The past few Christmases have been challenging for many Australians – celebrations have been cancelled, changed and socially distanced. Through these tricky times, Mirvac Retail Centres remained a safe place for customers to be amongst their community, get their Santa photos, be entertained, and do all their Christmas shopping. It’s a role Mirvac Retail embraces, with each destination’s activity a reflection of its local community.

Recent data from the National Retailers Association predicts consumers will spend a record $60 billion in retail from November through to Boxing Day, despite rising living costs. Early data from Mirvac Retail centres indicates these predictions are on track, with average traffic up 13.7% from 2021, peaking at 24.8% on Thursday. And with more than 39 new retail stores opening across the portfolio in the last six months alone, this month signifies a major opportunity for retailers and the industry as a whole.

Mirvac Retail General Manager, Kelly Miller said, “Mirvac Retail loves a celebration and any opportunity to bring our communities together. This Christmas, families and friends can again feast and celebrate in large groups and have photos with Santa without social distancing so we’re bringing back the Christmas spirit bigger and brighter than ever. We want to Make this Christmas the BESTMAS!”

Mirvac Retail’s Make this Christmas the BESTMAS theme is being rolled out across its shopping destinations in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and the ACT with each centre hosting a festive program of events and activities tailored to their community, while supporting local charities, schools and organisations.

In Queensland, Orion Springfield Central is going the extra mile this year and turning on all the sleighbells and whistles for the community to help make this Christmas the BESTMAS. Following incredible success last year, Orion Springfield Central is throwing two Santa Paws parties this year to make sure no fur baby misses out. The Twilight Markets are also back and so is the Nutcracker on Friday 23 December with two performances.

Kawana Shoppingworld on the Sunshine Coast is welcoming locals into Santa’s Beach House for all their photo and Santa meet and greets and hosting a number of initiatives in support of Kawana Surf Club.

Rhodes Waterside has launched its own magical Willy Wonka-esque Christmas Factory, complete with a conveyer belt gift-wrapping station where little red elves delight customers as they transform gifts into wrapped masterpieces.

Sydney’s biggest brand outlet centre, Birkenhead Point, is hosting weekend markets so local businesses can showcase their wares alongside international and Australian designer brands. The centre is also offering child minding services and gift wrapping for the ultimate convenience for customers with donations from both going to local charity, Touched by Olivia.

Santa’s Toy Factory has arrived at Broadway Sydney where visitors will be taken on a journey through the whimsical, nostalgic display with winding tubes and pipes, a conveyer belt and lights where presents are wrapped and carried by hot air balloon to their destination. Hand-created Santa’s have been constructed by NIDA students, adding an extra special touch of Christmas cheer. It’s an experience from the minute guests enter, greeted by a bright and bold 2.5m Merry Christmas Hot Air Balloon surrounded by clouds and stars.

In Melbourne at Moonee Ponds Central festive cheer will be in full swing within the Hall Street dining precinct, with live music every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday night. Complimentary movies and child-minding for parents to have date nights, free entertainment, and workshops for all ages and passions are on the program, providing customers more ways to have fun and connect, while also supporting Mirvac’s hundreds of retail partners, providing them more opportunity to engage with audiences in new ways.

And while retail’s busiest period technically ends with Boxing Day, the celebrations don’t stop there. Rhodes Waterside, Birkenhead Point and East Village in Sydney are all transforming from Christmas into Lunar New Year. Large installations, cherry blossom trees, Zodiac walls and of course the Line Dance all bringing in the Year of the Rabbit.

Kelly Miller continues, “Lunar New Year is such a momentous time for some of our communities and we love being a part of these celebrations, providing a safe and inclusive space for all people to be entertained and embrace such a vibrant and culturally rich festival.

“Summer in general is a time when most people get a few weeks off to rest, come together with friends and family and to celebrate, from Christmas through to New Year, into Lunar New Year and then we roll into Mardi Gras. Our Retail teams work incredibly hard to be trusted spaces where people can come and have some fun, connect and immerse themselves in all the colour and liveliness these celebrations bring. However, this period is also incredibly busy, so we ask our customers to please be patient and kind to each other and to all our staff and retail partners who are working tirelessly to create memorable moments and a safe shopping, dining and entertainment experience for all.”