WITH a bigger Pasko Fiesta budget compared to last year’s, it’s no surprise that our very own Davao City Hall is a Christmas tourist attraction in itself.
With its 40-foot Christmas tree that is placed at Rizal Park, the lights and decorations in front of the city hall that resemble a candy wonderland for kids, the Pasko Fiesta carnival, a month-long amusement rides and freebies for Dabawenyos, who wouldn’t want to visit our city hall?
A little farther at Magsaysay Park, where trees are lighted with hundreds of Christmas lights, Kan-anan sa Tribo, a food market by the 11 tribes will surely draw in lots of visitors as well starting on December 15 to 30.
At the People’s Park, however, be awestruck with the lighted pathways in mesmerizing changing colors of neon pink, orange yellow, green and blue. Santa Claus (a representative, albeit) is waiting for kids to have photos with him, in return he will give them goodies!
Not to be outdone are the shopping malls in Davao City.
SM malls both in North and South areas bring magical attractions that surely pull in lots of tourists and Dabawenyos alike.
SM Lanang Premier transformed its Activity Center into a delightful wonderland with its 58-foot Grand Christmas Tree as the main attraction. The holiday decor is adorned with more than 2,000 iridescent white and red balls, while layered with hundreds of Christmas light sets and brings to life the winter-themed set, gigantic reindeer and various animals are placed around the Christmas tree.
Meanwhile, at SM City Davao a winter Christmas dream of many comes true with its Olaf's Frozen Adventure-themed showcase at the Annex Event Center.
The mall's centerpiece is a winter theme with "Frozen" movie's lead characters at Arendelle Castle with a 15-foot Christmas tree. It is made even more exciting with the region's first ice skating rink, of course aside from Christmas sales these malls offer.
The skating rink will be at The Annex until January 2018.
Meanwhile, a little farther up north, Damosa Land boasts of its one-of-a-kind in the city, its Christmas lights tunnel.
The once dimly lit parking area of Damosa Land is now very bright with hundreds of Christmas lights hanging and hugging the trees. And everybody wants to take their selfies there.
Another mall that is also worth a visit this Christmas is the Abreeza Mall.
The mall has its giant Christmas tree located at the Christmas Village at the Ground Floor Hallway surrounded by other smaller Christmas trees.
Decked out with golden lamps, towering trees, and other Christmas symbols, the magnificent installation designed by T’nalak Home is a gleeful reminder that the most wonderful time of the year is here.
At Marfori Heights, however, another giant Christmas tree that is also worth a visit is put up at the Botanical Garden. The place is also the venue for the "Parol sa Barangay," a parol display contests in barangays, which makes it even livelier and a tourist magnet.
Another new player as tourist attraction this Christmas is the Technotrade Center’s Christmas Global Village.
Nobody can ignore the different Christmas lighted replica of landmarks of different countries in Europe and Asia. Even the Davao City Hall has a replica formed with Christmas lights inside the Christmas Global Village.
Children would love their photos taken in front of these replicas. It is located in R. Castillo Street, Agdao, Davao City, and it’s free.