Idol Power

Entertainment, Special Events

Londonderry Mall gave Canadians the chance to win a guaranteed audition in front of judges for the TV show Canadian Idol. Traffic increased by 16% while contestants faced off.

The smash British hit, Pop Idol, spawned American Idol and at least 10 other Idol-like TV shows in several countries around the world. And Canada is no exception to the hype with Canadian Idol making its network debut this summer. Earlier in [...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Santa’s Guest of Honor

Entertainment, Special Events

Botany Town Square got to connect with its community during a 4.5 mile Santa parade, which peaked when Santa stopped to pick up a special young friend. Afterwards, Santa turned on the mall’s 27-foot Christmas tree and guests were treated to entertainment for the whole family.

When you're six years old, there's almost nothing more exciting than a Santa Claus parade. But imagine if that parade made its way right to your house where Santa would stop the procession and ring your front bell! Then he’d come joyously into[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Quiz Show

Entertainment, Special Events

Patrick Henry Mall hosted a seven-week back-to-school game for youth aged 8 to 17. “Where in the Americas is Mr. Patrick Henry?” had players guessing the weekly destination, aided by Mrs. Henry’s clues, such as ‘this country has the largest city in the world’. Prizes included mall gift certificates and a trip for four to Tampa Bay.

Last fall, Patrick Henry Mall in Newport News, Virginia, hosted a seven-week back-to-school game for children. Beginning August 15, shoppers aged eight to 17 years were invited to play, "Where in the Americas is Mr. Patrick Henry?"—loosely bas[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Under the Big Top

Entertainment, Special Events

Hickory Hollow Mall hosted an annual circus in late August in order to draw the back-to-school crowd. Three daily performances, which lasted 30 minutes, included jugglers, clowns, cotton candy, and balloons.

When Dick McCarthy hung up his marketing director’s hat, he decided to run off and join the circus. Since then, many enclosed malls have adopted the universal appeal of McCarthy’s American International Circus in Oak Brook, Illinois, as an a[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Straw Shapes

Entertainment, Special Events

The Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA) of British Columbia gave frames to merchants, which they could use to assemble and display themed scarecrows.

Five years ago, the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA) in Abbotsford, British Columbia, created a unique, 10-day harvest and Halloween event to entertain downtown shoppers. Each year, says General Manager Lynn Wickens, the associati[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Sunken Treasure

Entertainment, Special Events

Shoppers at Fox Run Mall were lucky enough to see a sunken treasure exhibit worth $40 million.

The treasures of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha—a Spanish galleon that sank during a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622—were first recovered in 1973. Today, the gold and silver doubloons, ingots, gold bars, and cultural artifacts recovered[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Mask Makers

Entertainment, Special Events

The Brickyard Mall presented a three-day series of events to commemorate Black History Month. Among other activities, children were invited to make masks using feathers, stones, glitter, and metallic confetti string.

Last February, The Brickyard Mall in Chicago, Illinois, presented a three-day series of events to commemorate Black History Month. In conjunction with Vitner’s Snack Foods and the Chicago Public Library, "A Proud History, A Bright Future" incl[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Showdown at the OK Coral

Entertainment, Special Events

With a massive audience tuning in to TNN’s Wildhorse Saloon or Club Dance every month, it made sense for the network to bring them to malls.

According to Neilson Media Research, some 29 million households tune in to The Nashville Network’s (TNN) Wildhorse Saloon or Club Dance every month. It is no wonder then, that the country network is bringing one of Nashville’s hottest trends[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Hot Cakes

Entertainment, Special Events

Surrey Place was host to a Cake & Confectionery show with creations from novices to master cake makers alike, including Noah’s Ark and a giant cake with interior lights.

Last fall, Surrey Place in Surrey, British Columbia, was transformed into a sugar aficionado’s paradise for "Fantasy in Icing," a three-day Cake & Confectionery Show. According to marketing director Alison Love, novice and master cake makers s[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...

Happy Chanukah

Entertainment, Special Events

Santa Monica Place included a family Chanukah celebration in its holiday festivities, inviting children to create their own menorahs, dreidels, and candles. Some 500 people attended the first evening’s festivities, with another 70-80 attending the daily menorah lighting throughout Chanukah.

Last year, Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, California, extended its holiday festivities to include a family Chanukah celebration. Known as the "Festival of Lights," Chanukah is celebrated for eight days—the same length of time a tiny cruse[...] Tactics Subscribers Read More...