Lusaka Deserves a Proper Christmas Tree Display (And We're Tired of Pretending It Doesn't)
Look, we need to talk. It's almost Christmas, and once again, Lusaka's idea of festive cheer is limited to the plastic garlands at Shoprite and whatever decorations Manda Hill's marketing team managed to salvage from last year. Meanwhile, cities around the world are out here creating experiences, and we're still treating Christmas lights like they're a luxury reserved for people's living rooms.
It's time Lusaka got itself a proper, magnificent, Instagram-worthy Christmas tree display. And before you start with the "but the economy" and "what about ZESCO" comments – yes, we've heard them all, and we have solutions.
What Other Cities Are Doing (And Making Us Jealous)
Let's take a little tour, shall we?
New York's Rockefeller Center gets a tree so massive it requires a crane, a lighting ceremony that shuts down streets, and becomes a pilgrimage site for millions. About 500,000 people pass by the tree each day during the holiday season, creating massive foot traffic for surrounding businesses and restaurants. The entire Rockefeller Center area sees an estimated 125 million visitors annually during the Christmas season.
London's Trafalgar Square receives a Norwegian spruce every year – a gift from Oslo since 1947 as a thank-you for Britain's support during World War II. The tree (often around 20 meters tall and 50-60 years old) is cut in Norway, shipped to the UK, and erected with a crane. It's decorated in traditional Norwegian style with vertical strings of lights, and the lighting ceremony is an annual tradition that marks the beginning of the festive season.
Paris doesn't mess around – the Champs-Élysées gets decked out with hundreds of illuminated trees, turning the entire avenue into a winter wonderland. The result? Extended shopping hours, packed restaurants, and a tourism boost that carries the city through the quiet winter months.
Even cities closer to home are creating festive public displays. Imagine if Lusaka's parks could do the same – turning our public spaces into destinations rather than just thoroughfares.
And us? We have... the Christmas section at Game. Thrilling.
What a Christmas Display Actually Does for a City
Here's the thing about big, beautiful Christmas displays – they're not just pretty (though that alone would be reason enough). They create something cities desperately need: shared experiences.
A magnificent Christmas tree becomes a meeting point. "Let's meet at the Christmas tree" suddenly means something. Families drive out specifically to see it. Young couples take photos there for their Instagram stories (free marketing, by the way). Kids pester their parents to "go see the big tree again."
Economically, it's a no-brainer. These displays:
Draw foot traffic to surrounding businesses
Extend shopping hours and seasons
Create photo opportunities that put the city on social media
Give people a reason to spend time (and money) in specific areas
Attract tourists looking for festive experiences
Generate employment for setup, security, and maintenance
But perhaps most importantly, they create civic pride. They signal that this city cares about its residents' experiences, that we're not just about functionality but also about joy, wonder, and yes – a little magic.
Where Lusaka Could Make Magic Happen
Now, let's dream a little. Here are some spots that are practically begging for a Christmas transformation:
The North End Roundabout: Picture this – a towering Christmas tree right in the center, visible from all approaches. The traffic circle becomes a spectacle. People want to get stuck in traffic there (for once). Solar-powered lights (we'll get to that) creating a beacon that says "This is Lusaka, and we're celebrating."
Agora Village: The spot is already set up for gatherings. Imagine the central area transformed into a Christmas village, complete with a massive tree, market stalls selling local crafts, and lights strung throughout. It becomes a destination, not just a shopping stop.
The Standard Chartered Globe: That grassy area next to the globe? Perfect for a geometric, modern Christmas installation. Think contemporary, artistic, very "New Lusaka." The kind of thing that gets featured in design magazines.
The High Court Grassy Area: Hear us out – a traditional, elegant display here. Sophisticated white and gold lights, a stately tree, perhaps some classical Christmas music. It would be beautiful and dignified, befitting the location.
Kabulonga Roundabout: This could be the "neighbourhood Christmas tree" – the one residents adopt as their own. Community-focused, warm, with local schools and groups contributing ornaments.
