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Annual celebration brings the community together with a “CampUnity” theme and activities including an open-air cinema, interactive fire dances and a pet-friendly Christmas town
The White Christmas Street Fair, Swire Properties’ annual celebration for the whole community, returns today as its biggest to date, stretching from Tong Chong Street to Taikoo Square and Taikoo Park, and extending to Quarryside, the harbourfront community space in Quarry Bay, for the first time.
Running from 4 to 8 December, this year’s Street Fair has once again been designed and run by 10 university students from the Swire Properties Placemaking Academy (SPPA). The Placemaking Academy Junior Programme, an extension of the SPPA and a collaboration with the E-League Programme by the Eastern District Office, has recruited four secondary school students from the District, who have undergone training from industry experts to become emcees at the Street Fair.
Under the theme “CampUnity”, the Street Fair has transformed Taikoo Place into a huge campsite filled with festive activities and exciting experiences for everyone. Alongside 41 retail and F&B booths, there are brand-new themed attractions such as an open-air cinema, interactive fire dances and a host of live performances and workshops.
“We are excited to present our biggest-ever Street Fair this year as Swire Properties celebrates the completion of our Taikoo Place redevelopment project. This is our 12th year hosting this festive event and we are delighted to see this annual community-based celebration develop into a platform to empower the youth of Hong Kong,” said Tim Blackburn, Chief Executive of Swire Properties.
“The SPPA is our flagship youth empowerment programme, and it provides the creative force behind the Street Fair. Witnessing the six-month journey as these talented university students passionately turn their ideas into actions that foster community engagement, enhance local culture and promote sustainability, is truly inspiring. This is a great example of placemaking in action. It is also wonderful to see our programme extend to include secondary students, allowing them to experience the importance of community building at a young age. I couldn't be prouder of this team.”
“CampUnity” Brings Festive Warmth to Taikoo Place
At the “CampUnity” Christmas campsite, visitors will find heartwarming campfires dotted around the venue, with electricity-generated flame effects created adopting a technology similar to that employed for the Cauldron at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Fire dances will be staged at Taikoo Square, one of the new venues for this year’s Street Fair, with the area transformed by a mesmerising water and light show.
In addition to festive shopping and culinary delights, this year’s Street Fair is adding an array of new activities for the community to enjoy. For the first time, Taikoo Park will become an open-air cinema showcasing classic Christmas films, while workshops covering everything from handicrafts to fitness and urban sketching, will enable visitors to enjoy the festive campsite in different ways.
Quarryside, another new venue for the 2024 Street Fair, has been transformed into “Little Paws Xmas Town”, hosting a pet-friendly Christmas celebration with pet-themed shopping booths and interactive activities.
Contributing to a Zero-Waste and Sustainable Event
In line with Swire Properties’ Sustainable Development (SD) 2030 Strategy, sustainability continues to be an important element of the Street Fair. This year, 40,000 used coffee capsules were upcycled into Christmas string lights by 450 volunteers, giving the event a sustainably festive glow. To help reduce waste and contribute to the zero-waste F&B goal for the event, visitors are encouraged to bring their own containers and utensils or rent reusable cutlery onsite.
Swire Properties has once again partnered with carbon management company RESET Carbon and consultants from Recyclink to quantify carbon emissions and guide recycling practices. The Street Fair's carbon footprint will be assessed to identify strategic carbon reduction measures and set targets for future events.
The Street Fair will once again raise funds for Operation Santa Claus to help those in need.
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Swire Properties’ White Christmas Street Fair 2024, designed and run by ten local university students of the SPPA 2024 cohort, has kicked off today with the theme “CampUnity”.
This year’s White Christmas Street Fair is the biggest to date, stretching from Tong Chong Street to Taikoo Square and Taikoo Park, and extending to Quarryside, the harbourfront community space in Quarry Bay, for the first time.
40,000 used coffee capsules were upcycled into Christmas string lights by 450 volunteers, giving the event a sustainably festive glow.
The four secondary school students of the Placemaking Academy Junior Programme, an extension of the SPPA and a collaboration with the E-League Programme by the Eastern District Office, have undergone training from industry experts to become emcees at the Street Fair.
About Swire Properties Placemaking Academy (SPPA)
Launched in 2019, the Swire Properties Placemaking Academy (SPPA) is part of Swire Properties’ ongoing commitment to nurturing Hong Kong’s youth. Each year, participants are shortlisted through an open competition for local university students, who take part in a six-month apprenticeship to ideate and execute the White Christmas Street Fair in December – the Company’s annual celebration for the greater HK community.
During the six-month apprenticeship, the SPPA transfers skills and knowledge to participants in terms of Swire Properties’ long-term goals in the areas of Placemaking, Innovation and Sustainable Development; as well as through ideation, mentoring and on-the-job training given by the Company’s senior management and the SPPA’s star lecturers.
To retain talents, Swire Properties aims to offer outstanding alumni from the Academy employment opportunities within the greater Swire Properties community.
Visit SPPA’s website: https://placemaking.swireproperties.com/about
About Swire Properties
Swire Properties develops and manages commercial, retail, hotel, and residential properties, with a particular focus on mixed-use developments in prime locations at major mass transportation intersections. Swire Properties is listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and its investment portfolio in Hong Kong comprises Taikoo Place, Pacific Place, Cityplaza and Citygate. The Company’s completed portfolio in Hong Kong comprises approximately 1.54 million sqm (approximately 16.5 million sq ft) of space.
In the Chinese Mainland, Swire Properties has six completed mixed-use developments. They include Taikoo Li Sanlitun and INDIGO Phase One^ in Beijing, HKRI Taikoo Hui and Taikoo Li Qiantan in Shanghai, Taikoo Hui Guangzhou and Taikoo Li Chengdu. Taikoo Place Beijing^, Taikoo Li Xi'an, Taikoo Li Sanya*, New Bund Mixed-use Project and Lujiazui Taikoo Yuan in Shanghai and the retail portion of the Julong Wan project in Guangzhou are currently under development. The Company’s completed portfolio in the Chinese Mainland comprises approximately 1.3 million sqm (14 million sq ft) of space.
In addition to Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, the Company has a presence in the United States, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.
Visit Swire Properties’ website at www.swireproperties.com
^Comprising INDIGO Phases One & Two, the project will be renamed “Taikoo Place Beijing” upon completion of the Phase Two extension.
*Project name to be confirmed.