Queen’s park tradition to go on

The decades-old Bajan tradition of ‘Christmas in the Park’ is expected to continue tomorrow, but with visitors and residents donning an additional piece of clothing – a face mask.

The annual visit to the Queen’s Park location on Christmas Day has grown over the years, attracting hundreds of people, who sometimes dress especially for the occasion or just decide to take a stroll after their Christmas Day church service celebration and before going for Christmas lunch.

While Christmas in Queen’s Park is more of a tradition than a formal, staged event, the hundreds of visitors and locals who visit the location on Christmas Day from early in the morning are usually met with harmonious and rhythmic tunes from well known group Promise and the widely-acclaimed band of the Royal Barbados Police Force.

The Royal Diadems chorale and several local calypsonians would also serenade the crowd, their way of spreading cheer during the season.

The National Cultural Foundation (NCF), which has responsibility for Queen’s Park,provide some technical and other support to the bands.

People are expected out in their special attire for a casual stroll through The City respite where the occasions are usual captured in photographs.

Barbados TODAY confirmed that performances are expected to continue at the location tomorrow as the bands and singers seek to keep the tradition alive despite continued concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is expected that people visiting the location will adhere to strict protocols of wearing face masks and maintaining an acceptable physical distance of at least six feet from people outside their households.

One official who is close to the annual performances with one of the bands said: “There is COVID-19 around so I would like to encourage people, not just for Christmas Day but generally, to wear their masks and adhere to the protocols.” (MM)