Capital city Kingstown is expected to be a hive of activity this Sunday when the 2008 National Christmas/Nine Mornings Festival is officially launched in grand style at Heritage Square beginning at 5.00 p.m. The festival, which was re-organized in 1999, has quickly become a major event on the national calendar drawing visitors and Vincentian nationals from around the world.{{more}}

The activities, which were re-scheduled from last Sunday due to the inclement weather, mark the start of the 2008 celebrations and usually draw a large crowd. They will get going with a spectacular Christmas float parade with costumes depicting various traditional aspects of the festivities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines accompanied by the RSVG Police Force Band, the SVG Cadet Band, Rose Hall Boom Drum and X-Pan of Sion Hill. In addition to a candle light procession, the parade will also include over 200 drummers and dancers, cyclists, the Jouvert Fanatics, serenaders and groups from the rural areas. The route for the parade will be from Heritage Square around Kingstown and back to Heritage Square.

Following this, there will be a short opening ceremony with Christmas greetings from corporate sponsors the National Lottery Authority, Vinlec and the National Nine Mornings Committee. Hon. Rene Baptiste will officially declare the festival open. As part of the opening ceremony, a portion of Heritage Square will be lit up along with fireworks.

A varied cultural package will climax the evening activities. Scheduled to perform will be: Carlton “CP” Hall, Gideon James, Diadem Dancers, Cantemus, the Bowmans, KLT Dancers, New Life Ambassadors, New Generation Gospel Band, Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra, Kingstown Preparatory and C.W. Prescod Primary Schools and a number of other traditional performances from the rural areas including Maypole and carolers from Carriere. A crew from Carib Vision and other regional media will be in the state to film the event, providing coverage and promotion for the unique Vincentian Christmas celebration.

The National Nine Mornings Committee is encouraging the whole of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to participate in the launch of the National Christmas/Nine Mornings Festival which is being held under the theme: “Celebrating a unique Vincentian tradition”.