Freeport Designer Outlet was the venue for an event that aimed to light up Alcochete and the lives of children living in SOS villages over Christmas. “Polar bears, penguins, seals and reindeers, as well as tons of artificial snow, kilometres of lights and a gigantic tree will transform Alcochete into a truly magical Christmas scene,” explained the promoters in the run-up to the event. “It will be ‘snowing’ in Alcochete for the first time in almost 50 years.”
The magical evening began when children from the SOS villages turned on the Christmas lights in the commercial area at 6.30pm last Saturday – coinciding with the arrival of Father Christmas and his faithful huskies. The children played in five tons of snow covering a 1,000 square metre area and visited an animal exhibition and, of course, Santa’s grotto.
SOS villages are one of the world’s major charities (with representatives in 150 countries) that aim to help materially and emotionally deprived children.
