A beloved part of the holiday season in the Cayman Islands is taking a drive around Grand Cayman to view Christmas displays at private homes and company roundabouts. These impressive displays light up the night and are a great way to get in the holiday spirit.
Decorating homes for Christmas has been a Caymanian tradition for several generations. Caymanians would ensure that their house and yard was ready to welcome visitors during the Christmas season. Traditionally, sand would be carried from the beach in thatch baskets and spread across the ground to imitate snow. Casaurina trees in front yards, which bear a resemblance to pine trees, would be decorated with lights, paper garlands and candles.
Although more modern elements are used now, the same spirit of decorating to welcome visitors is present. So, gather your family and friends, cue up a holiday playlist for the car, and see what enchanting displays await.
Where to experience Christmas decorations
There are several homes that welcome visitors to walk around and enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations in their yards. There are thousands of lights and festive scenes that are sure to impress. Some homeowners even organise an appearance by Santa in the days leading up to Christmas to add to the festive atmosphere.
Houses that are open to the public include:
- Crighton family home, Shamrock Road
- Bodden family home, South Church Street, across from Sunset House
These houses are an easy drive from one another, so it’s possible to visit both in a night, whether you want to do a quick pit stop for photos or take your time to explore each unique display.
360 degrees of festive magic
The roads of Grand Cayman have numerous roundabouts, and many are sponsored by local companies who take pride in decking out their roundabout with lights and decorations.
A fun, festive activity for an evening is to take a drive and go around each roundabout to experience all 360 degrees of the displays.
- Cayman National Bank (CNB), Elgin Avenue
- Cayman Utilities Company (CUC), Crewe Road
- Island Heritage, Esterly Tibbets Highway
- Tomlinson, Linford Person Highway
The best time to view the displays
The ideal time to view the displays is at night when they can be enjoyed at their full brightness. The sun sets in the Cayman Islands by 6:00pm in December, so taking a drive to view the displays is the perfect pre- or post-dinner activity, whether that’s a potluck dinner or dining out at one of the over 200 restaurants in the Cayman Islands.
Homeowners and companies usually have their lights and decorations set up by the first week of December and will leave them up through early January. This allows for plenty of time to enjoy the displays throughout the holiday season.
These festive displays are a can’t-miss when it comes to celebrating a Cayman Islands Christmas.
PUBLISHED BY VISIT CAYMAN. Click to read original article.