With Christmas approaching, retailers are hoping to buck the trend of spiralling sales. And they are getting a helping hand from the Island's corporations who are brightening up the streets with lights and decorations.

City of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt said Hamilton kicks of its annual Friday night Christmas shopping from this week. And city workers are busy getting lights up. Mr. Sherratt said the main shopping areas of Front Street, lower Reid Street and Court Street will be lit with Christmas lights as of this Friday.

The corporation is also bringing in 14 Christmas trees - with the festive pines set to arrive this week-end.

Mr. Sherratt said corporation workers would be putting the trees up through the City, with the official tree lighting on November 30, simultaneous with Santa Claus' visit to the City Hall.

The band of the Bermuda Regiment will also be playing outside of the City Hall from 6pm.

At the East End of the Island, through the St. George's Foundation, the old town is holding its second annual Christmas Festival.

The event kicks off the first Saturday in December with a Christmas Crafts Market in King's Square and a performance by the Place's Gombey Troupe.

St. Peter's holds its first Christmas service on December 2, from 6pm to 7pm. This is followed, by Christmas music on the organ Monday through Thursday, at 11am through Christmas.

December 7 is the annual National Trust Christmas Walkabout, with the town's shops and museums open from 6.30pm to 9pm. And free gingerbread and spiced wine will be served in the Carriage House museum.

St. George's will also hold late night shopping - through 9pm - on December 12 and December 19.

Meanwhile, the Island shops have stocked up on Christmas goods, decorated their windows and some report that Christmas shopping has been underway for several weeks.

In preparation for the season, the Trimingham's store in St. George's has put in a special Christmas section - filled with Christmas gifts, crackers, decorations and gift packs. A salesperson said: "This is not something we have had before, and we hope it will do well."

Trimingham's director Lawrence Trimingham said the main store on Front Street had also pulled out the stops with its third floor Christmas shop.

And the veteran retailer pointed out that the shop is not only open for Friday night shopping but through the week until 9pm.

Dockyard Glassworks - with a retail outfit in Dockyard and St. George's, called Dockside Glassworks - has a diversified product line of handblown glass and Bermuda rum cakes.

Glass Artist Axel Bubenzer, from the St. George's shop, said that although business has been slow, it is hoped that Christmas sales will pick up. And Mr. Bubenzer said the rum cakes are proving popular with orders also coming in over the company's Web site and through mail order.

Long-time St. George's women's clothing retailer, Frangipani, is now owned by A.S. Cooper's, although the store's previous owner has stayed on as a buyer.

Frangipani's manager said it has a unique selection as everything is brought in specifically for the St. George's location.

A.S. Cooper's director Peter Cooper also pointed out that the company has a Hamilton store with a dedicated - and year-round- selection of Christmas decorations; Cooper's Cachet, at the East end of Front Street.

In Dockyard, a number of businesses reported, last week, that sales have been slow. But, like other Island retailers, they are hoping for a boost at Christmas, and that locals will come up for the Dockyard Christmas Shopping Days on December 9, 16 and 23.

Carol West, head of the Dockyard Marketing Group, said in addition to the opportunity to Christmas shop on a Sunday, there will also be festive foods, such as nuts and mulled wine for sale in the Clocktower Mall.

Ed Williams, of the West End Development Corporation (WEDCO) said the Dockyard shops will be open until 7pm on December 9, and will also remain open until 6pm on December 16 and December 23.

Mr. Williams said there will be a Santa Claus parade from 2pm on 16 December, which will include choral music, dancing Gombeys and majorettes.

Dockyard has also planned to invite the boats from the previous evenings annual boat parade to come up to Dockyard's camber, on December 16. Mr. Williams said this will give people the opportunity to see "the hard work" put in to the boats. He added that the Royal Naval Dockyard will be decorated for the holiday season, right down to the lamp posts and lawn decorations.

Mr. Williams said: "With these events, the idea is to expose the local population to the shopping opportunities in the Dockyard. And they will find unique products that cannot be found anywhere else - I think that needs to be emphasized."

In conclusion, Mr. Williams said the Dockyard merchants have pulled together. "We are moving Dockyard in to position as the West end's town centre," he said.