The Olde Towne was flooded with holiday joy on Friday as thousands of people flocked to the East End for the Bermuda National Trust’s annual Christmas Walkabout.

Families and friend groups thronged the streets to explore the town and enjoy live entertainment.

Calum Maule, 27, said this had been his first time at the walkabout in at least ten years.

His reason for returning? His new fiancée, Ishta Xavier.

“This is her first walkabout,” Mr Maule said. “She just moved here recently so I wanted to bring her out.”

He said that the pair, who also came with Mr Maule’s parents, spent time exploring new shops, including the new brewery.

Mr Maule added that he appreciated how much the event brought the community out each year.

He said: “You’re able to see a lot of people that maybe you wouldn’t see all the time.

“You get that togetherness feeling and everyone’s in the Christmas spirit.”

Ms Xavier, also 27, said that the event was “beautiful” and gave people plenty of time to meet family.

She added that she liked how family-friendly the event was and how many opportunities there were for children to get involved in the festivities.

Yari Ming, 29, said that he grew up in St George’s and had been going to the walkabout for as long as he could remember.

He added that for him, as a councillor for the Corporation of St George now, it stood out as “one of my favourite calendar events of the year”.

Mr Ming said: “If we can do a walkabout together, be around each other and sing around each other, then we can do anything. There’s nothing that really stops us.”

He added: “I genuinely like having people in the town — it’s a great feeling. Anything that’s people-driven, I’m for it.”

The town square was filled with performances of all kinds, from dancing to jump-rope.

The Royal Bermuda Regiment Band and the Bermuda Island Pipe Band started the evening off with a parade of Christmas songs as several dance schools took to the stage.

Primary school choirs carolled in niches along Water Street among the stands.

Gilbert “Artie” Darrell, 41, said he had been coming to the Christmas Walkabout every year for about a decade.

He said the very nature of the event epitomised Christmas.

Mr Darrell explained: “It’s very community-based. You get to visit homes that are typically not open during the regular year and you get to see friends and family who come down to do the Christmas walk.”

Mr Darrell appreciated the lights and spirit of the season that shone when everyone dressed up their homes with decorations.

He said the turnout was always a great economic boost, both for St George’s and the island.

Mr Darrell added that the walkabout was a yearly cultural staple for Bermuda.

He compared it to Cup Match in the summertime.

Niamh Kelly, 30, said that the Christmas Walkabout was the first event she went to when she moved to the island from Ireland two years ago.

Ever since, she said, she makes an effort to come.

“I didn’t know Bermuda, so just seeing the houses and everything was so much fun,” she said.

“It’s one of the most Christmassy-feeling events of the year.

“All I’ve heard is that it’s everybody’s favourite event.”

Ms Kelly, who came with a group of friends, said that Ireland did not often have large Christmas gatherings, making the walkabout a festive change of pace.

One of her friends, Jordan Sabatino, 26, said that he attended his first walkabout last year and loved the “joyous” festivity.

Mr Sabatino, from New Jersey, added: “I enjoy walking around. Everyone’s in a good mood and giving out free treats and free drinks. It’s very festive.”

Mr Sabatino said that, unlike other Christmas events, which he said felt very “commercial,” the walkabout came with a focus on the community.

“It brings people together,” he said. “It’s definitely an event that people look forward to.

“All week I’ve heard, ‘Oh, the walkabout’s on Friday, that’ll be fun.’ People have cancelled things to come here.”

Photo gallery

• Video by Sékou Hendrickson