Festive season fun on the Coast
From Christmas lights in the park to markets and carols by candlelight, here are a few events you may want to diarise this festive season.

The festive season is upon us and each week one can look forward to a number of exciting Christmas events in and around the Coast.
From Christmas lights in the park to markets and carols by candlelight, here are a few events you may want to diarise.
Christmas Lights in the Park
December 11 – 30, 6am – 9pm at Wavepark, Gateway

The WavePark will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland of lights, festive sounds and entertainment for the whole family!
– Entertainment and Live Music
– Food Stalls and Beer Garden
– Fun and games for the kids, plus access to the Splash Pool and Inflatable Park – so bring your cozzies!
– Have your photo taken with Santa.
– Meet the Elves and your favorite Christmas characters
– Loads of prizes up for grabs
*The Park will be closed 8th and 25th December. Most of the activities will be undercover should there be rain on the day.*
Ballito Junction Mall Events

Head down to the Ballito Junction Regional Mall from now until the end of December for a wide range of exciting activities and Christmas themed events for the whole family!
14 – 23 December, 11am & 2pm – Fabulous live entertainment with daily family shows. (Check out our Ballito Junction supplement for more details.)
8 – 24 December, 10 – 7pm – Take a picture with Santa!
16 December, 11am – Miss and Mr Dolphin Coast 2018 finalists.
15 – 24 December, 9am – 9pm – Helpful, handy gift wrapping service.
21 December, 6.30pm – Free outdoor movie screening of TROLLS under the stars. It will take place outside Mamma G’s on level 6. Bring blankets and cushions to sit on.
22 December, 6pm – 8pm – Christmas carol singing with the All Saints Catholic Church, outside Mamma G’s. Free glowsticks!
The Holiday Express

Enjoy a memorable Festive-themed train ride experience for the whole family this festive season.
The Holiday Express train ride experience for the whole family will take you and your family for a fun family-oriented one-day train trip from the Premier Lounge, Durban Station.
Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market Trip Details
- Friday, December 15
- Saturday, 16 and 23 Dec and January 6
- Sunday December 17
North Coast Trip: Sugar Rush Park and Salt Rock Hotel
- Tuesday, December 26
- Wednesday, December 27
- Thursday, December 28
- Friday, December 29
- Sunday, Jan 7
To book online or for more details on each train trip, visit www.theholidayexpress.co.za or contact them direct at info@theholidayexpress.co.za with your reservation requirements.
Ballito Lifestyle Centre

They say it is the season to be jolly, and jolly is what Lifestyle Centre plans to be over the December and January summer holidays.
The unique artisanal traders and funky restaurants in The Market and Eat Street respectively have already created a festive vibe in a cheerful street scene environment.
- Mythos, Lupa, Salsa and Mo’s Noodles have all recently opened their doors to highly positive acclaim, joining the newly revamped Zaras, Beira Alta and the beautifully reinvented Loaf Café + Gin Bar.
- Blackstrap Craft Distillery will complete the line up in Eat Street for 2017, with Catch and a number of other offerings still to come in 2018.
- Soon to open at The Market is Tree, a local health café focussed on providing healthy, light meals. 2018 will also see the introduction of a few more smaller, local traders.
Local musicians and a few from further afield have been creating a festive feel around The Market and the rest of Lifestyle Centre for a couple of weeks now, but these live acts will be ramped up from 15 December.
Visitors to the centre can expect to find local buskers and musicians playing alongside the likes of Qadasi & Maqhinga, Jamie-Lee Sexton, John Ellis of Tree 63 and other superb acts.
From 15 – 24 December, Father Christmas and his elves will be entertaining the little guests between Lifestyle SUPERSPAR and Chateau Gateaux, while face painters, stilt walkers and balloon sculptors will be sure to entertain young and old alike alongside four free gift wrapping stations around the centre.
The centre’s trading hours will be extended to 8am – 8pm for the period 15 – 30 December, with anchor tenant Lifestyle SUPERSPAR opening 7am – 9pm, 8 – 30 December, including all public
I Heart Market
Saturday December 16, 9am – 2pm

