Santa Claus might not make his regular rounds this year. He’s heading to The Shops at Skyview on Dec. 1, and he might stay at the Flushing shopping center for the entire month to enjoy crafts workshops, gingerbread, tree-lightings, shopping specials, and photo ops.
To begin, a friendly Holiday Tree Celebration runs the whole month. Five stores are partnering with five local nonprofits — Target/Book Fairies; Uniqlo/Queens Museum; Qbedding/Queens Tourism Council; Coco Tea/Flushing BID; and Everyday Beauty/Garden of Hope — to decorate trees to dazzle passers-by outside each store.
The concept is A Very Magical Holiday, and the color theme is gold and silver. Visitors can vote for their favorite trees, and the winning nonprofit will receive a $1,000 donation from Skyview. (The voting period ends on Dec. 24. Customers vote by scanning the QR code on the trees.)
Skyview will then hold a Tree-Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 9 at 2 pm. Representatives from the competing nonprofits and stores will light the trees with a little help from Santa. The ceremony will extend until 5 pm with live Jazz, dance performances, and photo-ops with Santa.
Other activities on Dec. 9 include a Punch Needle and Arts Workshop taught by a renowned textile artist at 2 pm and a Gingerbread House and Holiday Cocktails Workshop. at 4 pm. (Both cost $20.)
The workshops repeat the next Saturday, Dec. 16, with the same times and prices.
Skyview is a multi-level shopping destination located at 40-24 College Point Blvd. It has a large, multi-level parking lot.
Images: The Shops at Skyview