'Tis the season

CENTRAL DEPARTMENT Store, Central Embassy, and Central Credit Card are welcoming the New Year with an extravagant winter wonderland dubbed “Let’s Celebrate 2016: The Winter Ville” on the concept “One Life, Infinite Possibilities”.

“We want to offer a unique experience for our customers as a way of thanking them for their loyalty. This first winter wonderland, ‘The Winter Ville’, simulates the Santa Claus Village in Finland, inside Central Embassy. The highlight is ‘The Christmas Lapland Fairground’, which features a four-storey castle decorated with lights. ‘The Palace of Light’ has more than a million lights and stretches along Ploenchit Road from the Wireless Road to Chidlom intersections. We are also honoured to have been joined by eight ambassadors to Thailand in creating paintings for the Christmas balls,” says Barom Bhicharnchitr, managing director of Central Embassy.

 “Another highlight is Central Embassy’s The Garden. That’s been transformed into ‘The Hopping Market’ and brings together the best eateries including Mashiseoyo Korean-style fried chicken, GJ Lecker German-Japanese food, Doni Nacho and Beef & Shake premium burgers and frozen custard.”

The official launch took place recently on the upscale shopping mall’s ground floor in the presence of Qatari ambassador Jabor Ali H.A.Al-Dosari, British envoy Mark Kent, the wife of Hungarian ambassador to Thailand Krisztina Szabo, and several celebrities, among them Kornkanok Yongsakul, Soraj Amatayakul, Jindapa Boonyakorn, Auntharos Liptapanlop, Setthawat Hetrakul, and Pemika Jiranorraphat.

Visitors were first enchanted by a children’s choir and applauded the fancy parade led by the “Snow Princess” Davika Hoorne, and a show of Christmas songs sung by The Voice Thailand’s Kittinan Chinsamran and Manasanan “Anchee” Aksorntueng. The ambassadors, executives, and sponsors then joined the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, bringing The Christmas Lapland Fairground to life and signifying the beginning of the festive season at The Winter Ville.

“When I was young, I watched cartoons and animations and saw how inanimate things came to life. It was very exciting. Now that I am a creator, I thought about designing a castle that could come to life,” said Chakkrit Anantakul, who created the Christmas Lapland Fairground.

“It took me three months to design this castle based on the event’s main theme. Christmas, for me, is all about imagination, so I designed a live castle. Some parts are monsters with balls rolling through their mouths. There are robot guards. The top of the castle is made of flowers and the castle is guarded by the god of flowers who gives beauty and happiness to everyone.

 “I use lines and characters to bring a smile to everyone’s face. It’s a big challenge to turn my imagination into 3D reality. One of the highlights of this fairground is the Marble Machine, which was created by BUG Studio. The machine takes the ball up and releases it, and the ball comes down and rolls around. It’s like an art and science experiment and I want everyone to see it.”

 Game booths litter the ground floor and shoppers have been queuing up to have a go on “The Nutcracker Dancing”, a rope game where you get to choose one of 10 ropes to move any of the three dolls. “Feed the Uncle Santa” involves throwing a ball into the snowman’s mouth and “Knock My Teeth Down” sees contestants knocking the Lapland Monster’s teeth down.

Shoppers who collect The Winner coupons can redeem them for prizes worth Bt390-Bt2,290. You get a coupon to play the games when you spend Bt2,000 at Central Embassy or Central Chidlom.

On December 31, you can join The Winter Ville Countdown 2016 at The Hopping Market on the 5th floor from 7pm. You’ll enjoy a great view, sumptuous food and tasty drinks plus music by Cocktail.

And of course there are special promotions aplenty and no more so than for 1 Card members and AIS subscribers. The campaign runs until February 29 at Central Department Store as well as selected shops at Central Embassy, Silom Complex, and Central Rama IX.

Last but not least, pass on the happiness by posting pictures of you at Central Embassy and invite your friends to join the fun by using hashtags #Centralletscelebrate #Centralembassy #Centralchidlom from today through January 17.