CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET - Christmas in the BVI is a wonderful thing, steeped in tradition and good will to all men.  To those from less temperate climes, the only things that seem to be missing are the inevitable drizzle on Christmas morning (you know the stuff, it melts the crisp white snowfall of the day before turning your garden to a brown, slippery sludge) and log fires to warm your cockles after a walk in the freezing cold.

For the past eight years, the BVI festive season has kicked off delightfully with Christmas on Main Street.  For the sentimentalists amongst you, picture this: market stalls literally dripping with bright and colourful produce, from hand made toys to hand-painted calicos; the tantalizing aromas of Caribbean cooking mingling with those of spices and fresh fruits for sale; and children laughing with excitement as they dance around the huge Christmas tree in the Sir Olva George’s Plaza to the tunes of the BVI steel pan bands.

Christmas on Main Street, as well as providing us shoppers with gifts galore to give to loved ones, has a very significant role to play in the promotion of local commerce and businesses.  It was started in 1999 by the Association for the Advancement of Small Businesses (AASP), a non-profit organization whose esteemed members include Portia Harrigan (Chairman), Delores Christopher, Cromwell Smith, Judith Charles, David Archer, and of course, Marlene Penn-Todman who kindly provided us with the information on this year’s event.  The event is supported by local sponsors including CCT Boatphone, Harney Westwood and Riegels, the BVI Tourist Board, the Ministry for Education and the Chief Minister’s Office.

Traditionally, Christmas on Main Street has occupied the Friday and the Saturday of the first weekend in December.  The idea is to hold the event early enough to allow people to catch the post before cut off point, and to encourage others to buy locally.

Highlights for this year include:

1. Grand Opening Ceremony:  6:30 pm, Friday 1st December, with entertainment from the children of Cedar School.  To take place in the Sir Olva George’s Plaza
2. The ‘Clashing of the Bands’: two parades, one starting at the Governor’s House the other at the head of Main Street by Joe’s Hill, of caroling choral groups.  They will both advance to the Sir Olva George’s Plaza for a head to head competition to name the carol kings and queens of 2006.  What a wonderful sound that will be!
3. The Museum on Main Street will hold a cooking competition for local and traditional Caribbean Christmas dishes such as guavaberry wine, coconut tarts and black cake.  Please call Ms. Hill at the Museum for more details.
4. Children’s Morning: gather in the plaza from 10:00 am on Saturday 2nd December for a thrill-filled morning of entertainment and partying.

Please take a wander through this historic part of Road Town during Christmas on Main Street.  You will be delighted by what you find.