Slide Show - Photos by Erik J. Russell

Freeport, Grand, Bahama - The evening was indeed a sparkling one at the 17^th Festival Noel, held at the Rand Nature Center on Grand Bahama on Friday evening, December 2. The slightly cool weather provided a comfortable evening for those who attended the event, as much of it was held outdoors on the grounds of the Rand Nature Center.

Bahamian Brewery was a major sponsor at the 17th Festival Noel on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama. They featured High Rock Beer, Sands Light and Strong Back, much to the enjoyment of the patrons during the evening. Photo: Erik J. Russell

Festival Noel is the annual fundraiser for the Grand Bahama branch of the Bahamas National Trust. This branch has a mandate to care for this island’s protected areas of the national park system. This includes Lucayan National Park, Peterson's Cay, and the Rand Nature Center.These protected areas are enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.

The Grand Bahama Artists Association (member Del Foxton, at right) displayed their best works at the 17th Festival Noel on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama. Over 13 local artists joined the two featured artists from Nassau, Trevor Tucker and Marco Mullings to present an impressive show. Patrons enjoyed and purchased art while sampling wines provided by main sponsor Bristol wines & Spirits. Photo: Erik J. Russell

Festival Noel is primarily a wine tasting affair, sponsored by Bristol Wines and Spirits, who brought to this evening thirty-three different wines from around the world for attendees to sample. Each patron received a Wine Guide which identified each wine, the region they came from and the price. There were nine tables stationed around the grounds featuring the different wines so that patrons could sample each one and learn about their unique features from the trained staff of Bristol Wines and Spirits.

Student chefs of Grand Bahama Catholic High were excited for the opportunity to show their stuff at the 17th Festival Noel on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama. The theme for their presentation was "A Taste of Asia" and had patrons lining up all night for their delicious fare. Sponsor, Sawyer's Fresh Market provided all of the ingredients for the students to create their menu. Photo: Erik J. Russell

For those who did not want to partake of wine tasting, the Bahamian Brewery Beer Garden provided three of their signature beers, High Rock, Sands Light, and Strong Back. The beer garden was a cozy area that featured entertainment by Ryan Carroll on guitar all evening.

Another highlight of the evening was the Student Chef Noel contest which pitted high school culinary students against each other in a cook off that patrons got to enjoy. This year it was a head-to-head competition between Grand Bahama Catholic High School and Sir Jack Heyward High School. Both schools sent a contingent of students to prepare and serve the food. There were three judges whom scored based on creativity, taste and presentation. In addition, all attendees got to vote for their favorite school as well. Although not in the competition, the College of the Bahamas hospitality department showed off their incredible skills with their food presentation at two separate booths. This presentation of food would not have been possible without Sawyer's Fresh Market, who was a major sponsor and provided all of the top quality ingredients for the students.

Head of the Grand Bahama Branch of the Bahamas National Trust, Lloyd Cheong, enjoyed the evening with his wife Lisa. The 17th Festival Noel was held on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama and featured wine tasting, art, great food prepared by the Student Chefs on the island and a jewelry display by Colombian Emeralds. Photo: Erik J. Russell

Patrons were also treated to an exceptional display of art at Festival Noel. Two featured guest artists, Trevor Tucker and Marco Mullings, were from Nassau, and they filled the Glory Banks Art Gallery with their vibrant work. Their art is inspired from nature and Junkanoo and greatly impressed the attendees at this annual celebration that is the start of the Grand Bahama holiday season. Local artists from Grand Bahama also showed off their best work and were stationed all through the grounds so that patrons could view this fantastic art while sampling the wines. A veteran of this event, the featured Guest Artist in 2009, Anthony Morley “Big Mo” of Nassau, returned this year, showing just some of his exceptional porfolio of tropical art.

