The clouds are gone and Christmas revelry has set in.

As the sky cleared on Sunday, people flocked to parks and museums across the city. The eateries and watering holes, on Park Street and elsewhere, did brisk business.

Places like the Alipore zoo, Victoria Memorial and Eco Park were crowded throughout the day as Calcuttans as well as people from districts visited those places.

Around 12.30am, the gates of the zoo opposite Taj Bengal looked like a sea of heads. Hawkers outside the premises did brisk business.

The zoo saw a footfall of over 60,000 on Sunday. The number was less than 20,000 on Saturday, said an official. Space came at a premium at the park. The lawns were taken over by families who sat for lunch. Many others played badminton. The enclosures of the chimpanzee, zebra, giraffe and tiger were among the most crowded

Souvik Paul, 38, came with his seven-year-old daughter from Beadon Street. “This is like an annual ritual. We were supposed to come on Saturday. But the clouds and rain kept us away. The weather is ideal today,” said Paul.

The city spent a sunless, rainy and gloomy Saturday. The sky cleared on Sunday. The Met office recorded a minimum temperature of around 16 degrees in Alipore.

Park Street was the place to be for many, more so in the evening, when the road looked resplendent under the canopy of lights.

The Santa cap with LED lights was the most popular accessory. The revellers also opted for bunny and reindeer hair bands. Many groups carried selfie sticks and Christmas trees were the favourite selfie spots.

“The tables are full throughout the day, even during the non-peak hours. Many people are clubbing two things together, walking along Park Street and eating at a restaurant,” said Pratap Daryanan, who owns Oasis.

Restaurants like Bar-B-Q and Mocambo had a long queue for lunch and
dinner.

Amrita Sinha, a Golf Green resident who lives in Ahmedabad, has come to attend a cousin’s wedding. “Calcutta is at her best during winter. I am visiting Park Street in winter after four years. We wanted to come on Christmas Eve. But it is going to be too crowded. So, we came today,” said Sinha, who came to Park Street for lunch with her husband and sister-in-law.

Eco Park had a steady stream of visitors on Sunday. At 1pm, there was a long queue outside the park’s gate No. 2. Traffic policemen on the Major Arterial Road were on their toes trying to keep vehicles moving near the 480-acre park.

Inside, large groups of families gathered on the expansive lawns, many vying for space beneath the shade of the trees. People of all ages played badminton and cricket, while long lines formed at the booking counters for speedboats, cruise boats, paddle boats and kayaks. The on-site restaurants and fast food stalls
were also busy, serving the visitors.

“We watched the sunset by the park’s water body, then went for a speedboat ride. We’ll have dinner at a New Town restaurant before heading home,” said Pramila Ghosh, a resident of Lake Town.

There was a long queue outside the Victoria Memorial for much of the day. Mohammed Dilshad, 25, who came from Bihar to attend a relative’s wedding, was visiting the Victoria Memorial for the first time.

“I have seen it several times but on TV,” said Dilshad.

St Paul’s Cathedral, decked out in the run-up to Christmas, was also crowded throughout the day.

On the Maidan greens, large groups were having lunch from tiffin boxes and plates. Many people, young and old, were playing badminton and cricket.