HCM CITY — Holy Forest, a forest of Christmas trees, is set up at a Christmas festival called Merry Drew Festi, which opens today in Thủ Đức City.

The forest has more than 300 pine and Lawson Cypress trees from Denmark and Đà Lạt City of Việt Nam to bring the festive spirit to the city's residents and visitors.

Within the forest is an art exhibition of five sculptures and 14 statues related to Catholicism by young artist Đinh Duy Tôn, a graduate of the city's Fine Arts University. All artworks are made of copper and stainless steel.

The festival also offers two music shows presenting Christmas classics and modern songs performed by Lumen Choir, a Catholic choir founded in 2013.

The shows will be held from 5:30pm to 6pm on December 20 and from 7:30pm to 9pm on December 22.

On December 24 and 25, the festival will be transformed into an outdoor cinema from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., showcasing around 20 works from the Science Film Festival 2024.

The films present a wide variety of works in five categories for all ages, focusing on family education and entertainment, ecology and environment, natural resources, life science, technology, non-verbal and science shorts, and culture and history.

In addition, the event includes live Christmas music performances by local bands Rosie Band and Black Lemon Band, and dance shows by dance crews Kallus and Joker Kids Dance Studio every night.

There is a cuisine space offering delicious dishes from local restaurants. Workshops on pottery, scented candles, perfumes, and fragrant oils are also featured.

The organiser, artLIVE – a multimedia platform specialising in art, architecture, cuisine, and audiovisual - will give gifts to 100 needy children in An Phú Ward as part of its non-profit project Draw Your Dream.

The project was initiated in 2023 and helps children and young people in many regions of the country, particularly needy children with cancer, and ethnic minority children.

The Christmas festival Merry Drew Festi will open to the public for free until December 25 at Global Fountain on Đỗ Xuân Hợp Street in An Phú Ward. — VNS