Shopping, Wrapped in Wonder

With more than 400 stores, Menlyn Park is a favourite destination for gift shopping in Gauteng. The lush array of stores and experiences makes it easy to find thoughtful presents that feel personal, whether shoppers are exploring fashion, beauty, tech, homeware or other categories.

Always attuned to the latest trends, the centre recently welcomed a host of new and international brands that will make festive gift shopping even more sumptuous! Visitors can now explore Samsonite’s iconic travel must-haves, discover elegant home touches at Coricraft, or show their pride with Old School’s South African supporter gear. Fashion lovers will enjoy fresh additions like Third Base – Tommy Hilfiger, Mario Casas and Dirtylolli, while Antony Morato brings refined menswear to the mix.

For those seeking something truly unique, Menlyn is home to the first 1896 store in the country, featuring jewellery designed to move with the rhythm of everyday life. The centre has also welcomed Nom Nom Jewels, a bright new favourite for charms and bespoke jewellery pieces that are sure to be at the top of many a wish list this Christmas.

The only Karl Lagerfeld boutique and Retro Footfall stores in Pretoria recently opened in the centre, both offering distinct fashion from these beloved brands. Shoppers can also enjoy the incredible variety at Mr DIY, which sells everything from hardware and electrical accessories to household essentials and stationery.

Shoppers who prefer flexibility can purchase a Menlyn gift card, which offers a fantastic way to give loved ones the freedom to choose something special for themselves.

Menlyn Sky Kids Zone

The Menlyn Sky Kids Zone is ready to welcome young visitors and families for hours of fun. From 5 to 24 December, the outdoor area at Menlyn Sky will become a lively festive playground where children can explore, create and enjoy the spirit of the season. Open daily from 11 AM to 8 PM, families can look forward to activities like orna-making, where children can design decorations to take home or add to the Menlyn tree, a “colour and win” corner, cookie decorating, “hoops for the holidays” basketball challenge and a soft play space for smaller visitors. Craft elves and Mrs Claus’ helpers will be on hand to assist, encourage and add to the fun.

Parents can pause with a festive treat at Santa’s Brew Bar, keeping them part of the experience while little ones enjoy the activities. As an added treat, parents who take part in the fun and dine at any Menlyn Sky restaurant will receive a complimentary parking ticket, encouraging visitors to enjoy both the activation and the surrounding restaurants.

Wrapped in Wonder Giving

The centre’s popular gift wrapping for a cause returns from Friday, 28 November to Wednesday, 24 December, offering shoppers a chance to have their gifts wrapped beautifully while supporting a charity that works to uplift the surrounding community.

Gift wrapping stations will be positioned on the ground floor, next to Timberland and Armani Exchange. This much-loved festive touch blends convenience with kindness and ensures that nobody gets a sneak peek before the special day.

A Festive Shopping Destination

Truly wrapped in wonder, with a warm and spirited atmosphere, Menlyn Park is shaped by moments of discovery, generosity and celebration. The festive season promises to feel full of heart as the centre invites shoppers to share in its seasonal magic once again.

For regular updates, visit Menlyn Park’s website menlynpark.co.za or follow the centre on social media @menlynsa for more information.

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From 12 to 22 December, between 4 and 9  pm, visitors can step into a custom-crafted glass marquee designed for leisurely browsing and exquisite indulgence. The entry fee of R75 includes a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne and a sumptuous charcuterie board to enjoy, while soaking in the splendour of the season. Entry to this exclusive meander, which is also filled with Instagrammable moments, is limited to 200 visitors per day.

A Seasonal Escape in the Heart of Sandton

The marquee opens with an impressive archway framed by luxury lifestyle nutcrackers, leading into a space dressed with a statement ceiling installation and elegant décor. Soft Christmas touches anchor comfortable lounge pockets and cocktail tables, creating a relaxed flow for guests who’d like to pause with a drink, snack on their charcuterie selection, or simply enjoy the ambience under the Square’s signature sparkling lights. A violinist will perform daily from 6 to 8 pm, adding a melodic touch every evening.

