{Tourists, local farmers and sellers gathered to Christmas Village Market at Red Rocks this year’s edition of the Christmas Village Market ended in earnest at the Red Rocks Campsite in Nyakinama village, Musanze district – with more than 200 people getting involved.
}
The event debuted in 2013. This year’s edition opened on November 28 and closed on December 24. It has become a meeting place for Musanze locals and foreign tourists who converge at the Red Rocks Campsite for a lively celebration of Rwandan culture/music, environmental conservation and sustainable community tourism.
The annual event also acts as a market for homemade handcrafts that aim to expose the cultural pillars of Rwandan society. At the same occasion it gives a chance to foreigners to understand the daily life of Rwandans with the complicity of locals.
Greg Bakunzi, Managing Director of Amahoro Tours, the travel company that organises the Christmas Village Market, explains why the month-long event is becoming so popular.
“Throughout the four weeks, daily activities make Red Rocks the ultimate family destination. Every single evening features musical performances by cultural troupes till late in the night. It’s basically a perfect place to gather with family and friends to shop, meet new people, and also have some fun along the way,” he says.
37 members of several cooperatives participated in the event’s part dubbed “farmers markets” with outdoor stalls and vendors selling a variety of merchandise such local food, cakes, decorations, handicrafts, ornaments, gifts, etc. Each of those members gained an average amount of 100 000 Rwandan francs.
“This place aims at showcasing that models of sustained development of rural community are the right way to empower them via those farmers/handcrafts markets which can be duplicated countrywide to eradicate poverty in rural areas” Added Mr. Bakunzi.
Activities within this year’s event , included showcasing various aspects of Rwandan culture: local food, art and crafts, traditional dances, story-telling and live painting/music performances, to mention but a few.
Leave a Reply