrose Arch website www.melrosearch.co.za for the schedule of entertainment, all of which is free.