Boutique Finds and Thoughtful Gifting

Inside the glass marquee, an array of local vendors will offer thoughtful festive gifting and classy artisanal treats. Where everyday moments and seasonal celebrations become unforgettable experiences, Babylonstoren will offer a rich farm experience in the heart of Nelson Mandela Square, with a host of farm produce, curated hampers and gifting, as well as lifestyle goods from their historic Cape Dutch farm in the Franschhoek Valley. Celebrating the joy of the season shared, visitors can browse boutique floral arrangements and Christmas wreaths by Veldmeisie, handcrafted confectionery from Oooh La La, bespoke glass décor by Casa LV, imported Italian pieces from Le Perline, ceramics from Storm Ceramics, and hand-poured candles from Chapters Home Fragrance. Lemoni Food Studio will retail their festive favourites, as well as a traditional Panettone merchant, and Matcha Pod will keep the popular tea flowing. A special activation by artisanal gelateria Gelato Mania will offer their delicious icy speciality, and the baristas from Kaldista Coffee Company will ensure that only the best coffee is served.

A curated selection of local cookbooks from tastemakers like Naqiyah Mayat and Angie Durrant will simplify gifting choices for foodies. Laurent-Perrier will be on hand offering tastings, their champagne collection to purchase and personalisable luggage tags as gifts with selected purchases, which make for treasured keepsakes, in their champagne lounge. Exquisite Christmas décor and ornaments will be available from the Grandiflora Christmas shop in the marquee. For those who love beautiful packaging, Wrap It will retail their boutique packaging, designed to leave gift recipients in awe.

Charis Claasen, Asset Manager of Nelson Mandela Square, says, “Celebrations on the Square has been crafted to feel intimate, polished and adorned with seasonal flair. The team set out to create a festive experience that invites people to slow down, sip something special and enjoy the beauty of the Square during this time of year, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors into this carefully considered space.”

In addition to its already popular eclectic ensemble of retail and lifestyle offerings, Gelato Mania and the Standard Bank Art Lab gallery both recently opened on Nelson Mandela Square, adding to the vibrant mix that shapes the destination’s year-round appeal.

For more information on its stores, shopping hours, events and promotions, visit Nelson Mandela Square or follow Nelson Mandela Square on social media: @NelsonMandelaSquare.

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Disney-inspired Festive Fun

In front of H&M, Vincent Park will host the “Unleash the Holidays” activation by Disney, a vibrant kids’ zone designed to spark imagination and provide hours of playful fun. Here, children aged 4 and upwards will get to enjoy interactive colouring walls, a Disney plush hunt in a themed ball pit, and Lego-inspired hopscotch, all carefully curated by Disney, from 16 – 23 December. Tickets cost R30 per child and can be booked through Quicket. While a festive team will be on hand to guide families and keep the activities running smoothly, children must be accompanied by parents or guardians.

Festive Experiences for the Whole Family

From 16 to 23 December, visitors can also enjoy having their photos taken with Santa in front of Foschini. Father Christmas will be on hand daily from 10 AM – 5 PM for pictures, with a backdrop that reflects the centre’s gold and champagne theme, creating a warm and memorable setting for families to capture these memories. Various packages are available.

Gift wrapping for charity will also be available during the same period, located in front of Woolworths. In partnership with Reach For A Dream, volunteers from the organisation will help wrap presents in exchange for a donation, with all proceeds supporting children with life-threatening conditions. This initiative offers convenience to shoppers while allowing them to make a meaningful contribution.

With a focus on warmth, community and festive joy, Vincent Park is set to bring East London a holiday experience that combines magical décor, heartwarming moments and playful activities for children. Visitors can expect a season that feels joyful, elegant and connected, making the mall a welcoming destination to celebrate the holidays together.

Visit the mall’s website for more information: vincentpark.co.za or follow the mall on social media for regular updates.

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The Jingle Bell Academy Brings Festive Imagination to Life

Running from 10 to 24 December and open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, The Jingle Bell Academy will take the usual Santaland adventure even further, this time including a charming journey through a series of Christmas houses. Each stop along the way introduces young visitors to a different part of elf training, building up to their moment of “graduation” with Santa.

Children will get to decorate cookies, scoot through a magical chimney, practise stacking presents without waking anyone, write letters explaining why they would make excellent elves and listen to the gentle story of an elf’s journey. Along the way they will enjoy festive face painting, explore toys, browse a little Christmas shopping and engage in lively activations from Exclusive Books and Oh My Cake. The experience ends with a photograph with Santa to seal the memory.

Tickets cost R50 per child and can be booked at quicket.co.za. Pre-booking is recommended.

