This year the Festival of Light Celebrations (Lantern Competition, Festival of Carols and Festival of Light Ceremony) newly dubbed the December Festivals wowed visitors with an awesome mix of events, entertainment and of course a spectacular lighting display set against the backdrop of Derek Walcott Square in Castries.
The event started on Saturday 7th December when lanterns in various categories were presented for adjudication and admiration. Over 63 lanterns were displayed at the competition which is the culmination of a series of training sessions. This year saw 80 persons take part in the training sessions which took place in Castries, Desrisseaux and Laborie and this resulted in an increase in under-15s taking part in the competition. Buoyed by this success, the team is eager to bring even more innovation and development to next year’s Lantern Competition as participants indicated they appreciated the training and enjoyed the competition and parade.
On Sunday 8th December the National Cultural Centre was open for visitors, as choral groups, soloists and musicians put on an excellent performance in the Festival of Carols under the patronage of Her Excellency, Governor General of Saint Lucia, Dame Pearlette Louisy. Reports from concert-goers all say this was a super show of Saint Lucian talent!
The sights, sounds and tastes transformed the streets of Castries on Thursday 12th December as the Festival of Light captured Festival visitors with visual imagination. This festival which celebrates the triumph of light conquering dark, good overcoming evil and the renewal of life – was this year celebrated under the theme “A Nations Wish for Hope, Peace and Joy”.
The bustling city centre came alive with music, dancing and a street parade – while Derek Walcott Square was transformed into a performance venue, with stalls offering everything from traditional Saint Lucian cuisine to clothing, jewellery and toys.
The December Festivals was hailed as a fusion of light, sound, and movement. The overall event ambiance was designed and curated by CDF, and some of today’s most exciting fine and performing artists participated. Highlights of the Festival of Light Ceremony, hailed as the most successful ever, included a stunning fireworks display, masked performers from Tennail Thomas–Wolff ensemble, Untitled 51, stellar performances by the Rotary Calabasher, Just Us Choir, Shirley-Anne Cyril-Myers, the Labayee Youth Choir, Teddyson John, Nicole David, Nintus, Alpha, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band, Pantime Steel Orchestra and an enthralling tribute to Saint Lucia’s late and dearly missed, tenor, Blaise Pascal by Anwar Leonty of the Cathedral Youth Choir. The show culminated in a new aspect of the Festival of Lights celebration: the Lantern Ritual – where a musical procession to the Harbour, led by traditional masqueraders, was followed by setting paper lanterns on the calm waters, with the patrons’ wishes and prayers for the season.
Thanks must be given to the support of our sponsors – ECGC makers of Easy Bake Flour and Carib Pearl Rice whose support made this year’s innovations possible. The CDF also thank LIME (St. Lucia) Ltd and Digicel (St. Lucia) Ltd for their logistical support.
CDF begins plans for National Arts Festival – Artreach 2014