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MARIGOT--Merchants Association of Marigot (ACM) announced its Christmas Follies programme, now in its fifth year, starts Saturday, December 20, and continues through December 23.
This year, ACM has been joined by partners Chamber of Commerce (CCISM), the Collectivité, Semsamar and St. Martin Tourism Office. The Christmas spirit is already evident in Marigot with some 30 small illuminated Christmas trees placed by ACM on the main shopping streets in the town and in Marina Royale. The trees are complementing the decorations put up by shop keepers in their windows.
Another initiative has been to suspend giant decorative paintings on canvas in front of shops that have closed down, such as the empty Little Europe and Raisonnable shops to improve their appearance. This work was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
The highlight of the festivities will be the arrival of Father Christmas on Saturday at 6:00pm. He will be arriving on the catamaran Scoobi with the French-side sea rescue volunteers at the ferry terminal and then march through the town with a drum band, no doubt giving out treats to scores of children. The parade route goes via Boulevard de France, Mini Club, Rue Kennedy, Marina Royale, Rue Général de Gaulle, Rue de la République, and finishes on the waterfront.
Father Christmas Village will be located in front of Little Europe on the corner with Rue Kennedy.
During this Christmas period, shops will stay open until 8:00pm. Other activities include Carol singing, live music by Jolly Boys and Gunslingers Steel Band, fun games for children with Simon, Disney mascots etc. Christmas music will be channelled onto the shopping streets by loud speakers.
On Sunday, Gunslingers Steel Band will play from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Shops are open from 10:00am to 6:00pm. Father Christmas will be present again along with Disney mascots. Carol singing will take place from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
From 2:00pm to 6:00pm, there will be animations and surprises for children, and stands for face painting etc. The evening will see a Carnival-type show parading along the streets and past restaurants with clowns, jugglers and magicians to entertain diners.
On Monday and Tuesday, December 22 and 23, Jolly Boys will perform from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.
René Mathon noted that ACM now has an office in the centre of Marigot to be closer to the merchants.
