A giant Christmas tree the equivalent in height of four stories will light up Port Elizabeth’s beachfront when it is officially unveiled tomorrow.
An initiative by the Spar head office based in Durban, the tree is moved from region to region each year and this time it is the turn of Spar Eastern Cape, marking 25 years in the region, to celebrate the festive season with a range of activities related to the project.
The tree, which is 13 metres tall and seven metres wide, has been assembled by a team from Durban and has been placed in the Bayworld parking area.
It will dominate the city’s beachfront area for the festive period, being part of the many Molo Summer Festival entertainment options that will be on offer to the public during December.
Spar Eastern Cape sponsorships and events manager Alan Stapleton said they were delighted to have their turn to celebrate this time of the year and would use the occasion to add some fun to the lives of those who are less fortunate.
“It’s a massive construction which took 4 148 hours [the equivalent of 462 working days] to make and contains more than 74 000 LED light bulbs,” he said.
“It required 2 000 metres of cable and 110 cans of gold spray paint to complete the construction.”
He added that the official unveiling of the tree would take place tomorrow evening when they would invite residents from a children’s home and an old age home to celebrate the occasion.
“There will be Christmas-themed music and we will supply boerewors rolls, cooldrinks and gift packs to our invited guests,” said Stapleton.
“The function will get under way at 6pm and we will have a sing-a-long before the switching on of the lights at 7.30pm.”
Stapleton added they were proud that the entire Christmas tree construction comprised solely locally made products.
“Everything was locally designed and manufactured and we want to create an opportunity where we can revisit the nostalgia and spirit of Christmas with a beautiful and iconic statement that can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors.”
