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…yachts at the marina. This is also the Saturday of the Jolly Harbour Yacht Club
Annual Regatta. The official launch of the Jolly Harbour Valentine’s Regatta will take
place after the carol singing.
For more information visit www.jollyharbourantigua.com/articles/jolly-harbourchristmas-festival-2.
• There will be Carols by Candlelight on the 14th at 6:00PM at the Antigua Yacht Club.
For more information visit www.antiguayachtclub.com.
• On Christmas Day there’s a Champagne Christmas Party in Nelson’s Dockyard
from midday. All proceeds go to a nominated charity each year. A live band plays all
day until the last person drops. Huge fun as the whole village, all the visitors from
the marina and ex-pats from around the island descend on the Dockyard.
• On the 31st, Nelson’s Pursuit Yacht Race “re-enacts” the English colonial-era
navy chasing the French. The smallest boat entered (which will presumably take the
longest time to sail the course) sets off first carrying the French flag, and all other
boats start at intervals afterwards, based on their size and expected speed. This race
has become hugely popular over the years and attracts a lot of cruisers.
For more information visit www.antiguayachtclub.com.
• On New Year’s Eve there’s a party in Nelson’s Dockyard ending with fireworks
from Fort Berkley at midnight.
Montserrat
Montserrat’s culture is a mix of Irish and African traditions, and the latter take
precedence during the annual Festival, which runs from mid-December to early
January. Highlights include a Soca Monarch competition, the Night of Pan party, the
crowning of a pageant queen, a calypso contest, and a street party and parade on
January 1st. December 31st is a public holiday here.
Martinique
In Martinique, the typically French crèche, or manger scene, is re-created live on
December 24th and 25th in many village squares or churches, with human figures
and real animals. From December 24th through January 1st, every town and village
in Martinique is in a holiday mood, with picnics, dances, fashion shows and much
merry-making.
In Fort-de-France on December 30th (not the 31st; Martiniquais traditionally spend
New Year’s Eve with family), fireworks are launched at around 9:00PM from the historic
harbor-side Fort Louis, and shops stay open late.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia starts to get really Christmassy from around Saint Lucia’s Day, the
Church feast day observed on December 13th. The 13th is also St. Lucia’s National
Day — actually celebrated all month long with parades, sports events, a Festival of
Lights, a choir festival, market festival, and feasts.
• As the ARC yachts arrive in St. Lucia, events in the ARC Village at Rodney Bay Marina
include Fête Kweyol on December 13th from 1:00PM, featuring traditional St. Lucian music,
dance, drama and foods, and involving groups such as the Eastern Folk Band, Helen Folk
Dancers, Masquerade, Toes and St. Lucian drummers. Digicel’s Jazz & Blues Cabaret will
be held on the 15th from 7:00PM. And on December 16th from 4:00PM, in an ARC Steelpan
Playoff four top St. Lucia steel bands will battle for the People’s Choice Award.
For more information visit www.igy-rodneybay.com and www.worldcruising.com/arc.
• On December 24th, the St. Lucia Yacht Club stages a wonderful twist on the boat
parade: Carols Afloat. All are welcome.
For more information visit http://stluciayachtclub.com.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• Nine Mornings — a unique Vincentian festivity associated with the Christmas season
runs December 16th through 24th. Vincentians awake in the early hours of the morning
and partake in sea baths, bicycle riding, dances and street concerts. In the rural areas,
the final morning of the festivity usually ends with a steel band “jump-up”.
For more information visit http://discoversvg.com.
• In Bequia on Old Year’s Night, take part in a freewheeling bayside “pub crawl”
along the newly renovated Belmont Walkway until champagne corks pop and fireworks
explode over the anchorage at midnight. Then round out the night dancing in
the sand at a beach bar.
For more information visit http://bequiatourism.com/events.htm#Christ.
Carriacou
• The 35th Annual Carriacou Parang Festival will be held from December 21st
through 23rd. Parang is a type of string band music that is especially popular at
Christmas time. It originated in Latin America and the amusing and controversial
lyrics reflect on local political events, in particular the wrongdoings by politicians,
and also the social and moral wrongs that occur in people’s lives throughout
the year.
For more information visit http://carriacouparangfestival.com.
Trinidad
In Trinidad, traditional parang music is performed around Christmas time, when singers
and musicians travel from house to house, often joined by friends, neighbours and
family, using whatever instruments are to hand. Modern parang music has developed a
season of staged performances called parang fiestas. Parang Season 2012 will end on
December 15th at the Arima Tennis Club with the People’s Choice Competition.
For more information visit http://parangmusic.weebly.com/parang-season-2012.html.
Thanks to everyone who provided information for this report. This information is correct
to the best of our knowledge as this issue of Compass goes to press; please confirm
with contacts where provided to avoid disappointment.
Happy Holidays to all — Caribbean style!
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS
DECEMBER 2012 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 25