City alive with Christmas this weekend

Christmas officially ­begins in the city this weekend with a host of ­festive events for all the family. The Bermuda Sun will include more events  taking place next week ­elsewhere on the island.

Tree of Lights

- When: Friday, November 26

- Time: 5:30pm

- Where: Steps of City Hall.

City Hall marks the ­beginning of the festive season with the turning on of the Christmas tree lights and the rest of the city’s Christmas lights.

This is the 16th annual Tree of Lights ceremony organized by the City of Hamilton in conjunction with The Friends of ­Hospice.

There will be plenty of festive cheer with musical performances by the Menuhin Foundation, Saltus Junior School Choir, The Bermuda Regiment Band, The Bermuda Island Pipe Band among others. Mayor Charles Gosling will give a presentation and the town crier will also be present.

There will be a special visit from Santa Clause himself who will be ­dishing out free candy to all the children.

While Christmas is a time to enjoy the company of friends and family, it is also a time to remember loved ones lost. The annual Tree of Lights is a perfect opportunity to do this as each light on the Christmas tree, represents those we have lost.

Friends of Hospice is the charity supporting Agape House and hospice care in Bermuda. Erica Foulton, operations and programme manager for Friends of Hospice said: “We work alongside staff at Agape House to provide ­programmes and services that will help enhance the quality of life for our ­patients.

“The Tree of Lights is an important event for us. Christmas is a time when families get together. ­It’s ­really nice to have an ­opportunity to be able to gather and remember all those who are no longer with us.

“All the lights on the tree represent those we have lost. It’s a very family oriented event.”

Late night Shopping

- When: Every Friday night from this Friday until Christmas Eve

- Time: Stores open until 9pm

- Where: City of Hamilton.

Christmas is creeping up very quickly. If you haven’t done much Christmas shopping yet, fear not — late night shopping starts from tonight.

Event project manager at City of Hamilton Danilee Trott said: “There will be some school and church choirs and bands that will be playing Christmas ­music each week on ­Nellie’s Walk and outside the entrance to Par-La-Ville Park (starting from next week).

“The roads will not be closed but there will be a few food vendors around the streets.”

Santa Parade

- When: Sunday, November 28

- When: 5pm onwards

- When: The parade starts on the corner of Par-La-Ville Road and Church Street, heads down Par-La-Ville Road, continues left onto Front Street, left up Court Street and left again onto Church Street.

It’s the event all the children have been looking forward to the most — the ­Santa Parade!

Santa will do a tour of the city along with his troop of reindeers from 5pm this Sunday starting from the corner of Par-La-Ville Road and Church Street.

There are a couple of new floats this year — let’s just say there may be a couple of special guests visiting the island from Disney Land.

Entertainment in the ­parade includes majorettes, Gombey dancers and other dance groups. There will be more than 30 participants in the parade including the In Motion School of Dance, AJ The Gombey, and other mascots, glamorous granny Dorothy Morrissey, and The Lion’s Club Bermuda. There will be Christmas music, and free candy for the kids.

Natalie Rego, advertising manager at Market Place which organizes the parade said: “It’s a popular family event and the kids look forward to seeing all the floats and mainly, of course, ­Santa Claus.

“We have always put on the parade and three years ago we took it over 100 per cent. It’s quite a great event so come and get in the ­festive mood!”