Christmas Day Festival - Antigua

The Nelson's Dockyard Marina management and local charitable organizations throw a party each Christmas Day. It is a fund-raiser for a local children's hospital. They engaged a most energetic band, who played five or six hours straight with no break. Their lead singer was a tall black girl with (as one cruiser put it) "legs up to her armpits", dressed in a modified Santa's Elf costume. The band really got the crowd dancing, including the KINGDOM crew!

There was a dory filled with ice, covering bottles of champagne and prosecco, which was for sale to the public. I would estimate at least a thousand people, both locals and cruisers, attended the party. Boats full of people kept arriving throughout the day, many bringing picnic baskets from their sailboats anchored in the harbour. Others came in buses from the cruise ships in other ports around the island.

As the pictures show, the party was attended by young and old, of all ethnic backgrounds, with everyone open, friendly and enjoying each others' company. We and our crew found ourselves dancing with each other, and with some of our new friends. By 4:00pm, we were tired, and hungry, and ready for Turkey Dinner.

Admiral Horatio King (don't tell Susan - she thinks she's the admiral)


















Tied up beside "TIVOLI" an 80' charter yacht

















Some folks brought picnic lunches to share with friends

Susan's new friends! Aren't they cute??

A good time was had by all

I think the lady in the hat might be related to Queen Elizabeth...

Dancin' fools!

Teffany and Susan with the long-legged elf/singer

The Captain treats the crew to a bottle of prosecco

Dory full of ice, champagne, and prosecco

The Band, and the lead singer/elf with the long legs - and she can sing, too!

The party ended at sundown, and by bedtime the marina was peaceful once again.