St. George's's is set to be a hub of activity tonight as the annual National Trust Christmas walkabout takes place

The walkabout will not be dampened by the Grinch who smashed around 150 light bulbs decorating St. George's's Town Hall overnight Wednesday. Police are investigating the vandalisation, which cost the Corporation of St. George's more than $150. The Trust Christmas walkabout is free to the public and this year will feature soprano Marcelle Clamens in St. Peter's Church, the Salvation Army Band, school choirs, dramatic readings, apple cider and mulled wine.

Beginning at 6.30 p.m. and ending at around 8.30 p.m. attendees can browse the town just to see the lighting arrangements and traditional plant decorations. A special hospitality tent for National Trust members will be situated behind the Bank of Bermuda and anyone wishing to join up will be able to do so there.

Town manager Lance Furbert said workers arrived in the Town Square yesterday to find scores of the white bulbs smashed on the ground.

"It appears that vandals came overnight, unscrewed the bulbs and threw some of them on the ground, and smashed others," said Mr. Furbert.

"It is the Bermuda National Trust Christmas walkabout on Friday (today), so obviously the team has had to work very hard today to get the bulbs replaced in time.

"It looks like there must have been 150 bulbs taken out, and I would imagine the damage is between $150 and $200."

Mr. Furbert said the lights were only switched on last Saturday, and corporation workers yesterday had to spend time repairing the bulbs, rather than on other much-needed tasks.

"Fortunately, they did not break any wires, but it seems that somebody, or a group, must have been sat there methodically taking the bulbs out," said Mr. Furbert.

"The Police have been notified and they have promised to do some patrols to get it under control, and, of course, we are looking for information.

"We have had cases in the past where two or three lights have been broken at one time, but never anything like this."

However, Mr. Furbert said St. George's's Town Square will be back to its glorious self in time for tonight's walkout.

And he said, hopefully, the town can once again pick up an award in Belco's Festival of Lights competition this Yuletide.

Anyone with information should call Mr. Furbert on 297-1532, or Police on 297-1122.