The run-up to Christmas is when a shopping centre comes alive – and the right entertainment is what turns a quick trip into a proper family afternoon out.
From our mobile Santa’s Sleigh that cruises your mall to living Christmas trees that greet shoppers by the doors, we help shopping centres across the UK fill the festive season with moments people remember, film and come back for.
Why shopping centres book Megabeast:
A shopping centre at Christmas runs on atmosphere as much as anything. It’s the difference between a quick stop for one thing and a proper family day out, and it’s the sight of excited children and smiling faces that bring a space to life with holiday spirit.
Roaming entertainment is the heart of that. Instead of one fixed spot near the food court, our acts move through your centre, carrying the excitement with them and bringing it to every corner of the mall. They draw people along and out of the way of the busiest routes, they fill the quieter moments between trips to the shops, and they create the photo opportunities families love to share.
Here is what our acts bring to a shopping centre:
- Mobile acts that fill your centre with festive atmosphere and keep families engaged and excited.
- Fully self-contained acts that need no stage, rigging or power – built to work alongside live retail without getting in the way.
- Something for all ages, from toddlers meeting the trees to grandparents happy to grab a photo with the Sleigh.
- Brightly lit with their own lights – perfect for dark winter afternoons and evening trading.
- Photo and shareable moments that give your centre a warm, festive feel across social media.
Whether it’s a small community centre or one of the UK’s largest destination malls, our team can recommend the right line-up for your space and atmosphere.
Why shopping centres book Megabeast:
Roaming entertainment is the heart of that. Instead of one fixed spot near the food court, our acts move through your centre, carrying the excitement with them and bringing it to every corner of the mall. They draw people along and out of the way of the busiest routes, they fill the quieter moments between trips to the shops, and they create the photo opportunities families love to share.
Here is what our acts bring to a shopping centre:
- Mobile acts that fill your centre with festive atmosphere and keep families engaged and excited.
- Fully self-contained acts that need no stage, rigging or power – built to work alongside live retail without getting in the way.
- Something for all ages, from toddlers meeting the trees to grandparents happy to grab a photo with the Sleigh.
- Brightly lit with their own lights – perfect for dark winter afternoons and evening trading.
- Photo and shareable moments that give your centre a warm, festive feel across social media.
Whether it’s a small community centre or one of the UK’s largest destination malls, our team can recommend the right line-up for your space and atmosphere.
How we strive to make things easy:
We understand that the Christmas period is your busiest time, and the last thing you need is entertainment that creates extra work. We have built all of our Christmas acts to be self-contained and mobile, so they fit straight into a working shopping centre.
Our requirements are deliberately minimal, but vary slightly per act. The main ones are:
- Loading/parking access for one vehicle (generally a van) at a suitable entrance.
- A dry, warm staff or changing area where we can take breaks and leave belongings whilst performing – a disused unit is absolutely fine (we’re not fussy).
- Water (warm drinks are always appreciated but not a deal breaker).
We’ll always work around your trading hours and operational restrictions. Whether you’d rather we stick to quieter times, or entertain through the busiest of the rush, we’re happy to accommodate.
What makes our Christmas acts unique:
All of our acts are entirely unique to us. We make everything we send out in house by hand. Rather than a booking agent passing on whoever’s available, every act on this site was designed and built by us in our Bristol workshop, from the chassis of the Sleigh to the petals on the Roses. The pride we take in our acts means you can be sure that we’ll have every incentive to make sure we recommend the right act for your shopping centre’s Christmas festivities.
We’re based in Bristol but work throughout the UK and beyond, so wherever your centre is, we’re never too far away. And because we build rather than buy, we can tailor an act to your space or design something entirely new if you’ve got an idea for your centre that nobody else could pull off.
Our featured Christmas acts, perfect for shopping centres:
Santa's Sleigh - a fully mobile Santa's Sleigh act
This custom built Santa’s Sleigh is fully electric and safe to cruise around your event.
Perfect for Christmas markets, grottos, shopping centres and Christmas light switch ons.
The Christmas Trees - the perfect Christmas Street Theatre
Our living Christmas trees are a great addition to any Christmas event.
Place them in a static location as a unique way to greet your guests, or have them roam and spread Christmas spirit across your event.
Alternative Holiday Acts:
The above acts are the ones we’d most recommend for a typical shopping centre christmas activation.
