St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
A NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION FOR ST HELENA | Darrin Henry
The annual Festival of Lights once again reasserted its claim as the best street parade on St Helena as hundreds of twinkling islanders ambled through Jamestown.
Jolly Christmas music provided the soundtrack, snow (from a machine) filled the air (in short bursts) and concerned looking marshals kept everyone safe.
A fire truck led the parade down the traditional route from the top to bottom of Jamestown, while further back an impressive multi-person dragon entry from St Paul’s followed the safety cue, breathing puffs of CO2!
The female Santas far outnumbered the male Santas and everyone riding in the back of pickup truck floats stayed seated, as per parade instructions.
The RMS St Helena was in port, having beetled up from Ascension Island on the Christmas shuttle to make sure the ship’s company could turn out in numbers to support their float. Determined not to be left out, the ship had strung up her Christmas lights in record time, late in the afternoon, from bow to stern.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
The event has really captured the imagination of everyone, not just kids.
Most importantly, the St Helena Festival of Lights was yet again a wonderful success; well organised, superbly supported and bigger and better every year.
Last year’s Festival of Lights (2014) was our very first blog post, so it feels kind of right that we covered it again this year.
Here’s a selection of pictures from the night. For more images, check out our Facebook Page.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015 – Collections are taken during the parade in aid of Pilling Primary School, who are the event organisers.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015 – A great dragon entry from St Pauls.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015 – A great dragon entry from St Pauls.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015 – Jamestown residents turn out to watch the parade go by.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015 – a large crowd waiting to greet the procession on ‘The Bridge.’
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – Market Street is a river of lights.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – RMS St Helena float by the RMS St Helena crew.
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – Captain Alan steering the RMS through Jamestown for the vessel’s last Christmas.
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – The snow machine lends a little winter feel to the parade.
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – Olaf was responsible for bringing the snow machine!
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – The new airport control tower does a fly-by of The Market building.
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – St Helena’s brand new airport makes its Jamestown parade debut.
St Helena Christmas street parade the Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – Dance routines on the Jamestown roundabout.
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015 – The Consulate Hotel makes and ideal viewing platform as the parade moves into Main Street.
St Helena Festival of Lights 2015
St Helena the Festival of Lights 2015
More pictures from the Festival of Lights on our Facebook Page
some beautiful pictures, it was a great night which should happen on Xmas eve night
Thanks Patsy – it really was a super night, you can tell everyone really looks forward to this event now 🙂
Great pictures and a great night,thanks to all who made it possible.Good luck to you and Sharon on your new adventure!
Thanks Shirley, appreciate your support as always. Look out for the new ‘Breeze’ magazine in Jan 🙂
Great pictures and what a great night thanks to all who made it possible.Good luck to you and Sharon on your new adventure!
Fantastic photos – really showcases the Saint community spirit. Wish we were there!
Thanks for the comment Carolyn. Yes, this night really pulls everyone together in the best way. Something really exciting to look forward to every year now 🙂
Wow great pictures .Well done to all.
Thanks Sandra – absolutely, well done to all involved 🙂
Lovely pics. The night was an excellent success, well done to all who organised and took part in this event! The effort made by the floats were brilliant! Wonderful! Happy Christmas to all and a Happy New year! Keep it up!
Same to you Pat, thanks for the comment. Yes, what a night! Really is one of the best nights to look forward to for the Christmas season – well done to Pilling School for another great job organising 🙂
Wow there are some great floats this year and brilliant photos as always. Kind of make me a bit homesick :(.
I know, pictures of home always does that, especially this time of year. The floats were great – many more aeroplanes to come in the future parades I think 🙂 Thanks for the comment.
Excellent pictures, congratulations to all involved for this Christmas festival of lights, May St Helena be Blessed throughout the Christmas Season as we move into the New Year 2016.
Thanks for the comment Borbs – we agree, congratulations to the organisers and all involved 🙂