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, which debuted in 2013, 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.

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.

Activities within this year’s event, which opened on November 28 and closed on December 24, included showcasing various aspects of Rwandan culture: local food, art and crafts, traditional dances, story-telling and live painting/musical performances, to mention but a few.
Also featuring at the event were “farmers markets” with outdoor stalls and vendors selling a variety of merchandise such local food, cakes, decorations, handicrafts, ornaments, gifts, etc.

During this year’s edition, eats and drinks were on the house courtesy of Greg Bakunzi, the proprietor of Red Rocks Campsite and Amahoro Tours. Perhaps that explains why, even though Red Rocks’ Christmas Village Market might provide good business opportunities for Musanze locals, for many it’s also a chance to have some fun during the festive season!