The ones below are great if you have a particular festive theme or are looking to create a broader “magical trail” feeling to your centre.
Treemendous - Our Larger than life stilt walking trees
Our incredible larger than life stilt walking trees are the perfect street theatre act for any event or festival with a nature, fantasy, or outdoor theme.
This act is ideal for bringing outdoor spaces to life.
The Golden Birdcage - an Elegant Installation
This beautiful birdcage is the perfect installation for those looking to create a centre piece at an event.
The cage can be set up on any flat piece of land and can host beautiful aerial performers throughout the event.
The Enchanted Roses - a beautiful and graceful street theatre act
These custom crafted rose inspired stilt costumes will quite literally stand our from the crowd.
Perfect for animating any space but particularly events with an outdoor or enchanted garden theme.
What others have said about our acts:
I really look forward to working with you again!"
How hiring Christmas performers works on the day:
If you’ve never booked roaming entertainment for your centre before, here’s how the day runs when you hire us.
1) Arrival
We agree an arrival time in advance – generally one to two hours before the act’s agreed start time, and we can arrive earlier if you need us to. Our artists call you or a designated contact on arrival, arrange loading access and are shown to a changing area, then unload the act ready to go. They’ll use this time to confirm any last minute details regarding performance areas or set times, if not confirmed in advance.
2) Preparation
The performers set up and get into costume. This is usually between 15 and 30 minutes (act dependent) before the first performance, to make sure we’re ready in plenty of time for the start of our performance.
3) The performance
The fun bit! We generally agree to set times or performance slots before the event, but can usually tweak them on the day within reason. We welcome your questions and suggestions – we want you to enjoy it as much as we do, and we’ll always work around your centre’s quieter or busiest trading times, whichever you prefer!
4) Packdown and goodbyes
Once the performances are done, our team packs down the equipment and, where necessary, coordinates with your security and event staff to get off-site. We pride ourselves on leaving every event as smoothly as we arrived and, where possible, we’ll always wave goodbye.
Shopping centre Christmas entertainment - FAQ
How far in advance should I book?
Christmas is our busiest season and retail bookings go quickly – November and December slots often start filling from the summer. Get in touch with your dates as soon as you can and we’ll confirm availability and hold them for you.
That said, if you have left it to the last minute we usually have the odd day free and will help as best we can!
Do you offer discounts for multi-day bookings?
Yes! Absolutely. We offer discounts on bookings of four days or more. These will vary depending on the number of dates, location, act, and which days of the week. Please get in touch and we’ll put a custom quote together for your holiday season.
Do you perform at centres in my city/town?
Whilst we are based in Bristol, we do offer entertainment across the entire UK (and beyond). You can find travel costs for each of our acts on the relevant act pages, and if you are booking multiple acts from us we will always look to consolidate travel.
How do I hire Christmas acts for my shopping centre?
You can book our Christmas acts by contacting us through our website or giving us a call to discuss your event. Alternatively you can email us at: info@megabeast.co.uk
You can find our contact details here.
Can the acts work indoors in a shopping centre?
Yes! All of our Christmas acts are designed to work indoors (or outdoors), with no stage, rigging or power required. The Sleigh and Christmas Trees work perfectly through a heated mall or covered walkway, and the larger acts can also be used in atriums and entrances. They’re self-contained, safe alongside shoppers, and won’t disrupt trading.
Are you insured?
Yes – we carry full public liability insurance on every act. We’ll provide our certificate as part of any booking, and an updated copy on request.
Which acts suit a small centre versus a large destination mall?
The Santa’s Sleigh and the Christmas Trees work at almost any scale. For a larger scheme we can build a full festive trail across it – adding Treemendous, the Enchanted Roses and, where space allows, the Golden Birdcage as a centrepiece. Get in touch with your square footage and footfall and we’ll recommend a line-up to fit.
Do your Christmas acts need much space or technical setup?
No. Every act is self-contained and mobile, so our requirements are minimal – loading access, a changing area and water. There’s no stage hire, no sound rig to install and no mains power needed. If you’d like to run an act in a tighter space we’ll advise on the best fit for your situation.
Let's fill your centre with Christmas cheer!
Ready to make this year’s festive season one that families remember? Tell us your dates and your scheme, and we’ll put together the right Christmas line-up for you.
Reach us at: info@megabeast.co.uk
Or by calling either
John: +44 7872 123 742 or James: +44 7842 128 280