The event, which is also a competition, is open to anyone interested and will begin on Waterfront Drive — adjacent to the Dr Orlando Smith Hospital parking lot — before heading easterly to the roundabout in Road Town.

It will then move on to DeCastro Street before merging onto Norman Fowler Drive, in the vicinity of Banco Popular. The parade will then cross over to Administration Drive, ending on Lloyd Drive.

The event is a ‘house, boats, and floats’ Christmas decoration parade which will be enhanced by a shopping and culinary experience as well as fireworks and a Christmas concert for both locals and tourists over two weekends — December 11 and December 18.

This weekend will feature floats while next weekend will see the parading of boats. The event is being organised by Phoenix Entertainments & Events and is expected to follow the design and execution of a similar parade of lights event in the Cayman Islands.

The organisers of the event said they have a number of categories for the competition. These categories are designed to encourage the support and attendance of the wider Virgin Islands community.

There will be a category prize for the best-decorated store (at Pier Park and along the float parade route), best-decorated house, best-decorated vessel, and best-decorated floats.

The organisers also said the main aim of the parade is to make it an annual event on the BVI tourism calendar and one that can be recognised as a product of the Virgin Islands internationally.

The event is expected to be family-friendly. Phoenix Entertainment said they intend to bring a feel-good factor to the celebration of the Christmas holidays in the territory, especially after the struggles and restrictions that emerged last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The entertainment and events group also mentioned the event is expected to engage the cruising public.

The deadline for entry of the floats was on December 8, but those who wish to parade their boats have until December 13. The entry fee is $50.