Christmas has officially floated into Grand Arcade thanks to its latest Christmas campaign, Christmas is in the Air. The arrival of the brand-new decorations and theme has transformed the shopping centre, bringing the magic of Christmas to life.
Blending creativity and innovation to create a truly lifelike festive experience, the centre’s illuminating hot air balloons, sparkling lights and dazzling clouds suspend in the air to create an idyllic shopping experience for visitors this Christmas.
Martin Macwhinnie, Grand Arcade’s General Manager, said: “This year marked the grand reveal of our new Christmas decoration scheme, where the centre has been transformed into a breathtaking festive dreamscape with the spirit of Christmas shining in every corner. With our interactive hot air balloons, stars and clouds, we’ve created an awe-inspiring view that provides a unique and memorable experience for visitors of all ages.”
The decorations not only give shoppers the ultimate Christmas backdrop for selfies with family and friends, but they will also have the rare opportunity to “fly through” the Grand Arcade through two telescopes, allowing visitors to view the decorations up-close.
Kicking off the festive celebrations last weekend (15 November), Grand Arcade hosted the sell-out Elf Repair Café, in collaboration with Cambridge Carbon Footprint, which saw elves fix items, including clothing, jewellery and electronic items, to re-gift or decorate homes this Christmas. Visitors to the shopping centre also enjoyed Christmas Celebrations, which celebrated local talent with a collection of 150 singers, choirs and dancers. These events culminated in the Grand Arcade having its busiest Sunday of the year, with almost 100,000 visitors across the opening weekend.
Coming up, from 6 to 21 December, Grand Arcade is hosting the return of Mrs Claus Storytime, inviting children to settle in for a cosy storytelling session, with the proceeds from ticket sales going to Cambridge Carbon Footprint.
Speaking about the return of Christmas to Grand Arcade, Julie Kervadec, Marketing Manager at Grand Arcade, said: “We cannot wait to welcome back Mrs Claus Storytelling for another year. What makes Christmas at Grand Arcade so special is that it’s about more than twinkling lights and photo moments; it’s about creating experiences that truly mean something. Rather than a traditional grotto, families can enjoy storytelling sessions that spark imagination while helping to make a positive difference locally. Every ticket helps support the important sustainability work that Cambridge Carbon Footprint does in our city.
“This reflects what Grand Arcade stands for: celebrating the magic of Christmas in a way that gives back, encourages reuse and repair through initiatives like our Elf Repair Café, and champions a more circular approach to the festive season. It’s wonderful to see our community come together to share joy, creativity, and care for the planet.”
Other upcoming sessions as part of Christmas is in the Air include:
Once Upon a Christmas: Enter Grand Arcade enchanting walk-through book to meet a wise owl
Into the Clouds: Hop in a hot air balloon basket for a picture amongst the stars
Santa’s Sleigh Stop: Climb aboard Santa’s sleigh for a festive photo memory
Talking Letterbox: Post your letter to Santa in Grand Arcade’s enchanted letterbox and hear a magical surprise
Late Night Shopping – 15 to 23 December: Shop for all your holiday needs with extended hours and festive offers
Macwhinnie said: “Grand Arcade is the perfect location for our festive shoppers, with the recent openings of Søstrene Grene and Townhouse at Grand Arcade, alongside the re-opening of Hollister’s brand-new concept store in December and the first-year anniversary of our Everyman Cinema; providing the ultimate break from the bustling shops.”
