Magical worlds draw holiday crowds to malls

CHRISTMAS is near and the ambience at shopping complexes is full of joy and cheer.

Many have dressed up their spaces with sparkling decorations, creating whimsical wonderlands to get holiday crowds into the spirit of the season.

While giant conifers, twinkling lights, glistening ornaments, colourful structures and cute characters are common, the many different interpretations create sights to behold.

And with Yuletide carols in the background, visitors strolling around these displays are sure to feel all warm and fuzzy.

StarMetro visited some of the notable displays in the northern region, starting in Alor Setar, Kedah, where Aman Central has brought the “Holiday Spirit” to life.

Aman Central brings the “Holiday Spirit” to life using decorations revolving around a snow village with huts, giant snowman cake and Christmas trees.

There is a quaint snow village where larger-than-life gift boxes double up as vendor huts, while the town square features a giant snowman cake complete with candy canes and frosting.

Numerous Christmas trees further enliven the scene – some made from stacks of presents, others from luminous spirals. A few even descend from above.

Snow lamps, reindeer, cookie men and even Santa’s sleigh complete the predominantly red-and-white setting.

“We wanted to capture the jubilant spirit of the holidays.

“There is even artificial snow to give shoppers a one-of-a-kind experience.

“Every year, our decorations are the talk of Alor Setar and we hope it will once again captivate everyone,” said Aman Central’s marketing communications senior manager Ken Chin.

Across the border in Penang’s Seberang Jaya, Sunway Carnival Mall’s “My Christmas Story” celebration brings magical worlds to life through storytelling.

Children posing on Sunway Carnival Mall’s “My Christmas Story” decorations featuring giant books and magical animals.

Giant books serve as portals to a fantasy land where shoppers can write new and memorable chapters of holiday tales with friends and family.

One book, rising 3.65m high, has even spawned a cuddly cadre of bunnies and deer which now roam the landscape and are popular props for selfies.

Walk through a unique 8m-tall tree that doubles as a bookshelf, or marvel at smaller trees, some adorned with colourful ornaments and others upcycled from discarded carton boxes.

Keep exploring to find a hidden chamber hosting an immersive digital art exhibition celebrating joy, love and togetherness, presented by Filamen –- a local new media art collective.

“This show beautifully weaves a tapestry of diverse Malaysian perspectives, cultures and traditions surrounding Christmas.

“It invites one to reflect on the universal themes and shared stories that bind us together during festive seasons,” said Sunway Carnival Mall general manager Chai Wen Yew.

Visitors exploring 1st Avenue’s “Magic Wonderland” decorations which use flowers and butterflies to celebrate renewal and growth.

Queensbay Mall on Penang island, gave its festive finery an interstellar feel with the “Wanderlust Odyssey” display envisioning Christmas on a distant planet.

Among the forest of royal blue trees adorned with silver baubles are shiny, mirror-clad structures in various geometric forms.

The other-worldly landscape is also inhabited by glowing reindeer.

Octahedral lamps light a path to the main tree made of crystal spheres and rising 9.1m high.

Look up into the sky and one would also find giant planets in orbit against a galaxy of shooting stars. Additionally, there is the occasional “snow shower”.

“Over many Christmases, we have taken shoppers to various settings from the wintry to the traditional and fantastical.

“So this year, we set out to create a different realm altogether,” Queensbay Mall manager Lee Sue Ling said of the decorations.

Shoppers enjoying the artificial snowfall around a 9.1m-tall tree made from discarded plastic bottles outside Gurney Plaza’s Kelawai entrance.

Celebrations are decidedly sustainable at Gurney Plaza, which collaborated with international cosmetics retailer Kiehl’s to create a vibrant, pop-up scene inspired by the New York subway.

A 9.1m-tall tree made from recycled cardboard is the centrepiece, while many smaller ones are interspersed among product kiosks. Neon stars encircle the area.

Besides the interior display, there is another tree of the same height made from discarded plastic bottles, located outside one of the shopping centre’s entrances.

Peter Chan, general manager of CapitaLand malls outside the Klang Valley, said the eco-friendly approach required more effort and creative thinking than building a display from all-new materials.

“Waste is a problem that we as malls try to address, so what better time to send a message.

“Even the ornaments and garlands utilise recycled materials or sustainable production methods, to ensure that the joys of the season don’t come at the expense of our planet,” he added.

Gurney Paragon Mall reverted to classic colours for its “A Timeless Christmas” set-up, draping red and gold fabrics around its main 9.1m-tall tree flanked by a pair of 12m-long tunnels.

Shoppers taking photos amid Gurney Paragon Mall’s red and gold festive decorations.

Baubles of the same shades adorn other smaller conifers, with golden reindeer sculptures, golden fountains and poinsettia completing the holiday scene.

“Red and gold never go out of style. Chinese New Year also comes hot on the heels of Christmas and we felt this would allow a cohesive transition,” said Gurney Paragon Mall chief operations officer Koay Bee Fong.

At Straits Quay Retail Marina, “Warmderful Christmas” decorations would conjure the feeling of intimate coziness that come with sitting beside a crackling fireplace.

Gentle, flickering flames bathe the 9.1m-tall tree in a toasty glow, while a ring of candy canes and other features like snowflakes, snowmen and reindeer reinforce the magic of the season.

Straits Quay’s “Warmderful Christmas” decorations includes a giant tree ringed by candy canes.

Visitors to 1st Avenue Penang will be stepping into a realm of enchantment, thanks to decorations themed “Magic Wonderland”, revolving around a 12.2m-tall tree.

Delicate butterflies flutter alongside blooming flowers in a beautiful scene representing transformation, renewal and growth.

Towering mushrooms bring a touch of whimsy and encourage children and grown-ups alike to embrace all the wonders that the Christmas season brings.