Hidden Advent: Popular 2018 moments to feature in digital calendar

Wellington’s favourite feline, Mittens’, fame is about to grow with the fearless cat featuring in the 2018 edition of the popular Wellington Advent Calendar.

Mittens, the eight-year-old Turkish angora that has captured locals’ hearts with his tendency to roam the city visiting restaurants, shops and even people’s homes, is one of several well-known features dotted through this year’s calendar including double-decker buses, the Cuba Street rainbow crossing and Matariki, the Wellington whale.

The popular digital promotion offers Wellingtonians a new deal every day from 1 December to Christmas eve from 24 local retail and hospitality businesses.

Behind each digital door hides a special free or discounted treat, starting with 2-for-1 slices of cake from Sweet Release on Willis St. The deals are redeemable from the day the advent door opens until the end of February 2019, giving customers an extra month to grab their deal.

WREDA General Manager Marketing & Communications Anna Calver says Advent fans will be delighted by this year’s version.

“We’ve been producing the Wellington Advent Calendar for almost ten years now and we always try and top what we’ve done before both in the design and the deals.

“People will really enjoy trying to spot some of Wellington’s most memorable moments from the past year, as well as grabbing a great deal whilst they’re at it.” This year, Masterton-based artist Chris Davidson was tasked with illustrating the calendar.

The decision was made to pivot the point of view, orientating it to look out across the harbor towards Lower Hutt, with Davidson’s graphic, detail-orientated style capturing the city perfectly.

“It was an exciting project to be a part of and it was great to have the free license to create.

“I’ve grown up with Wellington and it’s a city I love so it was a chance to try and capture that in an illustration. I wanted to explore something that would resonate and speak of the vibrancy and sense of discovery within the city.”

In 2017, over the 24 days of the promotion 87,000 deal vouchers were claimed by locals and visitors via the website.

/ENDS

How the Wellington Advent Calendar works:

Based on a traditional advent calendar, each day between 1-24 December a new offer voucher becomes accessible somewhere on the digital artwork at WellingtonAdventCalendar.com.

Once revealed, all offers remain accessible until 31 December 2018.

Vouchers are redeemable at the associated Wellington retailers and hospitality businesses until 28 February 2019.

The calendar was illustrated by artist Chris Davidson and developed by digital agency DNA.

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