Not so merry Christmas

There will be less decking of halls, stringing of lights, trimming of trees, and setting up sound systems this Yuletide season as several party promoters have scaled back, postponed, or cancelled their usual events and festivities, citing Hurricane Melissa and the devastation in western Jamaica.

The Government has cancelled Christmas parties for its entities. Information Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon stated at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday that while they had no issue with small in-departmental recognition, the Government is now focused on restoration, not recreation. “We really do need to make up for what is happening in the west in terms of the downturn in economic activity. So those of us in areas that have not been affected as much, please go out and spend money,” said Morris Dixon.

The Christmas season for Jamaica has long been a festive period, chock-full of events from December to January, but already, two major, billed events will not take place as planned. The December 27 Reggae Fest: The Return of Mavado, which would see Mavado, whose given name is David Brooks, perform in Jamaica for the first time in more than seven years, has been postponed. The popular Boxing Day event, Sting, has been cancelled. Tahheer Laing, director of events for Supreme Promotions, the organisers of the iconic dancehall show Sting, said that the show, once billed as the ‘greatest one-night dancehall event’, is, indeed, off the table. “No, we are not doing Sting this year. The climate is just not right. Yes, it’s gloomy, and the gloom just nah come off,” said Laing, adding that they may do a fundraiser for those affected by the hurricane on December 26, but details have not yet been ironed out.

BAND LAUNCH

However, it is not all gloom and doom on the Christmas horizon, as others have decided to carry on as planned. Yard Mas Carnival will host a hybrid band launch today, and I Love Soca Cooler Festival goes down on Boxing Day. Brand communication professional and Yard Mas director, Dania Beckford, who does public relations for both events, stated that the shows will, indeed, go on. Beckford also shared that the Daybreak breakfast party is scheduled for December 21, and Milk & Honey, a black and white gala event, aims to bring out the crowd on December 28. For Beckford, cancelling was not an option, as people need a respite from all their worries. “I completely understand the principle behind it, where maybe half of the island suffered a traumatic experience, but as a person who is in the entertainment industry, I know what entertainment can do for people. And where everybody may not benefit from feeling happy in that space at that moment, if people in entertainment do nothing, then we will have a further decline in the economy,” said Beckford.

With tourism getting a serious financial battering, other sectors have to step up to the plate, and entertainment is at the forefront of that economic push. According to the 2025 Creative and Cultural Industry Survey Report commissioned by the Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance of Jamaica (CCIAJ), the entertainment industry contributes 5.1 per cent of the island’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually, making its contribution a small yet significant one.

Others have stayed on the keep-hope-alive train as organisers of the Strictly 2K Throwback Music Festival are not only going ahead with their December 27 event but also stated that they stand in solidarity with public and private sector workers amid hurricane recovery efforts, reducing the price of their general admission tickets from $7,000 to $6,000 for all civil servants. They are also offering customised party packages with exclusive group discounts to corporate entities whose staff holidays have been cancelled.

In a release, Gabrielle Curling, experience and execution director at 433 Entertainment, organisers of Strictly 2K, stated that now is the time to bring people together. “When people hear ‘events’, many only think of parties, but the reality is that every staging of Strictly 2K directly employs hundreds of Jamaicans, bar staff, security personnel, vendors, production crew, and many more while creating spillover income for hundreds more indirectly. True recovery is about more than rebuilding infrastructure. It’s about restoring livelihoods, joy, and opportunity for every Jamaican. We’re not just hosting a celebration. We’re keeping pay cheques flowing and investing in the human heart of our nation’s rebound,” said Curling.

In their bid to make things easier for promoters to get creative, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is offering a 20 per cent discount on event structure fees from December 2025 through to January 2026. Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby also continued the tradition of lighting the Christmas tree at St William Grant Park on Tuesday, encouraging others not to forget that the spirit of the season is about giving as much as possible.

For their part, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is not only staging its annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display in downtown Kingston, Ocho Rios, and Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St James, but this year, has expanded its efforts to Black River, St Elizabeth, and Long Bay Beach, Negril. This, they said, is part of their intention to give more families access to a meaningful end-of-year experience as the country continues on its path towards recovery.

The show also continues in the theatre world as all three major theatrical productions in Kingston are currently in full rehearsal mode. Jambiz International will present Patrick Brown’s Boopsie’s Homecoming on Boxing Day at the Courtleigh Auditorium, while Basil Dawkins opens a day later at the Little Little Theatre with A Rose for Sharon.

The Pantomime Company is continuing the 84-year-long legacy of the Boxing Day pantomime, offering up Big Yard Vibes. Director Anya Gloudon shared that in these times, everyone needs some stress release, and a good family show is just what the doctor ordered. “Yes indeed, we are pressing along with the pantomime for Boxing Day, as we are doing our best to bring a little cheer for the season. For us, we will contribute funds from our shows to a few schools in the west who have supported us over the years. I saw the Government’s response that they are cancelling parties, which I understand, but it will put a pinch on those persons who supply for events, so I feel we have to strike a balance. I think the guilt of being in ‘normalcy’ is real. It’s hard to just shrug off the woes and party. But sitting in despair also nuh mek sense. It’s a good thing to revive the spirit so you can fight likkle more,” said Gloudon.

nicola.cunningham@gleanerjm.com