The I heart Market days at Moses Mabhida Stadium – it’s all about good vibes, awesome food, hanging with fam & friends, trips up the Skycar to see Durban in all it’s glorious beauty and showing the love to our local makers and creators.
The next festive season market will be on Saturday, December 16.
Support our thriving local, independent and talented creative community and be part of the #ishoplocal movement.
*Craft* community* fashion* jewelry* innovation* co-creation* handmade* meet the maker* art* local designs* ceramics* artisanal* fun* food* friends* kids* foliage*
Furry friends welcome
Christmas Drive for Rescued animals
December 11 – December 19 (during working hours)

You can help put a smile on a child’s face or a wag in an Animals tail and a sparkle in their eyes this Christmas Season!
Festive season is a time of joy, family, laughter, gifts and food. It is also a time of giving and helping those in need. Sables Creatures has partnered with Mozambik Ballito, Mozambik Gateway, Mersat, El Pescatore, Sugar Rush Park and The Ridge Vet and Pet Spa to help Orphan kids and Animals in need and help them experience the joy of Christmas.
If you would like to make a donation this is what is needed:
For the kids: Toys, Books, Toiletries, Clothes, Diapers, Baby food and Non perishable food.
For the animals: Dog & Puppy Food, Cat & Kitten food, Kennels, Food for farm animals, Collars, Toys, De-wormers, Milk formula, Tick & flea treatments
Drop off points are:
- Mozambik , 4 Boulevard Centre, Ballito
- Mozambik , Shop F183 lower level, Gateway, Umhlanga
- The Ridge Vet & Pet Spa , 4 Westridge Road, Umhlanga
- Mersat , Shop 6, The Quarter Centre , Ballito
- El Pescatore , 14 Edward Place, Ballito
For more info email, sables creatures@gmail.com or whatsapp 0733522836. Collections end December 19.
Durban Botanic Lights
December 17 – December 24, 6.30apm – 9.30pm

Make your way to the Durban Botanic Gardens for a magical, botanical outdoor trail of lights celebrating Christmas.
Follow the trail along the Garden’s paths through the trees and landscape which will be spectacularly lit and all aglow.
There’s something for everyone at this festive event, an illuminated trail that winds its way through Africa’s oldest surviving Botanic Garden providing a magical experience after dark and fun for all the family in a safe and secure environment.
A night in the park
December 17, 6pm at Chris Saunders Park, Umhlanga

Come and celebrate the Christmas season with friends and family, as we sing Christmas Carols in Chris Saunders Park.
Bring your picnic baskets with food, drinks and blankets. We’ll have some live music before and after, and food and drink vendors will be on site as well.
Movies at Durban Ice arena

December 19, 7pm – 10pm Ice Skate Session
Get into the Christmas spirit this December and enjoy a movie night on our Big LED Screen and ice skating.
What better place to spend your Christmas holidays than on ice ?
Dress Code: “A Christmas Carol ” movie characters. (Prize for the best dressed)
Ticket Link : https://www.durbanicearena.co.za/purchase-tickets-online
Festive Ice Show “A Night at the movies”
December 17, 12pm & 3pm & 6pm

Back by public demand, Durban Ice Arena presents the Festive Ice Show: “A night at the movies”. It’s time to experience breath-taking sequences, jumps, lifts and daring spins on ice.
The Na’vi, characters of Avatar will sweep you of your feet with the mood and feel of Pandora on Ice.
Let Anna & Elsa captivate you as Disney`s Frozen is brought to life on our magical icy stage.
A Bollywood ice dance is set to thrill audiences. This “night at the movies” includes performances from the Lego movie, Moana, Sing, Trolls, Slumdog Millionaire, Great Gatsby, Some like it hot, Bird Cage, Suicide Squad, La la land and Dirty Dancing.
For tickets click HERE.
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