-preparations in full swing with lights, decorations, vendors anxious to kick off the festive season

PREPARATIONS are in full swing along Main Street as organisers, vendors and supporting agencies put the final touches on this year’s Christmas Village.

Now an established fixture on the holiday calendar, the village is taking shape with its decorative arches, vendor tents, children’s activity booths, and ongoing clean-up works all nearing completion ahead of opening day.

Running from December 5 to 31, the event titled “One Guyana Christmas Village and Supermarket” will feature weekend performances, giveaways, festive treats, and hands-on creative workshops, all designed to capture the flavour of a truly Guyanese Christmas.

Ministry officials say the atmosphere is already building as crews move into the last phase of setup, preparing to welcome the thousands expected to pass through the Main Street corridor throughout the season.

Crews from the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works are working to recreate an authentic Guyanese holiday atmosphere.

Logistics Manager at the Tourism Ministry, Jolyon Harry, said that works are well underway and on schedule as the team prepares to welcome thousands of visitors throughout the month. “The event is called ‘One Guyana Christmas Village and Supermarket.’ The theme is to celebrate the Guyanese Christmas. This year, it’s going to be from the 5th of December to the 31st,” he explained.

The décor is also helping to set the tone, as Harry noted, “For the décor, we have the beautiful arches, which will be one of the highlights of the event. We are very much on schedule. The arches should be finished between today and tomorrow. Right now, it’s final touches. The tents are being completed, and Public Works [Ministry] is doing clean-up today and tomorrow.”

Activities for the month-long celebration are expected to draw families from across the country, with a mix of entertainment, giveaways, and interactive experiences for children.

“We will have different processors and the supermarket, of course. Each weekend, from Friday to Sunday, we’ll have live performances by local artistes, saxophonists, steel pan players, singers, and even some drama,” Harry said. The Ministry of Tourism will also host its own booth, where visitors can look forward to prizes, toys, and traditional Christmas treats.

“We usually give away prizes and toys, along with traditional Christmas goodies like ginger beer, mauby, and black cake,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Tourism Authority will operate activity booths aimed at younger visitors. “They have workshops where children can participate in face painting and make gingerbread houses,” Harry added.

Electrical preparations are also progressing steadily as technicians work to ensure the village is powered safely throughout the month-long event.

Kendol Providence, an electrical engineer with Guyana Power and Light, said his team has been on the ground alongside contractors to secure all systems before opening day. “The contractors are responsible for setting up the structures. We are preparing to connect the power and make sure everything is in place regarding electrical regulations and proper codes,” he explained.

Providence assured that visitors can expect a smooth, uninterrupted experience once the lights come on.

“There will be no blackout this season; we have backup generators, and everything is in place,” he said, noting that the team has spent the past two weeks ensuring the village’s lights are fully installed and ready to shine safely throughout the holiday season.

For vendors, the Christmas Village represents one of the most active commercial periods of the year, offering a welcome boost in sales for small businesses.

Kenneth Nelson, a year-round artisan who regularly sets up along Main Street, said the season brings an economic lift that many small entrepreneurs depend on. “Christmas is a season where any young entrepreneur or businessperson looks forward to the economic activity. Christmas is when the economics run, so I am definitely into the economics of the season.”

With bonuses circulating and shoppers spending more freely, Nelson noted that the village helps vendors start the new year on stronger footing. “People have a little more spending power. As an entrepreneur, I look forward to Christmas because people spend a little money, and with the new year starting, you get a good work start,” he explained.

He also encouraged others to take advantage of the opportunity, emphasising the positive impact initiative like these has on small businesses.

As the final preparations wrap up and Main Street set to be transformed into a festive corridor, ministry teams, technicians, and organisers all express confidence in the readiness of the space to welcome families, shoppers, and holiday explorers throughout the month.

The village is poised to deliver the sights, sounds and spirit of a true Guyanese Christmas.