If you are like me, and you don’t have plans to leave Johannesburg or South Africa for the festive season, then best you check out what you can do in Jozi while everyone else is soaking up the sun on some island somewhere.

If you’re stuck here, then you may as well enjoy it – less traffic, more parking spots and better service at restaurants, not to mention all the festive fun that Sandton  City is offering.

If you are in Johannesburg tomorrow, Sunday, 3 December 2017, make sure to make your way to Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square for Carols on the Square – Under the African Sky. For one night only, legendary conductor, Richard Cock, will again take centre stage with the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra in an unforgettable free concert that combines traditional festive classics with an African flair.

Concert-goers can look forward to rousing performances of Christmas carols and contemporary songs from vocal soloists Monde Msutwana, Nicholas Nicolaidis, Friedal Mitas and violinist Andrew Gilbert. Everyone is invited to join this festive sing-along of your favourite carols, starting from 5pm. Arrive early to secure a seat and wrap for the weather at this open-air event.

From 8 December, the festive family fun hits full-swing throughout Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square. There’s plenty to enjoy, watch and create from 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, until 6pm on Sundays and Public Holidays and until 12-midday on 24 December.

The most spectacular LEGO® event in the country will transform the Sandton City Centre Court into a magical world of LEGO. SA’s biggest LEGO attraction includes Duplo, City, Star Wars, Friends, Ninjago and Christmas. Play in the giant LEGO pit or take part in the free building, show building and speed building activities. Interact with robotic displays or take a snap at the LEGO photo wall. Entry is free and everything is awesome!

Add sparkle to the festive season with twins Shimmer and Shine, who will be at Nelson Mandela Square for spectacular live shows and to meet and greet their fans. Shimmer and Shine is one of the most popular series on Nickelodeon Junior, and meeting the twins will certainly make many little ones’ wishes come true this holiday. Show times are 10am, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm and meet-and-greets are at 11am, 1pm and 5pm, and all events are free.

Create festive memories to treasure forever. Santa Claus will once again take his position posing for photographs with customers in his sleigh at the Centre Court. You can also have your photograph taken inside our real Snow Globe near the Sandton City Food Court (now to 27 Dec).

All aboard for fun! The Hamleys Train is offering kids’ rides around Sandton City’s lower level from its pop-up store. The City’s also got your gift-wrapping covered (1 to 24 December) with proceeds going to the Sandton SPCA.

Giving you more time to enjoy all this and much more, Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square are extending their trading hours. Shop from 9am to 9pm every day from 1 to 23 December (yes, including public holidays) and until 6pm on Christmas Eve.