They say it is the season to be jolly, and jolly is what Lifestyle Centre plans to be over the December and January summer holidays.

The unique artisanal traders and funky restaurants in The Market and Eat Street respectively have already created a festive vibe in a cheerful street scene environment. Mythos, Lupa, Salsa and Mo’s Noodles have all recently opened their doors to highly positive acclaim, joining the newly revamped Zara’s, Beira Alta and the beautifully reinvented Loaf Café + Gin Bar. Blackstrap Craft Distillery will complete the line up in Eat Street for 2107, with Catch and a number of other offerings still to come in 2018.

Soon to open at The Market is Tree, a local health café focussed on providing healthy, light meals. 2018 will also see the introduction of a few more smaller, local traders.

Local musicians and a few from further afield have been creating a festive feel around The Market and the rest of Lifestyle Centre for a couple of weeks now, but these live acts will be ramped up from 15 December. Visitors to the centre can expect to find local buskers and musicians playing alongside the likes of Qadasi & Maqhinga, Jamie-Lee Sexton, John Ellis of Tree 63 and other superb acts. From 15 – 24 December, Father Christmas and his elves will be entertaining the little guests between Lifestyle SUPERSPAR and Chateau Gateaux, while face painters, stilt walkers and balloon sculptors will be sure to entertain young and old alike alongside four free gift wrapping stations around the centre.

According to co-owner Bruce Rencken, the focus of Lifestyle Centre has changed along with the reinvention of its offering. “It is all about experiential shopping now,” says Rencken, “Our focus is on food, family and style, and, to this end, we have embraced smaller, more unique offerings and have aimed at creating beautiful settings in which to shop and enjoy the food on offer. We want the live music and surprises around every corner to all add to a great shopping experience.”

The centre’s trading hours will be extended to 8am – 8pm for the period 15 – 30 December, with anchor tenant Lifestyle SUPERSPAR opening 7am – 9pm, 8 – 30 December, including all public holidays.