This festive season, Millenia Walk is turning the holiday experience into a vibrant playground of creativity, connection, and joy. Moving beyond traditional decorations, the mall’s The Season Aglow immerses visitors in interactive art, whimsical installations, and homegrown talent, creating moments to pause, play, and participate.
Guiding this creative vision is Melanie Yeap, Head of Retail at Pontiac Land Group, who oversees Millenia Walk’s festive programming and community initiatives. Our team spoke with Melanie to hear how, from Roy Wang’s neon-lit Dreams of Santa Paws to curated artisan markets and interactive storytelling adventures, the mall has embraced its Creative Neighbourhood initiative to showcase Singaporean artistry, foster community, and create a holiday experience that is imaginative, engaging, and memorable. Read on to find out more.
Interview with Melanie Yeap, Head of Retail for Pontiac Land Group
1) This festive season, Millenia Walk has focused on community and creativity rather than traditional decorations. What inspired you and the team to take this fresh approach?
Melanie Yeap: With the MW Creative Neighbourhood initiative, our vision has always been to create spaces where people connect through creativity, design, and the art of everyday living. Over the years, we’ve seen how our community grow – from long-time tenants to emerging artisans, and even the families who visit every weekend.
This year, we wanted to celebrate the festive season by bringing people together. “The Season Aglow” is about celebrating the small joys, shared moments, and the imaginative spirit that make our community unique. By shifting the spotlight to creativity and homegrown talent, we hope to inspire a Christmas experience that feels truly local and meaningful.
2) How did the collaboration with Roy Wang and FACTORY come about, and what were the key goals in bringing “Dreams of Santa Paws” to life?
Melanie Yeap: Our first artist collaboration was with Brooklyn-based artists Wade & Leta last year, and this year, we wanted to shine the spotlight on a Singaporean artist.
We are excited to be collaborating with Roy and his creative studio FACTORY, not simply because he’s one of the rising design stars in the local and international arena, but also because his original creation Meowly is a beloved character that embodies mindfulness, play, and curiosity, which are the values that deeply resonate with our MW Creative Neighbourhood vision.
Roy’s approach to blending art, design, and emotion and his ability to infuse warmth and playfulness into experiential work aligned perfectly with what we had in mind. With Dreams of Santa Paws, our goal was to transform The Great Hall into a glowing, interactive dreamscape – a space where visitors could pause, reflect, and reconnect with the simple joys of the season. The neon-lit carousel and whimsical animal characters invite people of all ages to slow down and rediscover wonder in everyday moments.
3) The Season Aglow highlights homegrown artists and designers. How does Millenia Walk select and support local creatives in shaping its festive experiences?
Melanie Yeap: Supporting local and regional talent has always been one of our core pillars. As the MW Creative Neighbourhood, we are committed to being a space where emerging artists, independent makers, and creative entrepreneurs can be seen, heard, and celebrated.
Our selection process goes beyond aesthetics. We look for partners whose values align with ours: creativity with purpose, craftsmanship, community-building, and a willingness to explore unconventional ideas.
This season, that philosophy comes to life through collaborations with Roy Wang and FACTORY, the Sunday Social Market, Museum Art & Co, and local brands under Crane Living’s Winter Atelier. Our role is to curate thoughtfully, provide space and visibility, and uplift these creatives through meaningful, sustained partnerships.
4) What initiatives or design elements were included to ensure visitors of all ages can pause, interact, and create meaningful memories?
Melanie Yeap: We designed the entire festive experience around three principles: pause, play, and participate.
Pause:
The striking, neon-lit “Dreams of Santa Paws” installation, and the cosy seating pockets within and around the carousel serve as mindful invitations to slow down and be present.
Play:
The interactive and kinetic installations like the “Dreams of Santa Paws” carousel and Commune’s Merry-Poly Living Room encourage light-hearted exploration and play.
Participate:
Our lineup of craft workshops, creative markets, storytelling adventures, and gifting activations were curated so families and friends can make, craft, and share something together. Across every touchpoint, we wanted visitors from young children to art lovers to feel welcomed, engaged, and delighted.
5) How do you balance the mall’s commercial objectives with creating immersive, artistic, and interactive experiences for visitors?
Melanie Yeap: For us, creativity and commerce don’t sit on opposite ends, instead they support one another. When we create experiences that are meaningful, imaginative, and emotionally resonant, people naturally want to spend more time here. And when they feel a genuine connection to the space, they discover new brands, explore more offerings, and form deeper relationships with our tenants.
Our approach is intentional: we aim to pair immersive art with retail discovery. The Christmas market connects independent makers with new audiences. Workshops increase footfall and dwell time, and our gift-with-purchase collectible ties artistic appreciation to festive rewards.
By designing experiences that enrich people’s lives, we uplift both our community and our commercial ecosystem in a sustainable, authentic way.
6) What is your vision for Millenia Walk as a hub for creativity and community beyond the festive season, and how do installations like this shape that vision?
Melanie Yeap: Our long-term vision is to shape Millenia Walk into a true Creative Neighbourhood, a place where stories are shared, ideas take flight, and creativity is part of everyday life.
Installations like Dreams of Santa Paws are not just seasonal attractions but they are expressions of what we stand for. They show our commitment to championing local talent, reimagining public spaces, and creating moments that invite curiosity and connection.
As we move into 2026 and beyond, visitors can expect more collaborations with artists, more community-led programming, and more creative activations that blur the boundaries between art, design, culture, and retail. Ultimately, we hope Millenia Walk becomes a neighbourhood where everyone – tenants, artists, families, and friends – can feel inspired to gather, create, and grow together.
Festive Highlights for Visitors
Millenia Walk’s Season Aglow offers a variety of experiences for families, friends, and art lovers:
Dreams of Santa Paws Installation
Where: The Great Hall
When: Thursday–Friday 11:00 am–8:00 pm | Saturday–Sunday 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
Neon-lit whimsical characters, interactive carousel, and cozy seating areas perfect for reflection or photos.
Storytelling Adventures with Anyhow Play Play
When: 13–14 Dec, 4:00 pm & 6:00 pm
Interactive, clue-solving experience for children aged 4–8.
Crane Living Winter Atelier Pop-Up
When: Until 31 Dec, 10:00 am–10:00 pm, #01-27
Handmade gifts, wellness products, and festive décor.
Festive Rewards & Collectibles
Spend $80: Complimentary parking rebate
Spend $1,200: Select festive treats from Conrad Singapore Marina Bay or Patisserie G
Spend $3,800: Limited-edition Meowly collectible art piece in collaboration with FACTORY
Millenia Walk’s Season Aglow proves that the holiday season can be more than decorations, it can be a celebration of art, creativity, and community. Under Melanie Yeap’s leadership, the mall has created immersive experiences that delight visitors, showcase homegrown talent, and foster meaningful connections. Beyond the festive season, Millenia Walk is shaping a Creative Neighbourhood where everyone from artists to families can gather, create, and be inspired.
Discover more and plan your visit: www.milleniawalk.com