Bahamian star Methice Rigby performed Christmas favourites at the 17th Festival Noel on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama. Hubert G provided the backup entertainment, which also included Susan Jensen-Sweeting. the entertainment continued in the Bahamian Brewery Beer Garden, where patrons enjoyed Ryan Carroll's music.

To top this off, Colombian Emeralds presented an impressive display of jewelry in the main interior room at the Rand Nature Center. They featured Pandora bracelets and charms, theirLove Green with Emeralds promotion and watches by Tag Heuer, Gucci and Bulova. This enabled patrons to view and try on lovely jewelry and shop for Christmas!

Locals enjoyed the 17th Festival Noel on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama. The evening was filled with wine tasting, artwork, fine food, entertainment and an impressive jewelry display by sponsor Colombian Emeralds. Photo: Erik J. Russell

The crowd was a mix of Bahamians, snowbirds, and a few tourists, who were very impressed with the environment and all that was on offer for the evening. They especially enjoyed the entertainment in the exterior patio, under an array of sparkling lights where two gorgeous singers sparkled through the evening. Susan Jensen-Sweeting started off the evening with some classic Christmas tunes. Well known entertainer Methice Rigby, backed up by Hubert G., delighted with the patrons with her Bahamian flare on Christmas favorites.

The 17th Festival Noel was held on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama and all funds for this event will be used for ongoing maintenance of the National Park system on the island. Shown here are several members of the Bahamas National Trust including Karin Sanchez, second left, her husband Al Sanchez, centre and far right is Eric Carey, the Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust.

At the end of the evening a raffle was drawn. There were four amazing prizes, each featuring a trip, including airfare and accommodation, to one of the other Bahamian islands where the Bahamas National Trust has protected land, including Abaco, Eleuthera, Inagua and Exuma.

Bristol Wines & Spirits showcased 33 different wines at the 17th Festival Noel on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama. the reps were happy to educate patrons on the features of each wine, including, for the first time, two organic wines. Shown from left to right are XXXX, Rusty Scates of Bristol in Nassau, and Ashley Baker, Sales Manager of Bristol in Grand Bahama. Photo: Erik J. Russell /

An event such as this cannot be held without the generous help of sponsors and each year the Bahamas National Trust is impressed by the local corporate generosity. Bristol Wines and Spirits provided the many wonderful wines that were the real highlight of the evening. Freeport Advertising, one of the earliest supporters and organizers of this invent, produced all of the posters, tickets, wine guides and signage for the event. Bahamian Brewery was extremely generous in providing the beer for patrons to purchase in order to further the work of the BNT.Sky Bahamas provided airfare for our visiting feature artists plus for the raffle prize winners and Pelican Bay Resort provided accommodation for the visiting artists. Sunny Isles provided water that was much needed for patrons to cleanse their palates and their glasses in between wine tasting. Other sponsors who made this event happen included Polymers and Bahama Rock.

The outgoing President of the Chamber of Commerce, Peter Turnquest, (left) celebrates the end of two years of hard work by enjoying wine, provided by Bristol Wines & Spirits, at the 17th Festival Noel on Friday December 2 at the Rand Nature Centre in Grand Bahama. Mr. Turnquest is Chariman of Sky Bahamas, who was a sponsor of the event, and he was also the secret guest judge for the Student Chef Noel competition, which pitted the culinary departments of Sir Jack Hayward High School and the Grand Bahama Catholic High against each other to see who could prepare the most delectable morsels at the event. Judges and patrons voted on their favourites. Results to be posted shortly! Photo: Erik J. Russell

Cool 96, Grand Bahama’s very own radio station, was the generous marketing sponsor for the event. Colombian Emeralds brought out an impressive display of jewelry to add true sparkle to the evening. Many other supporters made this event a success, including Barefoot Marketing, and the Freeport Container Port.

The many patrons said there was lots of wine to enjoy and tons of food to sample. And they eagerly look forward to this annual event, which did not disappoint them. It was a truly sparkling night for Grand Bahama!