With the approach of Christmas, Coronation Avenue in The Valley is Anguilla’s main annual lighted area – an undertaking by The Valley Community and the Lions Club. This year’s event was opened on Wednesday evening, December 11, and involves a programme of activities extending to the beginning of the New Year.
Various other villages on the island are also attractive scenes of festive lights – including South Hill, where a committee of villagers normally stages its Christmas and other community activities.
For the first time, there is much Christmas decoration at Island Harbour where political party-affiliated groups have decorated trees and surroundings with multi-coloured Christmas lights.
Driving from the west, the first pleasant scene is on the Pond Fill above St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, where 19 coconut palm trees have been lit up by the Anguilla United Front candidate, Mr. Oris Smith, and his supporters.
Higher up, on the sea rocks, an outstanding tamarind tree and the surroundings have been lit up by the Anguilla Progressive Movement’s Leader and candidate, Dr. Lorenzo Webster, and his supporters.
Both Christmas lighting events were well-attended at special gatherings of the two political groupings over the past several nights.