Traditionally Valentine’s Day features a mammoth picnic, swimming and lots of other activities along the seven-mile stretch of beaches in Negril. But the bleak weather and rough seas placed a break on that this year. Still, a number of major events went on as usual, among them Crooner Boris Gardener’s show, featuring songstress Georgia Henry, at Alfred’s on the Beach.

At Wavz, the Rotary Club organized the annual fund- raising Donkey Races which drew a large crowd, of locals and curious tourists. Betting was a major part of the fun and the crowd supported their favourite donkies and Jockeys with as much enthusiasm as you would find at Caymanas Park.

Out in the small town of Sandy Bay, Hanover, Polo enthusiasts the annual Chukka Cove charity event. Montego Bay, polo aficionado, Billy Vernon said it is a wonderful way for people to get together and socialize while contributing to needy charities. He said that even if one is not a polo player there is so much fun that both children and adults can still participate.

The hotels, in particular the couple’s resorts, overflowed with honeymooning couples and those celebrating anniversaries. Sunset was a major draw at the resorts where lovers’ booths were constructed on the beach to capture couples kissing against the sunset. Lovers’ games and waltzes were popular as well as romantic poetry. Cupid was a popular character around some hotels on Valentine’s Day and for some couples it was the perfect day to get married on the beach. Some hotels also permitted local florists to sell roses and other special valentine packages with popular favourites such as chocolates and teddy bears.