Last weekend our Magical Elf Car led Lighting Up Brentwood‘s Christmas event parade! Heading down the high street, followed by singers, dancers and Santa himself, it helped to kick off an afternoon of early festive fun. As always, the Elf Car kept families busy throughout the Christmas event, creating proper foot traffic and giving people reasons to stick around the town centre.
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Leading the Parade
The Magical Elf Car was born to be part of a Christmas parade – a bright, bold bubble-blowing vehicle is perfect to signal that festivities have officially started! It draws attention, sets the tone, and gets people following along to see where things end up.
Once the parade finished, we parked up and opened for business. The car itself is an electric vehicle kitted out with lights, a smoke and bubble blaster, and several interactive elements: an enchanted postbox for letters to Santa, a video call setup, a photobooth, and a DJ system.
Multiple Activities Matter
Having several things happening simultaneously is always the key to a great experience. Whilst some families were using the photobooth, others were posting letters or queuing for the video call. It means we can handle decent-sized crowds without bottlenecks forming or people standing around getting restless.
The elf team managed the flow, staying in character but keeping things moving. That balance matters when you’re working with families who might have already been out for a while. You want the festive feeling without it becoming a slog.
What Keeps People at Christmas Events
There are hundreds of Christmas events happening every weekend in November and December. Lights get switched on, carols get sung, speeches get made… But what actually keeps people in an area longer is having something they can participate in rather than just observe. Our interactive giggling postbox meant kids could write and post Christmas lists, the video call gave them one-on-one time with Father Christmas, and the photobooth created physical memories to take home. All these working together give people genuine reasons to stay. More dwell time means more chances to visit local shops or connect with their community. That matters when high streets are competing with online shopping and out-of-town retail parks.
Environmentally and Brand Friendly
Our Magical Elf Car runs entirely on electric power. No generators, no diesel fumes, just battery-powered festive entertainment. Event organisers increasingly care about this, and rightly so. Everything from the lights to the DJ equipment runs off the vehicle’s battery system.
We also brand the photobooth images appropriately for whoever’s commissioned the event. Each photo becomes a small piece of ongoing marketing that goes home with families, gets shared online, or ends up displayed somewhere visible. That visibility extends well beyond the actual afternoon.
Five Years and Counting!
After half a decade of rolling out the Magical Elf Car, and our other interactive events, certain patterns have become clear. People want interactivity, but they also want efficiency. Nobody enjoys queuing for ages, particularly outdoors in the cold! We’ve streamlined our activations so families can move through relatively quickly whilst still getting the full experience.
The team side requires genuine planning. Our elves have proper training on queue management, staying in character when things get hectic, and troubleshooting any issues!
Creating Events People Actually Remember
Brentwood’s Christmas event worked because it mixed traditional elements with interactive features that gave people something memorable. The Magical Elf Car contributed to that balance, creating a focal point that kept families engaged throughout the afternoon.
If you’re planning something similar and want interactive entertainment that actually delivers rather than just fills space, get in touch today to discuss your next event!
