If there’s one thing you absolutely cannot miss at Umhlanga’s Gateway Theatre of Shopping this festive season, it’s the jaw-dropping, full-size LEGO® Mercedes-AMG F1 W14. This is a complete Formula 1 race car built entirely out of LEGO® bricks!
This spectacular showpiece is the largest LEGO® build ever brought into South Africa, crafted from 192,937 LEGO® pieces, measuring 5.1 metres long, 2.2 metres wide, and weighing in at over 900 kilograms of pure brick-built brilliance. Get up close, snap a selfie, and marvel at the engineering. Whether you’re a LEGO® fan, an F1 fan, or both, this is a must-see.
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To celebrate this showpiece, from 12 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, Gateway is hosting a first-of-its-kind LEGO® F1® experience, complete with high-energy build stations where kids (and adults who refuse to grow up!) can design and test their own mini race cars on a timed ramp with digital leaderboards.
There’s also a reflex-testing challenge inspired by real F1 drivers, plus exclusive LEGO® sets on sale for collectors and superfans. Expect plenty of limited-edition merch and photo ops (this is probably the closest you can get to the paddock without flying to a Grand Prix!)
More Festive Fun at Gateway
Gateway has transformed into a full festive playground, packed with events, entertainment, décor and community spirit. Here’s what you can look forward to this holiday:
Meet SpongeBob SquarePants
- Date: 19 December
- Times: 3pm to 6pm
The world’s most cheerful sea sponge pops into the food court for a meet and greet on his South African tour.
Giving Back with Reach for a Dream
- Dates: 1 to 24 December
Gateway’s gift-wrapping station once again supports Reach for a Dream, turning every wrapped present into hope for a child with a life-threatening illness. Don’t miss the Disney Giant Gift Box installation – donate R50, make a pledge, spread some magic.
Add in Gateway’s refreshed décor, extended hours, new store openings and live East Coast Radio broadcasts, and you’ve got one irresistible festive hotspot.
For more information, visit www.gatewayworld.co.za or follow @gatewayumhlanga.
Also read: Where to see Santa Claus in Durban
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