Singing children traverse Casco Viejo to launch Carols by Candelight

Nearly a 100 young children carrying candles marched through the streets of Casco Viejo on Thursday, eveming, to witness the official lighting of a Christmas tree to be used during the Carols by Candlelight event on Saturday December 3.

The children, many of them part of the Fundacion Calicanto program sang carols from the souvenir song book prepared by the CanadaPLUS Club organizing group with words in English and Spanish. Adults also joined in and the parade was led by musicians and guitarists from the Santa Ana parish.

They marched from Plaza Herrera to Plaza de Francia past many homes and businesses that have put up Christmas lights to mark the occasion to the tree recently arrived from Canada and donated by Gago Brothers. It was hoped that the ceremony would have been performed by Panama's mayor, Bosco Vallarino, but he did not respond to the invitation, but the kids had their fun anyhow.

The tree stands on the step of Panama’s cultural institute (INAC).

The souvenir song book will be available free to visitors to the event on Saturday night and may still be picked up in many stores in Panama. Souvenir candles may be purchased for $5 and seats reserved in advance for $5. Seats on the evening will be $10.

Eight groups will entertain, and after each performance, the audience will be invited to sing old favorites from Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, to Silent Night, Away in A Manger, Tannenbaum, Hark The Herald Angels Sing and Adeste Fidelis.

Participating are The Fundacion Danilo Perez Ensemble, the Coro de ninos de Juntos Podemos Curundu, Cantus Panama, the Coro del Cologio Brader, Quarteto G Harmony, Opera Panama, Coro Redencion, and Instituto Nuestra Senora de Fatima, Chorillo.