Candlelight parade for Casco Viejo tree lighting ceremony

Over 100 children will participate in a candlelight parade in Casco Veijo. 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.

Spectators and residents are invited to join in.

The 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 are encouraged to decorate 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 The lighting and sound systems for the concert were donated by INAC and HSBC. The Candles being used to raise funds were donated by Panama Pacifico, 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.