A number of community groups, organizations and individuals are expected to gather this Saturday 25th October, from 10.00 am at the Cruise Ship Complex as the National Nine Mornings Committee begins to make preparations for the 2008 Christmas/Nine Mornings Festival.{{more}}

The festival which takes place throughout the month of December will be officially launched on Sunday, 30th November, at Heritage Square It involves street concerts, community lighting competitions and caroling contests, and climaxes with the Nine Mornings festivities from 16th to 24th December. As many as 65 communities and organizations around the country have been involved in various activities and the National Nine Mornings Committee is seeking to maintain the interest and enthusiasm built up over the years.

The Nine Mornings Festival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has also become a major visitor attraction with the month of December having the highest number of visitor arrivals. In addition the festival has been receiving significant regional and international media coverage even being featured on the American Discovery Channel as one of the four best Christmas celebrations in the world.

This year will mark the tenth anniversary of the re-organization and development of the festival and the committee is planning to launch the festivities with a special parade of Christmas floats around town depicting aspects of Vincentian Christmas traditions.

Saturday’s meeting will look at such things as: improved programming, innovations, finance and sponsorship, the various community competitions, promotion and organizational strengthening.

The village of Rose Bank is the defending National Lighting champion, Carriere won the Best Nine Mornings Community and Best Christmas Community awards.The Nine Mornings festival is being celebrated under the theme: “celebrating a unique Vincentian tradition”.