ANY plans for this New Year? Wish you could usher in 2023 with selfies in four different countries and with four seasons as views? Ride hot air balloons and horse wagons before relaxing in glamping huts? Enjoy gastronomical delights while being serenaded by top local stars?
You are in luck! Sime Darby Property (SDP) invites you to experience all these at its New Year Festival at the City of Elmina, Shah Alam. The fun starts on Dec 31 and continues up until the next day in a brand new year.
This is the grand finale of SDP’s Beyond 50 campaign which commemorates the company’s five decades of experience building homes and townships for Malaysians, sharing its vision for the future – to advance real estate as a force for collective progress, in harmony with the planet’s resources.
Come enjoy the sights of four amazing countries – Morocco (summer), South Korea (autumn), Finland (winter) and the Netherlands (spring).
Known for its beautiful Islamic architecture intertwined with Hispano-Moorish styles, Morocco is definitely on many people’s must visit list. Come live your summer dreams in Morocco at the City of Elmina during the New Year bash.
It is no surprise that South Korea – and its TV dramas, music, and good looking stars – has a special place in our hearts. You can enjoy the beautiful autumn backdrop at the festival and reminisce about the days of Winter Sonata and Endless Love, while enjoying special Korean delicacies with friends and loved ones.
Experiencing Finland’s winter wonderland with the gorgeous aurora borealis lighting up the night sky is on many travellers’ bucket list. Come catch a glimpse of that experience at the festival and see how the people of the happiest country in the world (ranked by the United Nations for the fifth year running) celebrate their holidays.
Spring is a magical season in the Netherlands, knowns for its iconic tulip blooms. Also the land of bicycles, windmills and cheese and who can forget the coffee shops and scenic canals of Amsterdam. Enjoy these and more at the festival!
Highlights
SDP places strong emphasis on green living and sustainability in all its developments. It established the Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre (ERKC) that focuses on research, conservation and environmental education, as well as the Elmina Living Collection Nursery where endangered, rare and threatened rainforest species are nurtured.
These centres aim to connect urban society with nature and educate visitors to be more environmentally-conscious. Visitors to SDP’s New Year Festival can go through an audio-guided tree nursery tour, as well as a show of birds in free flight. This fits in well with the green environment at City of Elmina, where there are 300 acres of parks with extensive and scenic cycling and running tracks.
Another key highlight is the Beyond 50 Experiential Tunnel where the public journey through time with immersive displays and light projections of SDP’s past five decades and slide into the future with an experiential theatre showcasing SDP’s Concept Home 2030.
Curious to know what the homes of the future may look like? Well, find out what SDP’s Innovators of Tomorrow – Reimagine The Future Home competition entrants have produced.
A total of 176 school teams submitted design proposals for homes based on sustainability, design, build and technology. The prototypes from the seven best teams will be on display at the festival. For future home buyers and budding visionaries of the built realm, this is definitely something worth checking out.
Other attractions at the event include food trucks, hot air balloon rides, horse wagon and pony tracks, adventure/amusement rides such as “flying fox”, and glamping huts. The fun begins at 4pm on Dec 31.
In line with the eco-friendly theme, event shuttles will pick up and drop off attendees at designated destinations and parking points, as the main event area will be a car-free zone. Apart from walking, visitors are also encouraged to bring along their bicycles and e-scooters.
A fund-raising drive for communities affected by recent floods will be set up at the festival. All proceeds from the sale of event goodies will be channelled towards flood-stricken households. Visitors are encouraged to place their donations at the designated booths.
For more information on SDP’s New Year Festival at Elmina Central Park on Dec 31 and Jan 1, scan QR code.
