Children’s candle parade in Casco Viejo
Over 100 children will participate in a candlelight parade in Casco Antiguo on Wednesday December 12 for the official lighting of the Christmas tree that will stand in Plaza de Francia for the Carols by Candlelight concert on Saturday December 15.
A 50 piece marching band from El Instituto Bilingue Eliel will be followed by over 40 children from Hogar Malamabo, a children’s choir from Panama Pacifico Academy and local children from San Felipe.
They will start from Plaza Herrera at 6.30 pm and walk to Plaza De Francia where the Canadian Ambassador, Sylvia Cesarotto will switch on nearly 1500 lights on the four meter tree donated by the Canadian embassy and shipped to Panama from Quebec.
The lights and decorations were donated by Minera Panama, a Canadian owned company.
With the lights on, the choir will sing some Christmas melodies, a curtain raiser to the Saturday event when there will be 10 performing groups including the National Ballet, Opera Panama and The National Youth Orchestra.
The Mayor of Panama, Roxana Mendez, and the senior staff on Panama’s Cultural authority (INAC) have also been invited to participate in the ceremony.
Businesses and residents of Casco Antiguo will be decorating their buildings on the parade route.
Members of the public are invited to join the posada. LED souvenir candles, will be on sale for use on the 12th and the 15th. There are two sizes available for a donation of $5 or $10, and purchasers are encouraged to obtain extra candles to be distributed to less fortunate members of the community. The candles were donated by Panama Pacifico.
Free song books for use on December 15 will be distributed, and spectators will be able to purchase tickets for a tombola for two return flights to Toronto, donated by Copa Airlines . A weekend hotel stay is also included . but you can stay in Canada's biggest most exciting city as long as you like. Tickets are $1 each or 12 for $10. The draw will take place at the concert on December 15.
The lighting and sound systems for the concert were donated by INAC and HSBC
Hogar Malambo is one of three groups destined to receive donations from the proceeds of the concert. The others are Santo Tomas Hospital and Casa Katherine Brown, a retirement home for indigent Panamanians.
The December 15 concert is free, but you can get a reserved seat for the two-and-ahalf hours performance for $10, or $15 on the day of the event. Orders of candles and/or seats and tombola tickets totalling $30 or more will be delivered to businesses or homes in Panama City.
Seat and tombola tickets, and candles, will be on sale at St Lukes Cathedral Christmas Fair on Sunday December 2, at an address on Calle 39 in Bella Vista every day, and at the Tree Lighting Ceremony, December 12, or you can call 6619-6890, 6634-7351 or email carolspanama@gmail.com
Seating is limited and with only two weeks to go it's a good idea to order now. Last year, seats were at a premium and this year over 50% have already been reserved.
