This festive season, Mumbai, a city synonymous with relentless energy, is discovering a new rhythm for Christmas celebration. The trend is moving away from crowded parties and towards intimate, hands-on workshops that allow families and individuals to create, learn, and bond. Across the city's neighbourhoods, sessions dedicated to gingerbread house decorating, festive mixology, stitching, puppeteering, and even painting on cakes are becoming the most coveted holiday experiences.
Culinary Workshops Lead the Festive Charge
The demand for culinary creativity is at an all-time high. Hotels and restaurants report unprecedented enthusiasm for Christmas-themed food and drink sessions. At Sofitel Mumbai BKC, the Gingerbread House Masterclass has become a top pick for families. Sidney Dcunha, the Director of Food and Beverages & Culinary, notes that these workshops spark conversations, laughter, and a true sense of festive camaraderie.
The trend encompasses a wide range, from mulled wine counters and traditional plum pudding making to festive mocktail mixology classes. Meenanath Pawar, Executive Chef at The Orchid Hotel in Vile Parle, observes a clear shift in consumer desire. "People want hands-on experiences that blend tradition with fun," he shares. The core idea is to use food and creativity as tools to bring people together, fostering community spirit and allowing participants to take home joy and connections along with new recipes.
Content creator Harsha Pardasani experienced this firsthand at a gingerbread-making workshop at Hyatt Centric in Juhu with her twin daughters. She highlights how activities like decorating houses with marshmallows, gummies, and colourful icing gems strengthen family bonds during the festive period.
Creative Crafts for Kids and Meaningful Memories
For children, the experiential Christmas has taken a charming and educational turn. At The Hab by Usha in Khar, the STITCHMAS Wonderland workshop invites young ones to stitch their own puppets and explore the basics of puppeteering. Brand Head Amaara Sangam explains that these activities spark imagination and build confidence. They are growing in popularity as parents seek meaningful, interactive options that combine creativity with learning, all while teaching children to appreciate the value of handmade items.
This intention is mirrored at Santa’s Workshop at Food Square, designed as a slow, tactile space. Nidhi Karnavat Chopra, Founder of the event company Boop, says the aim was to let children make things with their hands, write letters to Santa, and leave with something uniquely their own. "Christmas today is about giving kids a chance to create, giving parents a moment to breathe, and letting everyone share in a meaningful celebration," she states.
Innovative Formats for Adults Seeking Connection
The workshop wave is not just for families. Adults are equally eager for immersive, creative escapes. A standout example is Baked Bouquets’ "Sip & Paint on Cake" session at Don Mai. Founder Shreenal Badiani identifies a craving for warm, shared, hands-on experiences, and painting on a cake offers a playful, festive twist that helps strangers celebrate as a community.
Culinary curator Ish Patil from Don Mai echoes this sentiment, noting that Mumbaikars increasingly want to slow down and create something meaningful with their own hands. These workshops, she says, transform the holiday season into shared moments of laughter, creativity, and genuine connection.
The trend extends beyond strictly festive themes. Mumbaikars are also engaging in workshops like tufting for a personalised holiday experience. Student Ananya Agarwal, who attended a tufting workshop at The Clumsy Studio in Prabhadevi, described it as a therapeutic and intimate escape from regular cafe-hopping. Choosing festive red and white tones, she tufted a yin-yang wreath, calling it a thoughtful, creative, and magical way to step into a Christmas bubble. This shift underscores a broader desire for personal, slow, and skill-based celebrations in the heart of the bustling metropolis.
