Refurbished Santa letter station surrounded by timber gift boxes and festive scenic props.

Large seasonal activations require scenic environments that combine visual spectacle, themed storytelling and public interaction while remaining safe, durable and suitable for high visitor numbers. For Expo Winter Fest 2023, Evolution transformed Al Wasl Plaza into an immersive winter environment built around festive architecture, custom props and interactive Christmas experiences.


The project included a traditional chalet-style Christmas market, pine trees, fairground games, a large Christmas tree, themed elf figures, Santa’s House, a toy factory, fairy-lit tree islands, a Santa letter station and a giant bauble installation at the centre of Al Wasl’s main stage. Together, these elements created a cohesive festive destination designed to engage families and visitors throughout the event.

Evolution Scenic chalet-style market structures fabricated for Expo Winter Fest at Al Wasl Plaza.

The Challenge


The project required a large number of themed elements to work together as one coherent Christmas environment across Al Wasl Plaza.


The installation needed to combine major visual features, interactive attractions and detailed props while maintaining a consistent festive style throughout the site.


Many of the scenic elements also required durable fabrication suitable for repeated public use. Moving components, large-scale decorations, guest interaction points and crowd-management features all needed to be considered carefully.


Health and safety was also a key requirement, particularly across interactive areas and large public-facing scenic installations.

Evolution Scenic custom Santa’s House with detailed festive architectural scenic construction.

The Solution


Evolution designed and fabricated a wide range of custom festive scenic elements for the Winter Fest environment.


Hand-carved styrofoam elves were produced and finished with a protective hard coating to improve durability while retaining detailed sculptural forms. These were integrated alongside Santa’s House and other themed Christmas structures.


A toy factory inspired by Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory was developed with moving gifts and fabricated using wire mesh, metal frames and MR-MDF. Snow flocking was applied across the installation to create a winter finish and strengthen the overall theme.


Fairy-lit tree islands were created using Christmas trees and artificial snow, adding smaller festive environments throughout the site.


At the centre of Al Wasl’s main stage, a giant bauble display was installed on a custom round platform, creating a prominent visual focal point.


The existing Santa letter station was refurbished and reintegrated into the event, supported by wooden gift boxes, Christmas baubles and themed scenic details.


Golden entrance gates were also installed to support crowd management while remaining visually consistent with the wider festive environment.


All scenic elements were delivered in line with strict health and safety requirements to ensure the installations remained secure and suitable for public use.

Custom festive props and scenic structures installed throughout Al Wasl Plaza in Dubai.

Delivery Highlights


• Festive scenic production for Expo Winter Fest 2023.

• Transformation of Al Wasl Plaza.

• Traditional chalet-style Christmas market.

• Pine tree installations.

• Festive fairground games.

• Large Christmas tree.

• Hand-carved styrofoam elf figures.

• Protective hard coating for sculptural props.

• Santa’s House.

• Immersive Christmas-themed environments.

• Toy factory with moving gift elements.

• Wire mesh fabrication.

• Metal frame construction.

• MR-MDF scenic fabrication.

• Snow flocking.

• Fairy-lit tree islands.

• Artificial snow treatments.

• Giant bauble feature.

• Custom round platform at Al Wasl’s main stage.

• Refurbished Santa letter station.

• Wooden gift boxes.

• Christmas baubles.

• Golden entrance gates.

• Crowd-management features.

• Health and safety compliance.

• Delivery and installation.

Evolution Scenic sculptural elves positioned alongside chalet structures and themed winter scenery.

Outcome


The completed Expo Winter Fest 2023 environment transformed Al Wasl Plaza into a fully immersive Christmas destination combining themed architecture, sculptural props, moving elements and interactive visitor experiences.


The Christmas market, Santa’s House, elf figures, toy factory, tree islands and giant bauble installation created multiple points of visual interest, while the letter station and fairground elements added further opportunities for engagement.


The project demonstrates Evolution Scenic’s ability to deliver large-scale seasonal environments where scenic fabrication, prop-making, moving features, refurbishment, crowd management and public safety all need to work together within one coordinated installation.

Large-scale Christmas tree surrounded by fabricated winter scenic elements at Al Wasl Plaza.

Project Ecosystem


Evolution Scenic – Festive scenic design and fabrication, custom props, sculptural elf figures, Santa’s House, toy factory, moving gift features, Christmas market structures, tree islands, giant bauble installation, Santa letter station refurbishment, crowd-management features, delivery and installation.

Evolution Scenic temporary chalet architecture combining timber framing, plywood and MDF construction.