WHAT'S ON

Photo: © www.tripsavvy.com

With the government giving 10% ABST relief to retailers for four days from Friday to Monday, it’s the perfect weekend to stock up, whether it be on gifts, food or big ticket items as a treat.

If food is your priority, two great opportunities are taking place today if you are quick; the first is a new Farmers' Market at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium. Direct from farm to table, think of this as the St. John's Market pop up. Farmers selling direct and you can drive, park, shop in bulk and not have to walk half way across St. John’s to get back to your car, and if you missed it today, it’s happening again next Thursday. If you are a hotel, restaurant or yacht, it's also the perfect time to find fresh produce easily – all in one place. Also in English Harbour at the Antigua Yacht Club Marina this afternoon from 4pm the Artisans' Travelling Market is back. Everything from fresh breads, yogurt, cakes, macaroons, chicken from Halls Valley Farm, homemade sausages from Sausage Affair (also available at Crab Hole Liquors & Supermarket daily) to some of the loveliest gifts will be on offer. It’s a great Christmas Shopping opportunity if you don’t want to make the trip into town. And of course you can stop for a drink or meal before or after. For perfect people watching, set yourself up Seabreeze Café and enjoy a café latte or a perfectly mixed gin and tonic.

There are some excellent options on wines and spirits at the Cork and Basket, Premier Cru and Crab Hole Liquors all in English Harbour or up North head to Epicurean, Best Cellars and Quin Farara to stock up while ABST is at five percent.

As we get closer to Christmas Redcliffe Quay will be open for late night shopping on Friday 22, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24. Silver Chelles has some wonderful gift ideas as well as Christmas decorations, Exotic Antigua is open daily right up to Christmas with no ABST, or head to Goldsmitty for beautiful options on jewellery.  If the shopping gets too much you can always enjoy a glass of South African wine at C&C Wine Bar or grab a pizza at Big Banana or ice cream at Fred's Belgium Waffles & Ice Cream to re-charge.

In Heritage Quay – Shoppers can also pick up gifts at Sterlings/Shades, Sterlings World of Watches, Abbotts Jewellery & Perfumery, The Land Shop, Camera Plus and Colombian Emeralds International for special gifts for the special person in your life. Drinks or dinner at Hemingway's Caribbean Café will end the day perfectly as the sun sets over St. John’s.

If you prefer to buy gifts for the home, The Gazebo, A. S. Bryden and Sons (Antigua) Ltd. and Townhouse Megastore have lots of inspiration for indoor and outdoor areas or get something handcrafted from Cedars Pottery. For gifts with a difference how about time in a recording studio with Irie Fire Studio, a sailing course with Ondeck or a gift certificate with 40Knots so someone can learn to kitesurf – all expanding or building on new skills. If you are feeling philanthropic and would prefer to gift your time or funds to help others then PAAWS needs donation of food and items to assist at the animal shelter.

Get the full run down on shopping in Antigua here, upcoming Christmas fairs, and check out what to do over the Christmas period in our What’s On.