Enjoy Christmas in the city this festive season

From City Scene, published on 25 November, 2007

Merry Christmas Auckland

Aucklanders visiting the city centre in the weeks leading up to Christmas will be able to enjoy new decorations and festive entertainment.

The Christmas in the City plans are jointly presented by Auckland City Council and Heart of the City, a business association for CBD retailers.

"We're celebrating the magic of Christmas with a mix of traditional and modern elements - including new decorations, and street entertainment in the three weekends leading up to Christmas," says chairperson of the council's Arts, Culture and Recreation Committee, Councillor Greg Moyle.

"Places like Sydney and Melbourne really get into the spirit of Christmas and go to town with their decorations," Mr Moyle says. "Auckland's CBD has been lagging behind its international counterparts on this front, and over the next three years we will progressively change that."

Mr Moyle says as well as enjoying the decorations and entertainment, people can also look at the newly upgraded Queen Street and get their Christmas shopping done in a great atmosphere.

The new decorations include giant baubles (in Queen Elizabeth Square, Vulcan Lane and Freyberg Square), bright Christmas lights (along High Street and Chancery Lane), angels (along Elliott Street and Karangahape Road), and lamp-post spirals on Queen Street.

Heart of the City's chief executive, Alex Swney, says the public and retailers want energy, excitement and activity in the city leading up to Christmas. "The decorations, lights and entertainers are all part of our plan to make the city come alive. They say in retail we have thirteen trading months, and two of them are in December. Recognising this we have made a commitment to Christmas like never before and are looking to build on this celebration not just with decorations but with events and activities that will have the effect of putting the heart back into our city,"
says Mr Swney. Shoppers can also enjoy a $5 all-day parking rate at Auckland City Council's Downtown and Victoria Street car parks for the three weekends leading up to Christmas.

Other events in the city centre celebrating Christmas include the Farmers Santa Parade on 25 November, Smith and Caughey's festive Christmas windows and Santa's grotto (from 3 December), and Santa's post-box in Queen Elizabeth Square.

Visit www.christmasinthecity.co.nz for a full list of Christmas activities in the CBD. More information on community Christmas events, can also be found on the website.