Woodlands Roundabout: Go big or go home. This could be our Rockefeller Centre moment. The roundabout is large enough for a truly magnificent tree, and it's in an area with enough surrounding businesses to benefit from the increased foot traffic.
The Cathedral of the Holy Cross: What could be more fitting than a magnificent Christmas tree at the cathedral grounds? The spiritual significance of the location, combined with the festive beauty of a towering, illuminated tree, would create something truly special. Midnight Mass with that tree glowing in the background? Chef's kiss.
And the truly ambitious idea: Woodlands Water Tower (const. 1954) in lights. Imagine that tower transformed into a vertical Christmas tree, visible from half the city. Now that's a statement.
Or – and stay with us here – the jacaranda-lined streets transformed with lights. Picture driving down Addis Ababa Drive or Independence Avenue with the trees overhead twinkling with thousands of lights. It would be like driving through a fairy tale, except the fairy tale is Lusaka and you're on your way to buy nshima.
Addressing the Obvious Objections
We know what you're thinking, because we can already hear the WhatsApp groups buzzing:
"What about ZESCO? We can barely keep the lights on as it is!"
Two words: SOLAR. PANELS. It's almost 2026, people. We live in one of the sunniest countries on Earth. Those lights can charge all day and glow all night without adding a single watt to the national grid. In fact, let's make it a showcase for solar technology – "Powered by Zambian sunshine" becomes part of the story.
"Someone will steal the lights."
Probably. But you know what? Cities all over the world deal with this. It's called security, and it can create jobs. Besides, communities tend to protect things they value. Make these displays community-owned, and watch how people rally to protect them.
"This is a waste of money when people are struggling."
First, the economic returns can far outweigh the investment. Second, joy isn't a luxury – it's a necessity. Sometimes, especially when times are hard, people need beauty and wonder and something to look forward to. Ask any economist about the value of consumer confidence and civic morale.
"We should fix potholes first."
We can do both. This isn't an either/or situation. Cities need infrastructure and soul. Roads and reasons to drive on them.
The Real Magic: Reclaiming Public Space
Here's what really matters: right now, Lusaka's Christmas experiences are privatized. If you want festive cheer, you go to a mall. If you want Christmas magic, you need to be inside someone's property, spending money.
But public Christmas displays are democratic. They belong to everyone. The family driving past in their old Hiace gets the same show as the family in the Range Rover. The street vendor can enjoy them as much as the CEO. They're experiences you can't put a price tag on because they're free.
Imagine staying in your car (because, let's be honest, that's very Lusaka) but driving through a route of Christmas displays. A Christmas lights tour of your own city. Families making it a tradition. "Every Christmas Eve, we drive the lights route."
It would be glorious. Genuinely, breathtakingly glorious.
Making It Happen
So how do we get from "nice idea" to "actually happening"?
It starts with someone deciding this matters. Whether that's the city council, a corporate sponsor, a consortium of businesses, or even a crowdfunding campaign from residents who are tired of driving to South Africa to experience Christmas magic.
Start small if necessary. One tree. One roundabout. Prove the concept, measure the impact, show the returns. Then scale up. In three years, Lusaka could have a Christmas lights display that rivals cities ten times its size.
And yes, we're serious about the jacaranda trees. Imagine those purple-lined streets from spring transformed into glittering winter wonderlands. It would be peak Lusaka – taking something we already have and making it extraordinary.
Lusaka, we can do better than this. We can create Christmas magic that isn't confined to mall parking lots and supermarket aisles. We can give this city the festive season it deserves – one that lights up the night, brings people together, boosts local businesses, and creates memories that last long after the decorations come down.
And if we're being honest? We just really, really want to see that Woodlands tower covered in Christmas lights. Is that too much to ask?
Maybe someone reading this will catch the fire and make it happen. That's all we can hope for – that the right person, with the right resources and the right vision, sees what we see: a Lusaka that sparkles.
Looking for something to do this December? Visit our website for the best events and experiences happening around Lusaka this festive season. Want to discover more of what makes Lusaka special? Click here to explore our guide to the city's hidden gems and must-see spots.
