Capital city Kingstown is expected to be a hive of activity this Sunday, November 30, when the 2014 SVG Christmas and Nine Mornings Festival is officially launched in grand style at Heritage Square, beginning at 6 p.m.{{more}}

The activities, which usually draw a large crowd, will get going with the traditional lighted street parade, accompanied by the RSVG Police Force and Cadet Bands, Boom Drums from Rose Bank, Rose Hall, Stubbs, along with dancers, drummers and X-Pan of Sion Hill.

The SVG Nine Mornings Committee is keeping the parade very traditional by encouraging the various community groups and persons participating to walk with flambeaus, candles and other forms of traditional lights and music. The route will be from Heritage Square along Bay Street, Higginson Street, Back Street and ending at the bottom of Heritage Square on Bay Street.

Following this, there will be a short opening ceremony with Christmas greetings from Lennox Bowman of the Nine Mornings Committee. Special prayers and exhortation for the nation will be given by Pastor Samuel Young of the Triumph Covenant Ministry; then Minister of Culture Cecil McKie will officially declare the festival open. Following this, there will be the lighting of Heritage Square. During the evening’s programme, there will be a special memorial for the victims of the December 2013 floods, done by the Hope For Life Restoration Ministries, entitled: “Shine A Light”.

A varied cultural package will climax the evening activities. Scheduled to perform will be: Carlton “CP” Hall, Luta, Sulle, The Bowmans, Broken, the Arabesque Dancers, Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra and a number of other traditional performances from the rural areas.

The SVG Nine Mornings Committee is encouraging the whole of St Vincent and the Grenadines to participate in the launch of the 2014 SVG Christmas/Nine Mornings Festival this Sunday, 30th November. The festivities are being held under the theme: “Celebrating a Unique Vincentian Tradition.”