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Bahrain City Centre is getting the festive feel with the Central Galleria being transformed into a white winter wonderland.
The Winter Wonderland village, located on the ground floor, is offering families and friends some frosty fun with a life-sized igloo, a giant gingerbread house and a host of playful mascots including a polar bear, a winking penguin and a snowman.
Duaij Khalifa Al Rumaihi, Bahrain City Centre’s senior mall manager, said: “Given the huge success of our Winter Wonderland campaign last year, we wanted to bring another season of snow and this year brings more wintery surprises for children and families.
“We hope to create an immersive feeling of truly being whisked away in a winter fantasy and give residents and visitors in our communities the chance to celebrate the season in a unique and memorable way.”
Families were in awe as they walked through the massive display and some wide-eyed children shrieked in delight as they were covered by a flurry of faux snow fall at last week’s launch event.
Wael and Raed Shaheen, five and seven, dragged their mum Shaza Al Kasili, 34, from Tubli, through the village.
She said: “This exhibit creates a true winter feel for families. We have a lot of snow in Syria and when my son saw it he immediately asked if the snow had already fallen back home as it came early in Bahrain!”
The village, which captures a crisp winter’s day, features unlimited photo opportunities for parents to capture the magic. For example, children can peer through a giant igloo, pose with an array of snowmen or play in front of reindeers pulling a sleigh, as well as encounter some friendly furry and feathered characters along the way such as polar bears, penguins and seals.
Wafa Ghuloom, 32, from Sanad, accompanied her daughters Sarah and Maryam Shaheen, three and seven, through the display. She said: “I like the idea of the village especially as it will be December soon and Christmas will be upon us. I believe that we need to respect other cultures and holidays.
“This is a great activity for all children to enjoy this season. Sarah loves the gingerbread house and I like the penguin mascot that has been roaming around and interacting with the children.”
Paula Ryan Cameron, 42, a nurse manager at King Hamad Hospital, from Hamala, and her daughter Kate, four, were caught posing with the happy-go-lucky penguin. She said: “Kate loves the village and she has already been inside the igloo. I suppose for a lot of children in Bahrain the idea of a frozen winter and snow will be a great new experience for them.”
To further add to the icy experience, there are a couple of skiers perched on a ski lift above the walk-way along with an assortment of snowflakes and diamonds cascading from the ceiling.
Inspired by the decorations in the village, shoppers will have the chance to win one of four sparkling diamond sets each worth BD5,000 with every BD30 spent in one day at stores in the mall.
Also during the Winter Wonderland festival, which will continue until December 31, shoppers will be offered a bunch of jovial activities to take part in.
Spreading even more holiday cheer, the mall will be giving away keepsake souvenirs to shoppers of a limited edition snow globe with every BD50 spent while stocks last.
Bahrain City Centre social media fans will also have the opportunity to ring in the winter season with a Facebook competition. Two trivia questions will be posted online each week with answers to be found at the Winter Wonderland display. Five winners will be announced at the end of the campaign and awarded prizes worth BD50 in mall gift cards.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/BahrainCityCentre or https://twitter.com/#!/BahrainCityCtr
