Nine Nights of Lights launched at Botanic Gardens Tuesday

The 2023 Nine Nights of Lights, which is into its ninth year, was officially launched on Tuesday at the Curator’s House at the Botanic Gardens.

From Left: GIDEON NASH AND LENNOX BOWMAN

This year, the festival, which is hosted by the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority, will take place from Friday, December 15 to Saturday, December 23 and is expected include lights, food, and music.

The Nine Nights of Lights at the Botanic Gardens forms part of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ national Christmas programme of activities.

Speaking at Tuesday’s media launch, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority Gideon Nash said: “If you think 2022 was big, 2023 will be bigger and brighter.”

Lennox Bowman, Deputy Chairman of the Nine Mornings Committee informed the media that approximately 50 per cent of the lights installed at the Botanic Gardens are lost each year. That loss is as a result of theft, damage by patrons, exposure to the elements, and various other factors.

This year, the budget for the lights amounts to $48,000 and patrons, according to the organisers, can expect an improvement over past years.

The ticket price this year will see a 100 per cent increase from the $5.00 charged in 2022 to $10.00.

In 2022, approximately 10,000 patrons came through the gates, organisers said.

According to the organisers, this year’s activities will include a carolling contest; a night of praise; dancing under the stars with a performance by the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force band; a movie in the Gardens night; X-Mas on Steel; performances by members of the Up-Stage Calypso Tent; performances by a live band, amongst others.

The Nine Nights of Lights music video, featuring Lennox Bowman, was also officially launched.