Mumbai Christmas Fest & Racing Carnival is here

Christmas will soon be upon us and you’re probably already craving for that mischievous satisfaction in being a Secret Santa!

Well, this time around, you can light up a smile on an innocent’s face. Now in its sixth year, with the Mumbai Christmas Fest & Racing Carnival 2011 (MCF), the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce is giving you a chance to extend that hand of giving to strangers.

It’s also the first time that the MCF offers you a chance to be a Secret Santa to underprivileged children. Your old toys can now find home with these kids. What more, there will be stalls, a special Beer Garden, stage shows, performers like Gary Lawyer, Merlin and Amaranth doing gigs, today and tomorrow at the Royal Western Indian Turf Club (Mahalaxmi Race Course), on till 10.30 pm. DNA is the media partner for the event.

Deepika Unni, Indian Representative of Berlin Fairs, says, “There has been b-2-b trade relations between India and Germany for over 50 years. In the last five years, we have started focusing on cultural events and hence have ‘imported’ the Christmas Market concept from Germany to India. Christmas markets are seen on the streets of every city in Germany and we wanted to bring that culture here.”

Ask her why the event has been organised so much in advance and Deepika explains, “We always do the Christmas fest at this time, as during the Christmas weekend, most people would want to spend time with their families and go on vacation.” Kids can bring their old toys at the event that will be distributed later to slum kids in the city. “In this sense, the child donating his/her toy, becomes a Secret Santa to the child receiving the gift,” smiles Deepika.

The Beer Garden will be open all day and there will be various kinds of German beer and wines at the event. “We also have two stages— the kids’ stage will have Magic shows, dance performances, juggling shows etc. The main stage will have performances by Gary Lawyer, Merlin and Amaranth,” informs Deepika. There’s a lot to shop here too — count kiddie stationary, chocolates and bakes, women’s accessories, and more!

When: Dec 3, 2 pm–10:30 pm and Dec 4, 12-10:30 pm
Where: Mahalaxmi Race Course