The holiday season is the most important time of year for malls and shopping centers, and the biggest challenge is giving people a reason to visit in person. A holiday laser light show at a shopping center turns a shopping trip into an outing. People come for the show, stay for dinner, and walk past storefronts on the way.
Electric Holiday Miami designs laser and lighting shows for retail properties across Miami-Dade and South Florida, from open-air centers to parking lot drive-in nights.
Show formats for retail properties
Recurring weekend showtimes
Short shows on a set schedule, for example every hour from 7 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in December, give shoppers something to plan around. Because the shows repeat, visitors who miss one can catch the next, and the property gets steady evening traffic all month.
Season kickoff with a tree lighting
Opening the season with a countdown, tree lighting and laser show creates a big first-weekend event that local media and social accounts love to cover. See our guide to tree lighting laser shows.
Parking lot drive-in night
A section of the parking lot becomes a drive-in theater for one or more nights. This works especially well for centers with large lots and restaurants that stay open late. Our drive-in laser show guide explains how it works.
Courtyard and atrium shows
Open-air courtyards and covered atriums can host smaller shows sized for the space, often paired with a stage for local performers.
Why it works for tenants
- Evening traffic. Shows bring people out after dark, when many centers are quietest.
- Longer visits. Families arriving for a showtime often eat at a restaurant or shop while they wait.
- Easy promotion. Showtimes are easy for tenants to share on social media, in emails and on signs in their stores.
- Repeat visits. A show that runs all season gives people a reason to come back, especially with out-of-town guests during the holidays.
Site considerations
- Sightlines. Where will people stand or park to watch, and does that keep walkways and fire lanes clear?
- Competing light. Bright parking lot lights and signs can wash out laser beams. Sometimes a few fixtures can be dimmed during showtimes.
- Equipment placement. Projectors need a secured location, often a rooftop edge, a roped-off area or a stage, with a clear path above the audience.
- Noise. Sound has to reach the audience without bothering nearby residents or tenants. Shorter shows and directional speakers help.
- Rules. Outdoor laser shows projected into the sky have federal requirements; see our guide to outdoor laser show rules.
Measuring results
Shopping centers often track foot traffic counts, parking occupancy, restaurant sales on show nights and social media mentions. Comparing show weekends to non-show weekends is a simple way to see the impact.
Ideas to add on
- Santa photos timed between showtimes
- Tenant coupons handed out at the show area
- A toy drive at the information desk
- Local school performances before the first show
Bring the show to your property
Send us your property, your target dates and where you’re thinking of hosting the show. We’ll design a schedule and show that fits your space. See the Electric Holiday show on our homepage.