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Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
FEEL it, it’s here. KeDecember Boss and the merrymaking has begun with the festive mood gripping Bulawayo.

Many are having difficulties sleeping now as the heavy partying has begun with family and friends’ gatherings being plotted at different places of leisure around the city.

Some companies are shutting down for the year and tertiary institutions are taking a break, meaning people are getting geared for the festive season and its various activities.

Although pockets are lean for most people, with cash shortages and less disposable income, there is always a budget, in fact a provision for merriment during the festive season.

With the Kalawa Homecoming party only 18 days away this is one, if not the biggest parties in Bulawayo that people save up for all throughout the year and patiently wait for. Whatever the line up, people go there for the experience of dancing themselves to a standstill till the wee hours of the next day, drink themselves to a drunken stupor so that they narrate stories of revelry to their friends long after Oskido and his Kalawa crew have left the country.

Local nightspots definitely look forward to the festive season as this is when their businesses will be at their peak with the injivas (SA-based Zimbabweans) and diasporans spoiling their loved ones while those with bonuses also treat their friends and loved ones to a six pack or two.

The hunger for entertainment is definitely high with most who were known to switch off their phones when sleeping now leaving them on in order not to miss an important phone call from friends who may want to take them out.

Cosmopolitan Night Club is definitely steps ahead as their festive season is already well underway. A visit to the spot last Sunday showed that indeed the festive season was upon us as the club was lit with a notable number of people popping bottles as if it were a Friday or Saturday. It was difficult to believe that most people who were in the club were actually going to work on the following morning as they partied as if it were New Year’s Eve. This basically is the trend in December – everyday is a Saturday while Mondays are now treated like Sundays with most nursing hangovers then.

As part of measures to lure patrons, some nightspots have scrapped their cover charge while others only start making people pay after 11PM. Most clubs like Cosmopolitan (former Club Eden) and The Vista (former Horizon) have been renovated in order to make them more appealing by making them match international standards.

New spots such as Red Cafe have also ideally been opened, just in time for the festive season. Word is plans are underway to cordon off the outside area so that people can be merry there later this month.

Not to be left out are outdoor leisure spots such as koChigumira and Esibayeni which have already set the ball rolling with patrons being treated to quality entertainment.

For those more adventurous then the iFlix Victoria Falls Carnival is their best bet. This year’s line up is mouth-watering with Black Coffee, Black Motion, MiCasa, Prince Kaybee and Ammara Brown as part of the entertainers. The carnival is a perfect fit for friends and couples who want to go on a serious partying adventure that entails a train and bush party and a New Year’s Eve bash.

For those who don’t revel in binging the night away, the festive season is a time to spend with family. Some use this time as an excuse not to cook by visiting others to eat and be merry.

Also, Santaland is already in Bulawayo ready to wow children while Ster Kinekor has a series of promotions they are running to ensure that people are spoilt for choice this festive season.

Wedding venues such as Mystique, Green Gardens, The Grand Vista, Bhenas Villa, Angels Garden and the like will likely be a hive of activity with various couples sealing their nuptials in the presence of friends and family.

What is sure, however, is that December is the busiest month for families, friends and businesspeople regardless of the economic situation. It is also important for those with a little money to spare to remember the homeless and find a way to treat them to something special this Christmas in order to brighten them up.