Brief
Each year, the Howard de Walden Estate, located in the prestigious area of Marylebone, hosts a Christmas event designed to bring the community together and highlight the village’s exceptional shopping and dining destinations.
We Are Placemaking proudly managed the Christmas event for the seventh consecutive year. However, this year was particularly special as it marked the first time we had the privilege of producing and managing the event with the direction of Howard de Walden Estates team.
The event, free to the public, showcased a lively and festive array of entertainment and activities this year. Highlights included food stalls, alfresco bars, live music, funfair rides, bauble and wreath-making workshops, and a magical Santa’s grotto. This year, all traders in the event were from the Marylebone Village footprint, drawing visitors from near and far to experience the festivities. The event transformed the public realm into a vibrant and welcoming holiday atmosphere, immersing attendees in the spirit of the season.
What we did
In partnership with our sister agency, We Are Ops, we collaborated closely with the Howard De Walden Estate team to produce, manage, and oversee the safe installation, live event execution, and de-rig of the Merry Marylebone Christmas event. We worked alongside Westminster City Council to ensure all applications were approved in time for the event. Creating and building relationships with existing suppliers who have participated in the event for many years was paramount for a successful event. We were also honoured to support once again the Merry Marylebone Christmas Light Switch-On, a cherished tradition that marks the start of the festive season in Marylebone Village.
The Howard De Walden Estate’s events team provided a curated list of preferred suppliers for the event, which included food and beverage vendors such as Lurra, Lavo, and The Real Greek, as well as shop suppliers like Seal Skinz and Mejuri, ensuring a diverse and high-quality experience for attendees.
Deliverables
Event Production and Management –Managed a budget and updated the event’s existing schedule.
Logistics Management – A revised logistical plan for the installation and de-rig of the event and worked with multiple suppliers.
Health and Safety Management – advised the client on best practices and ensured compliance with all health and safety regulations.
Supplier Management and Auditing – contracted and managed existing suppliers for the installation and de-rig of the event.
Stakeholder Engagement – liaising with multiple stakeholders in the local area to make sure the event ran smoothly.
Live Event Management – working with the client onsite during the live event.
