Santa Claus will fly into Bermuda at 12.30 p.m. tomorrow and will be met a throng of East End children before heading for Hamilton, and the Agape House Tree of Lights Ceremony at City Hall.

Tomorrow's festivities mark the beginning of a busy weekend and busy holiday season for Santa. The weekend will be capped by Sunday's Santa Clause parade in Hamilton.

Tomorrow night, on behalf of Agape House, Hamilton Mayor Lawson Mapp and Roger Codwell will pull the switch and light a giant Christmas tree. In addition, the Mount Saint Agnes Glee Club and the Bermuda Regiment Band will be performing a selection of Christmas carols. Vendors will also be out on lower Reid Street and Queen Street Street.

Santa will then be driven down to Santa's Toy Headquarters at the Phoenix Store on Reid Street on a fire engine, accompanied by a troop of ‘his elves'. After the shops are closed, the Gombeys will come out and dance for the public.

Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt said: “The arrival of Santa Claus is a very popular event for children and we encourage families to come out on Friday evening to start the Christmas shopping season in style and to support the ‘Buy Bermuda' campaign by shopping in Hamilton.

“For anyone driving into the city, parking in all the City's car parks is free after 5 p.m. and the public are being advised not to park cycles or cars there after 5 p.m. and we would like to remind motorists, including motorcyclists, that all vehicles need to be removed from lower Reid Street and Queen Street by 6 p.m.”

The Bermuda Fire Service is also taking Santa Claus to another twenty events, both private and public, throughout the holiday season.