The Jingle Bell Academy is Fourways Mall’s Brand-New Santa Land Experience for Kids

Looking for activities and events in Johannesburg to keep the entire family in the festive spirit this festive season? Look no further than Fourways Mall.

The centrepiece of the beloved mall’s festive programme this year is the return of Santa Land, now themed as The Jingle Bell Academy, a playful training ground where children can discover what it really takes to become Santa’s little helpers.

Running from 10 to 24 December 2025, The Jingle Bell Academy will take the usual Santaland adventure even further. Here ‘s what you need to know.

Santa Land Fourways Mall The Jingle Bell Academy | What's on in Joburg

How does The Jingle Bell Academy work?

If your kids liked Santa Land, they will absolutely love The Jingle Bell Academy. At the Academy, the kids become young trainees, journeying through various exciting Christmas houses. Each stop introduces them to a different part of elf training, building up to their moment of “graduation” with Santa.

Activities include cookie decorating, scooting through a magical chimney, practicing stacking presents without waking anyone, writing letters explaining why they would make excellent elves, and listening to the gentle story of an elf’s journey.

Along the way the young ones will enjoy festive face painting, explore a variety of toys, browse a little Christmas shopping and engage in lively activations from Exclusive Books and Oh My Cake. The experience ends with a photograph with Santa to seal the memory.

Cost: From R50pp, book via Quicket

When: Running from 10 to 24 December 2025 from 9am to 8pm daily. The sessions are divided into 1.5 hour-long slots.
Where: Fourways Mall, 11 Ruby Cl, Witkoppen, Fourways, Sandton

Santa Land Fourways Mall The Jingle Bell Academy Night Market and rAge Expo | What's on in Joburg — The Fourways Mall Night Market | rAge Expo

More Festive Fun at Fourways Mall

The Jingle Bell Academy is just the beginning. The popular Night Market also returns this festive on Friday, 28 November for the last time this year. This popular market fixture will feature live entertainment, children’s activities, festive food and a relaxed bar area on Level 7, giving the evening an inviting, family-focused atmosphere.

The rAGe Expo, South Africa’s biggest eGaming gathering, will also take place at Fourways Mall for the very first time from 5 to 7 December on the Level 8 rooftop parking.

December at Fourways Mall offers plenty of things to do for families looking to spend time together, too. Experiences like Adventure Golf, Bounce, Ster-Kinekor’s Cinema Prestige and dedicated kids’ cinema, The Fun Company, Xtreme Go-Karting, Total Ninja Interactive, Shooters, Bloc 11 and Urban Playground’s skate park, indoor soccer and eSports arena all offer enjoyable ways to spend a day out.

Santa Land Fourways Mall The Jingle Bell Academy Exclusive Books | What's on in Joburg

Festive shopping at Fourways Mall

Festive shopping at Fourways Mall brings a world of choice, with more than 350 stores across every imaginable category. Additional to those known and loved by shoppers, new stores that opened recently include Birkenstock, Old School, Lacoste, Crocs, Burnt, Street Gym and Hey Dude.

To make the season even smoother, free parking will be available daily after 5pm, and the centre’s recently extended trading hours will make it easy for visitors to enjoy the festive ambience and shopping at their leisure.

When: Most stores in the mall are now open from 9am to 8pm on Monday to Saturday and 9am to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays
Where: Fourways Mall, 11 Ruby Cl, Witkoppen, Fourways, Sandton

Wrap gifts for your loved ones

Once you’ve picked up your gifts from the large variety of stores at Fourways Mall, get them professionally wrapped at the mall’s gift-wrapping station.

To keep the spirit of giving at the heart of the season, the centre’s gift-wrapping station will once again support the Smile Foundation. From 28 November to 24 December, gifts can be wrapped at the kiosk outside Lady Naledi plane, with all proceeds going directly to the charity.

Cost: R20 for each gift wrapped

When: Gift-wrapping is available from 28 November to 24 December 2025
Where: Fourways Mall, 11 Ruby Cl, Witkoppen, Fourways, Sandton