Festive Fun and Special Events Across the Mall

December at Fourways Mall offers plenty of things to do for families looking to spend time together. Experiences like Adventure Golf, Bounce, Ster-Kinekor’s Cinema Prestige and dedicated kids cinema, The Fun Company, Xtreme Go-Karting, Total Ninja Interactive, Shooters, Bloc 11 and Urban Playground’s skate park, indoor soccer and eSports arena all offer enjoyable ways to spend a day out.

The mall will also host two major special events this festive season. The popular Night Market returns on Friday 28 November, featuring live entertainment, children’s activities, festive food and a relaxed bar area on Level 7, giving the evening an inviting, family-focused atmosphere. The rAGe Expo, South Africa’s biggest eGaming gathering, will take place from Friday, 5 to Sunday, 7 December on the level 8 rooftop parking.

Shopping, Wellness and Effortless Convenience

Festive shopping at Fourways Mall brings a world of choice, with more than 350 stores across every imaginable category. In addition to those known and loved by shoppers, new stores that opened recently include Birkenstock, Old School, Lacoste, Crocs, Burnt, Street Gym and Hey Dude. Plus,  the centre also recently welcomed a Mangwanani Spa, Match Padel, Planet Fitness, RPM Gym and HPT Gym.

To make the season even smoother, free parking will be available daily after 5 pm, and the centre’s recently extended trading hours will make it easy for visitors to enjoy the festive ambience and shopping at their leisure. Most stores in the mall are now open from 9 am to 8 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 9 am to 7 pm on Sundays and public holidays.

To keep the spirit of giving at the heart of the season, the centre’s gift wrapping station will once again support the Smile Foundation. From 28 November to 24 December, gifts can be wrapped for R20 each at the kiosk outside Lady Naledi plane, with all proceeds going directly to the charity.

Fourways Mall’s festive programme blends heartwarming seasonal activities with the convenience of great shopping and entertainment. With The Jingle Bell Academy leading the way, the centre is ready to welcome visitors for a December filled with light, laughter and easy festive moments.

For more information, visit fourwaysmall.com or follow the mall on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X for the latest updates.

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A World of Adventure and Imagination

The nine-hole mini golf experience inspired by Disney’s Zootropolis 2, presented by FNB and Mall of Africa, featuring a collaboration with VW, will be located at Waterfall City Park. Offering an enchanting journey through the vibrant world of Zootropolis, it will operate from 9 AM to 8 PM daily. Each hole brings to life scenes from the film’s bustling animal metropolis, offering players of all ages a mix of challenge, creativity and fun. Tickets are available from R85 per person on Howler.co.za or at the gate. Pre-booking is encouraged.

Disney’s Zootropolis 2 releases at Ster-Kinekor Mall of Africa on Friday, 28 November. In this next chapter, detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return to tackle a thrilling new mystery that tests their partnership and takes them to the wildest corners of the city.

Families can also visit the enchanting Disney installation in the Crystal Court from Saturday, 22 November, presented in collaboration with FNB, PEP, The Lego Group and Toys R Us. Featuring more than 600 Disney and Marvel plush toys, the display will support Reach For A Dream. Here, shoppers will have a chance to make a meaningful difference by helping brighten the lives of children facing critical illnesses.

Shopping, Giving and Sharing the Joy

Knowing that choosing the perfect gift takes time, Mall of Africa will extend its trading hours, giving shoppers more time to explore the centre’s 300 world-class retail and lifestyle stores. Stores will be open from 9 AM to 9 PM from 5 – 18 December and from 9 AM to 10 PM from 19 – 23 December.

From 5 – 24 December, gift wrapping services will be available in the Crystal and Truworths Courts, with all proceeds supporting Gift of the Givers Foundation’s upgrade of Dr Mathole Motshekga Primary School in Rabie Ridge.

“Mall of Africa continues to be a place where fun, festivities and kindness come together,” says Yasmeen Lorgat, General Manager of Mall of Africa. “This festive season, we’re celebrating the joy of giving and the excitement of unforgettable family experiences. We can’t wait to welcome shoppers as they enjoy this time to connect, to share and to create lasting memories.”

For regular updates on Mall of Africa, its stores and activations, follow the mall on social media at instagram.com or visit the mall’s website: mallofafrica.co.za.

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