It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas already, especially with the Kris Kringle Christmas Market and Street Café arriving. Everything will be in red and white, cheerful and bright. Think decked-up Christmas trees, boughs of holly, and fairy lights. And then there will be that jolly old man with a red sack slung upon his shoulders, making every child’s eyes light up as they shriek “Santa!” in delight. “This time, we are hosting the tallest Santa in the city. Twenty feet tall, he walks on stilts,” says Kumar Asirvatham, managing director of Fly Albatross Travel and Tours, who has been organising this carnival since 2012.
“The aim of this event is to support the disadvantaged. This year, the purpose is to raise funds for the YMCA Boys Town,” says Kumar, adding, “We have tied up with YMCA and it’s celebrating its 128th year.”
The event, spread across 40,000 square feet, will have around 80 stalls offering food, décor, and shopping, from trees and baubles to art work and jewellery. Indulge in Christmas staples such as plum cakes, home-made wine, chocolates and hot chocolate too. In addition, there will pizzas, cookies, milkshakes, biryani, Chinese and Burmese food. Kids can play games, ride a chariot, and try out science experiments. If you like to take a furry friend home, there is also a pet adoption drive aided by Blue Cross.
The venue will reverberate with songs of Christmas. “We have choir bands, carollers, and singers including Sharanya Gopinath, Keith Peters, Donnan Murray, Martin Visser, Ryan and Patrick Fernandez, who will perform across genres such as jazz, pop, classical rock, and contemporary. Last year we received a footfall of 4,000. This time, we are expecting more,” says Kumar.
Kris Kringle Christmas Market and Street Café will take place on December 1 and 2 at YMCA Royapettah Convention Centre. For details, call 9551677070.
