South Australia’s biggest retail destination will got a festive makeover on Friday, 5th November, when Rundle Mall unveiled its Christmas window display to bring cheer to shoppers young and old.
It opened Rundle Mall’s nine-week peak season as shoppers got ready to take advantage of Black Friday savings, select Christmas gifts and then find more bargains at the traditional Boxing Day sales.

After another difficult year for many, Adelaide Economic Development Agency’s Rundle Mall Manger Nicola Smith says it’s time to embrace the city and celebrate the joy of the festive season.

“It will be a place where magic comes to life with unique, must-see installations, decorations and an atmosphere that celebrates Christmas traditions and draws visitors into Rundle Mall.”

“This nine-week period covering November, December and New Year’s Day will be a time for the community to come together, and a time for retail to thrive.”

Ten activations will stretch across the length of Rundle Mall bringing joy, wonder and a desire to explore the Mall. Eight traditional Christmas windows will be created to feature local artists and present varied takes on the festive season, while the Paolo Sebastian dress exhibition, which launched at October’s Vogue Festival earlier this year, will evolve into a curated themed display.

Local social enterprise, Forage Built, will be showcasing their efforts to provide sustainable housing for those experiencing homelessness in South Australia with the installation of a custom-built mini home.

Ms Smith says this year’s windows are returning in a revamped format after their popularity last year, blending festive traditions with arts and culture.

“Building on from 2020, the Christmas decorations will evolve further and are individually designed and decorated to tell a new Christmas story.”

“From twinkly lights to decorations shiny and bright, eight Christmas windows will come alive and showcase the most wonderful moments of this time of year right in the heart of the city.”

Themes explored in this year’s Christmas windows include life-sized gingerbread people and a Christmas in Bloom floral installation where shoppers can create their own preserved hydrangea decorations.

Christmas carols will play from a designated music window, while another will pay homage to horses Nipper and Nimble. One of the National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant’s most loved floats, this window is expected to be popular across multiple generations.

There will also be windows to themes of a toy workshop, Christmas art, a community village, and the essential look at where the festive magic begins – the North Pole.

Rundle Mall’s Christmas windows launched November 5, and will remain until Thursday, January 6, 2022.